1 Timothy 5:3-16

THE CARE OF WIDOWS 1 Timothy 5:3-16

Text 5:3-16

3 Honor widows that are widows indeed. 4 But if any widow hath children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family, and to requite their parents: for this is acceptable in the sight of God. 5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, hath her hope set on God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. 6 But she that giveth herself to pleasure is dead while she liveth. 7 These things also command, that they may be without reproach. 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. 9 Let none be enrolled as a widow under threescore years old having been the wife of one man, 10 well reported of for good works; if she hath brought up children, if she hath used hospitality to strangers, if she hath washed the saints-' feet, if she hath relieved the afflicted, if she hath diligently followed every good work. 11 But younger widows refuse: for when they have waxed wanton against Christ, they desire to marry; 12 having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge. 13 And withal they learn also to be idle, going about from house to house, and not only idle, but tattlers also and busy-bodies, speaking things which they ought not. 14 I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, give no occasion to the adversary for reviling; 15 for already some are turned aside after Satan. 16 If any woman that believeth hath widows, let her relieve them, and let not the church be burdened; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

Thought Questions 5:3-16

163.

Is not a widow always a widow until married again? What then is the meaning of the expression a widow indeed?

164.

How shall we understand the use of the word honor in 1 Timothy 5:3?

165.

Explain the meaning of the word piety as used in 1 Timothy 5:4.

166.

Is it clear as to just who is to show piety? Prove your answer.

167.

To our parents we owe a great debtwhat is it?

168.

Where has God spoken in His word concerning the responsibility of children and grandchildren toward their parents?

169.

In what sense does the true widow have her hope set on God?

170.

Is there some distinction in supplications and prayers?; if so, what?

171.

Is the time of private prayer suggested by the expression night and day?

172.

Why the sudden change in thought from 1 Timothy 5:5 to 1 Timothy 5:6?

173.

What has died in the pleasure loving widow?

174.

Just what is it that Timothy is to charge upon the congregation?

175.

Who is to be without reproach? How does this relate to the subject of the care of widows?

176.

Just what constitutes providing for our relatives? Would government support be included?

177.

In what sense has a person denied the faith when he does not care for his own? In what sense is he worse than an unbeliever?

178.

Widows were to be enrolled in something; what was it? Why the sixty year age limit?

179.

Does the expression the wife of one man include the necessity of marriage, or simply refer to a one man woman,i.e. no polygamist? (Will you use the same logic on 1 Timothy 3:2 when referring to the elder?the same words are used).

180.

Who is going to bring the report of good works as stated in 1 Timothy 5:10 a? Specify some possible good works.

181.

Does 10b mean that every enrolled widow must have had childrenor that if she did they should have been brought up in the right manner?

182.

These women were to be qualified long before they were widowswhat is here said about them is said for the whole church, for any woman is a potential widow. Just what is involved in showing hospitality to strangers?

183.

Please do not avoid a discussion of foot washing just because some have abused it. Somebody washed feetwho was it? When was it? Why was it? Was it a church ordinance?

184.

Do not forget John 13:12-16.

185.

Can we say that hospitals, motels, and the community chest do the work of the widows today?

186.

Is it a sin for younger widows to marry? See 1 Timothy 5:11 and 1 Timothy 5:14.

187.

What is the first pledge of the younger widows?

188.

How would the advice in 1 Timothy 5:14 solve the problems of 1 Timothy 5:13?

189.

In what sense could a church become responsible for the actions of the younger widows described in 1 Timothy 5:13? What is a tattler; a busy-body?

190.

In what sense are the women to rule the house?

191.

Paul sees a grave danger in being a widow, and a serious responsibility on the part of the church. How shall we explain the danger and assume the responsibility? Cf. 1 Timothy 5:15.

Paraphrase 5:3-16

3 With respect to widows who are to be maintained by the church as teachers, my command is, Employ and maintain those only who are really widows, or desolate.

4 But if any widow have children or grandchildren able to maintain her, let not the church employ her as a teacher; but let these relations learn first piously to take care of their own family, and, then to make a just return of maintenance to their aged parents for their care in bringing them up. For this attention to parents in poverty is good for society, and acceptable in the sight of God. See 1 Timothy 5:8; 1 Timothy 5:16.

