John Calvin 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)

And if any person do not provide for his own—Erasmus has translated it, “If any woman do not provide for her own,” making it apply exclusively to females. But I prefer to view it as a general statement, for it is customary with Paul, even when he is addressing some particular subject, to deduce arguments from general principles and, on the other hand, to draw from particular statements a universal doctrine. And certainly, it will have greater weight if it applies both to men and to women.

He hath denied the faith. He says that those who do not care for any of their relatives, and especially for their own household, have “denied the faith.” And justly; for there is no piety towards God when a person can thus lay aside the feelings of humanity. Would faith, which makes us sons of God, render us worse than brute beasts? Such inhumanity, therefore, is open contempt of God and denying the faith.

Not content with this, Paul heightens the criminality of their conduct by saying that he who forgets his own is worse than an infidel. This is true for two reasons. First, the further advanced anyone is in the knowledge of God, the less he is excused; and therefore, those who shut their eyes against the clear light of God are worse than infidels.

Secondly, this is a kind of duty which nature itself teaches, for they are (στοργαὶ φυσικαί) natural affections. And if, by the mere guidance of nature, infidels are so prone to love their own, what must we think of those who are not moved by any such feeling? Do they not go even beyond the ungodly in brutality?

If it is objected that among unbelievers there are also many parents who are cruel and savage, the explanation is easy: Paul is not speaking of any parents but those who, by the guidance and instruction of nature, take care of their own offspring. For if anyone has degenerated from that which is so perfectly natural, he ought to be regarded as a monster.

It is asked, why does the Apostle prefer the members of the household to the children? I answer that when he speaks of his own and especially those of his household, by both expressions he denotes the children and grandchildren.

For although children may have been transferred or may have passed into a different family by marriage, or in any way may have left the house of their parents, yet the right of nature is not altogether extinguished, so as to destroy the obligation of the older to govern the younger as committed to them by God, or at least to take care of them as far as they can.

Towards domestics, the obligation is more strict, for they ought to take care of them for two reasons: both because they are their own blood and because they are a part of the family which they govern.