1 Timothy 5:9-16
9: A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man,
10: having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.
11: But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married,
12: thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge.
13: At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.
14: Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach;
15: for some have already turned aside to follow Satan.
16: If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed.
Paul discussed a different type of widow here than what he just addressed. Yesterday, we read where he spoke of family taking care of their widows in need of support, and the church “honoring” or giving charity to a widow if she had no family and was devoted to God. Here he spoke of a class of widows above age sixty to be put on “the list” as a type of elder or presbytery in service to God and the church. She was to have shown her good reputation, good works, hospitality, humility, and devotion. We may see an indication of this group of widows in Acts 9:36-41.
Paul emphasized that the younger widows were not to be put on this list. This was because they may eventually feel the need to get married, and would bring condemnation on themselves if they made a pledge to the church, and then put aside that pledge to marry. It was better for the young ones to marry, have children, and keep house. Being occupied with their own home would keep them from having too much idle time to where they would end up visiting from house to house, their idleness tuning them into gossips and busybodies. Paul indicated that some had already “turned aside to follow Satan” so this was a problem already seen.
Paul added that any believing woman who had a widow in her family was to assist her, so the church remained free to assist those who were truly widows—having no family to care for them. This reference to “any woman who is a believer” may be referring to a younger widow herself, as that is in context with what he was speaking about. Or it could refer to any woman who managed a household of her own (being married or having some other means of support) and had dependent widows in her family.
In any case, we see the guideline was for widows to be taken of care of by their families if they had no means of support themselves. If they were young, it would be best for them to remarry. The church would give some support, to those who had no family and no other means of support. Additionally, there was a group of widows over sixty years of age who served as presbytery in the church, who were reputable, and devoted to God and good works. Younger widows were not to be included in this older group, but were to keep from idleness, remarrying being the best option.
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Paul discussed a different type of widow here than what he just addressed. Yesterday, we read where he spoke of family taking care of their widows in need of support, and the church “honoring” or giving charity to a widow if she had no family and was devoted to God. Here he spoke of a class of widows above age sixty to be put on “the list” as a type of elder or presbytery in service to God and the church. She was to have shown her good reputation, good works, hospitality, humility, and devotion. We may see an indication of this group of widows in Acts 9:36-41.
Paul emphasized that the younger widows were not to be put on this list. This was because they may eventually feel the need to get married, and would bring condemnation on themselves if they made a pledge to the church, and then put aside that pledge to marry. It was better for the young ones to marry, have children, and keep house. Being occupied with their own home would keep them from having too much idle time to where they would end up visiting from house to house, their idleness tuning them into gossips and busybodies. Paul indicated that some had already “turned aside to follow Satan” so this was a problem already seen.
Paul added that any believing woman who had a widow in her family was to assist her, so the church remained free to assist those who were truly widows—having no family to care for them. This reference to “any woman who is a believer” may be referring to a younger widow herself, as that is in context with what he was speaking about. Or it could refer to any woman who managed a household of her own (being married or having some other means of support) and had dependent widows in her family.
In any case, we see the guideline was for widows to be taken of care of by their families if they had no means of support themselves. If they were young, it would be best for them to remarry. The church would give some support, to those who had no family and no other means of support. Additionally, there was a group of widows over sixty years of age who served as presbytery in the church, who were reputable, and devoted to God and good works. Younger widows were not to be included in this older group, but were to keep from idleness, remarrying being the best option.
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