5 Now, to shew thee who the widows are of whom I speak, she who is really a widow and desolate, besides being poor and friendless, is of a pious disposition; she trusteth in God for her support, and continueth in deprecations and prayers night and day. Such a widow will take pleasure in instructing the young.
6 But the widow who liveth in gaiety and luxury is dead while she liveth in that manner, and should not be employed as a teacher of the young.
7 Now, these things concerning the obligation lying on children to maintain their parents, charge the Ephesians to perform, that they may be blameless in that matter.
8 For if any one professing Christianity maintaineth not his own poor relations, and especially those with whom he hath lived in family, he hath renounced the faith of the gospel, and is worse than an infidel; many of whom would be ashamed of thus violating the obligations of nature and humanity.
9 Let not any widow be taken into the number of teachers of the younger under sixty years old, having neither been an harlot, nor a concubine, but the wife of one husband at a time; consequently, hath governed her passions properly in her youth,
10 Farther, she must be one who is borne witness to for good works; that she hath brought up children religiously and virtuously, that she hath formerly lodged strangers, even though heathens, that she hath washed the disciples-' feet in their journeys, when they went about preaching the gospel, that she hath relieved the afflicted; in short that she hath diligently performed every charitable work.
11 But the younger widows reject as teachers, because, when they cannot endure that restraint to which they have subjected themselves for Christ's sake, they will marry, and, by encumbering themselves with a family, they will render themselves unfit for teaching:
12 Subjecting themselves to condemnation, both from God and men, because, by marrying, they have renounced their first engagement to serve Christ.
13 And at the same time also they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, on pretence of following the duties of their office: And not only idle, but tale-bearers also, and meddlers in other people's affairs, publishing the secrets of families, which they ought not to divulge.
14 I command, therefore, young widows to marry, if a fit opportunity offers, to bear children, to govern the house with prudence, and, by behaving in all respects properly, to give no occasion to the adversaries of our religion to reproach the gospel, on account of the bad behaviour of those who profess it.
15 I am anxious to have these rules observed, because already some widows, whom the church hath employed as teachers, by marrying, are turned aside from the work to follow after Satan.
16 If any Christian man or Christian woman have poor widows nearly related to them, let them relieve them, if they are able, and let not the church be burdened with maintaining such as teachers, that it may relieve those who are really desolate, by employing and maintaining them as teachers of the younger women.

Comment 5:3-16

It does seem because of the length of this section, we should offer some subdivision of the passage. The following from Edmond Hiebert is good:

1.

The duty of supporting widows, 1 Timothy 5:3-8.

a)

The command to honor genuine widows, 1 Timothy 5:3

b)

The definitive classification of widows, 1 Timothy 5:4-5.

(1)

The widow having children, 1 Timothy 5:4

(2)

The widow who is a genuine widow, 1 Timothy 5:5

(3)

The widow living in pleasure, 1 Timothy 5:6

2.

The instructions concerning the enrollment of widows, 1 Timothy 5:9-15

a)

The qualifications of those enrolled, 1 Timothy 5:9-10

b)

The rejection of young widows, 1 Timothy 5:11-13.

(1)

The command to reject the young widows, 1 Timothy 5:11 a

(2)

The reason for the rejection, 1 Timothy 5:11 b - 1 Timothy 5:13.

c)

The apostolic directive for young widows, 1 Timothy 5:14-15

3.

The duty of a believing woman, 1 Timothy 5:16

We shall now take up a verse by verse comment, but please keep the outline before you so as to be able to analyze the entire passage.

1 Timothy 5:3. The word honor carries the thought of very definite assistance as well as respect. The word widow means bereft or left alone. There are two widows who do not live up to their name: those who have children or grandchildren to support them, and those who give themselves to pleasure. We cannot say that here in 1 Timothy 5:3 alone, we have reference to regular financial help by the church for widows who are widows indeed.

1 Timothy 5:4. A widow indeed is one who does not have help from children. In fulfillment of the fifth of the ten commandments, children are to care for their parents. Our religion is little more than a pretense if it does not enter our family relationship. Paul does not mention whether we consider our mother or grandmother worthy of support, he states that God considers her worthy; for the Christian this should settle the matter, Care for parents in their declining years is but small payment for the many years they cared for us. We were helped in every way by them when we could not help ourselves, Can we not return in kind such care? It is good to know that God sees and appreciates our efforts if no one else does,

1 Timothy 5:5. In sharp contrast, two kinds of women are described in 1 Timothy 5:5-6. Three qualities are given concerning the first: (1) desolate or utterly alone, Our hearts should go out to aged women who are too old to work, and have no children or grandchildren to help them. (2) hath her hope set on God. If widows of Paul's day and time could hope in God, who are we to lack in faith today? We think of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-12) who said, as Jehovah liveth she and her son were going to starve to death. The hope of such widows is not for food but for heaven. If God does not supply physical sustenance then He will provide something far better. We are not suggesting God does not provide food, for He does, but such hope is not some type of divine social security benefit. (3)She lays before God all of her specific needs (supplications) and does not forget the needs of others (prayers); this she does in the hours of the night, as well as when cares and concern come during the day.

