William Burkitt's Expository Notes

1 Timothy 5:11

Next he tells him what sort of widows he would have him refuse and reject, and by no means admit into the number of deaconesses, or the church's servants; namely, the younger widows, who were not past child-bearing; and therefore waxing wanton against Christ, would marry; that is, growing weary of the church's service, and despairing of marriage in the church, would revolt from the faith, and marry some infidel out of the church.

Having damnation; that is, committing. sin worthy of damnation, and bringing themselves into. damnable condition. Because they renounced their first faith, which they made profession of when they were baptized, turning apostates to please their infidel husbands, which the apostle calls. turning after Satan, 1 Timothy 5:15, to the great scandal of Christianity.

Observe next, Our apostle shows that such young widows are usually idle, wandering about from house to house, prying into and tattling about other folks' matters; to avoid all which he advises the young women, and particularly the younger widows, to marry and serve God in. conjugal relation, bearing and bringing up their children, guiding their families, and giving no occasion to the enemies of religion to reproach either it or themselves.

From all which we may note, That celibacy, or. single life, is no such state of holiness and perfection as the church of Rome would persuade us: we see here it has its temptations and snares, and those not. few nor small; and that our apostle in some cases, and to some persons, recommends. married life before it.

Observe lastly, For. close of his discourse concerning widows, he advises, that if any Christian have any helpless widow of his own family, or amongst his relations, that he relieve and maintain her, if he be able, and not cast her upon the charity of the church, lest there be not. sufficiency to supply the wants of such as are widows indeed, aged and helpless; for any to eat the poor's bread, who are not poor, and to whom it does not belong, is robbery.

Continues after advertising

BibliaPlus

William Burkitt's Expository Notes

1 Timothy 5:11

Old Testament

New Testament