Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Timothy 5:8

"But if any provideth not for his own, and specially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever." — 1 Timothy 5:8 (ASV)

But if any provide not for his own.—This repeated warning was necessary in the now rapidly widening circle of believers.

Then, in those early days, as now, men and women were attempting to persuade themselves that the hopes and promises of Christians could be attained and won by a mere profession of faith, by an acceptance of the historical truths, or by an unfruitful reception of the doctrine of the atonement, without any practice of stern self-denial and apart from any loving consideration for others.

Evidently, in that great Church of Ephesus, which St. Paul knew so well, there were many professed believers in the Crucified who, while themselves possessing a comfortable living, perhaps even wealth, could calmly watch as their own relatives and friends struggled in the deepest poverty.

And specially for those of his own house.—The circle of those for whose support and well-being a Christian was responsible is enlarged here: the fairly prosperous man who professes to love Christ is not merely obligated to do his best for his nearest relations, such as his mother and grandmother, but, as St. Paul says, “he must assist those of his own house”—a term that includes much more distant relatives and even dependents connected with the family who had fallen into poverty and distress.

He hath denied the faith.—Faith, considered as a rule of life, is practically denied by one who neglects these duties of kindness and responsibilities, for faith worketh by love (Galatians 5:6). Faith here is considered by St. Paul, not as mere belief in the doctrine, or even in a person, but as a rule of life.

And is worse than an infidel.—The rules even of the nobler pagan moralists forbid such heartless selfishness. For a Christian, then, deliberately to neglect such plain duties would bring shame and disgrace on the religion of the loving Christ; and, despite the name he bore and the community to which he belonged, such a denier of the faith would be really worse than a heathen.