1 Timothy 5:6. In the luxurious city of Ephesus there would be temptations to give oneself to pleasure; what would seem to be life was in fact death. To live after the flesh is to die Romans 8:13.

Sin of any kind is a disappointment. Such disappointment is especially keen as it relates to the sins of the flesh. God is disappointed because we have abused a high and holy relationship, not only between a loving heavenly Father and his disobedient child, but between children. Christ is disappointed because we have rejected His Lordship, the one thing above all else He deserves in our lives. The Holy Spirit is grieved and quenched in His holy work. Others who trusted us are sad and confused by our actions. Little ones might be caused to stumble and be lost. We are disappointed because we did not find what we expectedbecause we failed to read all the price tag. All of this spells spiritual death, the cost of lustful living. The gay young widow is anything but gay when she awakens to the reality we have just described.

1 Timothy 5:7. The world is watching the Christian. When we fail to care for our own, we are bringing reproach upon the name and cause of Christ. Timothy was to recognize the seriousness of such a condition. To avert it he was to give careful instruction, with the note of divine authority behind it, to all those described in 1 Timothy 5:1-6: Let the older and younger men and women, all types and ages of widows, children and grandchildren take heed to such instruction.

1 Timothy 5:8. This verse is almost a conclusion to the one preceding it. If we do not care for our own, it will be because the command and lesson have not been heeded. The terrible seriousness of failure is emphasized: denied the faith. The principle involved is so basic, that to fail in this is to fail in all. Please note that the body of Truth was so well defined at the time as to be called The Faith. If we will not support our own family, we are failing where some of the world succeeds; thus we are worse than an unbeliever. No Christian man or woman is exempt from this responsibility; such care is for every mother or grandmother who might be in need. Just how such care is to be given is not specified; there is a need to be met, and meet it we must or give up our pretense of being a Christian.

1 Timothy 5:9. The church at Ephesus was well acquainted with the meaning and use of the term enrollment, but we are not. We know the verb means to be elected and thus to be enrolled or entered on a list. Did the congregation vote on certain widows as to whether they would be supported by the church or not? We believe the enrollment here does refer to the support of certain widows by the church. Just how such support was carried out is a matter of opinion. The two qualifications in this verse refer at the same time to age and moral conduct. As to why a widow must be older than sixty years of age, please read Paul's comment concerning the desires and actions of certain younger widows, who if enrolled would feel obligated to the church, but who would be not at all satisfied when the opportunity for marriage presented itself. Let none appear on the list for support who is not a one man woman. The obvious meaning is that the widow should not have been the wife of more than one man. It would be ridiculous to say the necessity of marriage is included here, for such is not the point of the expression the wife of one man. But, what of the insistence of some in forcing the necessity of marriage into the expression the husband of one wife (1 Timothy 3:2)? It seems to the writer the same thought is discussed in both passages, i.e. an attitude of heart, both the prospective enrolled widow and the prospective elder must be joined to but one partner in heart and life.

1 Timothy 5:10. Certain questions must be answered in the mind of the congregation before they can offer the use of the church treasury to a widow. Look at the list: (1) Is she past sixty years old? (2) Is she a one man woman? (3) Who knows of the good works performed by her? What are these good works? (4) Has she been able to rear children who are a credit to the community and the church? (5) How has she treated strangers in need of hospitality? (6) What of the care of the saints?; has she washed their feet? (7) How did she care for the sick? (8) Has she been an energetic worker for good?

We do not believe a formal interrogation took place, these are but qualities one would expect to find in any faithful sister. We are not suggesting you would find them today, for you would examine many before one would appear who exemplified such virtues. As to the subject of foot washing we like very much the words of Lenski:

Closely allied are the next two questions: -whether she washed saints-' feet, whether she relieved afflicted ones.-' We think of John 13:15 and Luke 7:44. Travelers and guests who were received into the house had their sandals untied and their feet laved. This was the task of lowly servants, and when guests were to be honored, the host attended to it. But the matter of hospitality has already been named, and this new question cannot refer to one feature of that hospitality, to its cordiality as some think. Nor would the housewife of the Orient wash a guest's feet unless it be a woman guest'S. The expression is figurative for rendering menial service, being not too proud to stoop. So also these -saints-' are not house guests but fellow Christians in the congregation who need lowly service and assistance. Thus hospitality in the woman's own home, and then helpful lowly service in the homes of destitute fellow Christians are referred to. (pp. 669, 670)

1 Timothy 5:11. In what sense shall we understand the word refuse as here used? It must have reference to enrollment of widows for support. There is both a general principle and specific instance to consider in this case. The general rule is: do not enroll for full support, widows under sixty years of age. The specific instance is in reference to some younger widows: whereas they once were bereft of support and gladly received enrollment for support by the church, they now have found a prospective husband, and that among unbelievers. The problem is that the widow has pledged herself to work for Christ and remain a widow, now she is sorely tempted to do neither one. Her desire for a husband is natural, but when it is set over against a promise to the church (and Christ) that she will remain a widow, almost inevitably the result will be that she will exercise youthful vigor against Christ. All younger widows would not conduct themselves in such a manner, but the temptationwould be present for all. Remove the circumstances by ignoring applications from younger widows for enrollment.

