1 Timothy 5:16

“If any woman who is. believer has dependent widows”: The KJV here has “any man or woman”. The “woman” could be mentioned here exclusively because she would be the household manager and she would be the one taking care of such widows on. daily basis (1 Timothy 5:14).

1 Timothy 5:16 “She must assist them and the church must not be burdened”: Here we find. definite distinction between the work of the congregation and the work of the individual. It is not the job of the local congregation to take care of all needs, even all the needs among Christians. Family has the first responsibility. The term “burdened” suggests that. local congregation has limited resources and might be overwhelmed with needs if individual members do not fulfill their responsibilities first.

1 Timothy 5:16 “So that it may assist those who are widows indeed”: To expect or demand that the local congregation take care of all widows, is to in effect rob the church from the resources to help those who are in the most desperate need of such help, that is, the widow indeed. This is. repetition of the truth taught in 1 Timothy 5:4. “The first obligation of this believing woman is to those within her own circle. Personal charity cannot effectively be replaced by organizational charity” (Hiebert p. 100).