1 Timothy 5:12. The question as to what is the pledge has been cleared up, if we accept the interpretation we have just given of 1 Timothy 5:10-11. The condemnation is the judgment of the Lord against those who made the promise to the church and Christ that was not kept. It is more important than a breach of contract for material support. Because of the moral issue involved, she has rejected her pledge of love to Christ her Lord and Saviour. She is now about to pledge herself to a pagan husband, in doing so she rejects Christ.

1 Timothy 5:13. We are now introduced to the circumstances out of which this problem grew. If younger widows are enrolled to serve the church in visitation work, some of them will be tempted to become the idle tattlers and busy-bodies here described. Refuse to enroll them and you will not have the reproach against the church. It is not that some women (even church members) will not fall into such sins as here describedbut at least they will not be to the mind of the unbeliever, official representatives of the body of Christ.

The house to house phrase could be understood in connection with the work given such widows. Idleness would develop because many would have more time and energy than work.

1 Timothy 5:14. Here are the positive instructions for younger widows: please note how perfectly the directions meet the need. What is the need?: to care for the younger women who, because of time and energy, to say nothing of more freedom, are tempted to give themselves to pleasure. What is the answer to such a problem? Let them marry, bear children, rule their household; all time and energy will be taken up in the high and holy task of wife and motherhood. Such instructions are given to Christian women; no more idle visiting, no more tale bearing, no more meddling in other matters, when we give ourselves to our home and family. Paul is vitally concerned forthe good name of the church in Ephesus, and in all places. To carry out the above instructions, is to stop the mouths of those who would criticize the Lord's work because of certain feminine conduct. We do not understand the adversary in 1 Timothy 5:14 to refer to the devil, but rather to be used generically in reference to anyone who might oppose Christ's work.

1 Timothy 5:15. Paul's advice is urgent! Some have already fallensome have already left the path, There is no hesitancy in saying that such are following Satan. Timothy is to urgently instruct the elders that they might instruct the church, or he is to instruct directly the assembly. Paul speaks out of sad experience, to offer a safeguard for those who are being tempted to turn aside.

1 Timothy 5:16. There yet remains a circumstance in which some widows might find themselves. What of widows who live in the homes of wealthy church members? Perhaps their husbands, who had formerly been employed by this family, died. For whatever cause, some widows find themselves in the home of well-to-do Christians. Perhaps the widows are employed in such homes. Paul is very plain in his word to such circumstance. Let the women, or believerfor so the word indicates, support such widows, that the Church might assist those who are truly bereft or widows. We have suggested a situation by which to explain the little phrase hath widows, we are sure there are other ways of explaining it, e.g. If any woman believer had widowed relatives who were in need, she should care for them. (Russell Bradley Jones).

Fact Questions 5:3-16

129.

How shall we understand the word honor as used in 1 Timothy 5:3?

130.

How is the word widow used in 1 Timothy 5:3?

131.

What if our parents are not worthy of support; should we follow Paul's instructions in 1 Timothy 5:4?

132.

Give the three qualities of a widow indeed.

133.

Give an example of a widow who had her hope set on the living God, and yet planned on starving to death.

134.

Explain prayers and supplications.

135.

Show how sin is a disappointment.

136.

Why the urgency as in 1 Timothy 5:7?

137.

Show just how we deny the faith by failing to care for our own.

138.

Explain the use of the term enrollment as in 1 Timothy 5:9.

139.

What is the meaning of the expression the wife of one man, or the husband of one wife. (Cf. 1 Timothy 3:2)

140.

Give from memory four of the eight questions related to the qualifications of the enrolled widows.

141.

Explain foot washing as related to the qualified widow.

142.

In what sense shall we understand the word refuse as in 1 Timothy 5:11?

143.

What is their first pledge?

144.

Why did some women become idle tattlers and busy bodies- Who is at fault?

145.

Show how Paul's instructions in 1 Timothy 5:14 meet the need described in 1 Timothy 5:11-13.

146.

Who is the adversary of 1 Timothy 5:14?

147.

Show how Paul was speaking out of sad experience, as in 1 Timothy 5:15. Just how did Satan enter the picture?

148.

Who is the woman that believeth (who) hath widows in 1 Timothy 5:16?