A True Widow
1 Timothy 5: 1 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger as sisters, with all purity.3 Honor widows who are really widows. 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. 5 Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. 6 But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. 7 And these things command, that they may be blameless.8 But if anyone does not  provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 9 Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. (NKJV)

 

Paul continues his special instructions for church leaders in his letter to Timothy. Timothy is currently helping the church at Ephesus.

In this passage, Paul begins by briefly addressing how to treat the church family. He writes “Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger as sisters, with all purity” (vv. 1-2).

Older men and women should be treated with respect and not “rebuked”, as we should treat our own fathers and mothers. Scripture tells us that we should honor our mothers and fathers.

Additionally, younger men should be treated as brothers and younger women as sisters. The younger women should be treated “with all purity”.

In the remainder of this passage, Paul addresses treatment of the widows in the church. In doing so, he gives six qualifiers for widows to be eligible for help from the church.

He writes “Honor widows who are really widows” (v. 3). Church widows should be recognized as those really in need. The literal Greek for this verse is “widows Honor, those being true widows.”

The widow may be self-sufficient. She may have resources available where she may not need help. She may not be in need. This is the first qualifier.

Next, Paul writes “But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God” (v. 4). A widow who has children or grandchildren is not a “true widow” for the purpose of being entitled to church care.

Her children or grandchildren should “show piety”, literal Greek “to be Godly”, and care for the widow. If the widow does not have children or grandchildren, this would be the second qualifier.

Paul continues “Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. 6 But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives” (vv. 5-6). The third qualifier to be a “true widow” is that the widow must be a Godly woman.

She should be continuously in prayer, not seeking worldly pleasures. In other words, she has put all of her hope and trust in the Lord. Her faith did not die, with her husband.

Next, Paul writes “And these things command, that they may be blameless” (v. 7). Paul instructs Timothy to preach this message to the church so that all will understand how a “true widow” should act.

Paul writes “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (v. 8). The context of this passage involves widows. They do not have husbands. So, the context requires that this be instruction to the children and grandchildren regarding care of their mother or grandmother.

Just as he pronounced judgment on disobedient widows in verse six, Paul now pronounces judgment on disobedient children and grandchildren in verse eight. He writes that they are not being Godly, that they are denying their faith, if they do not provide this care.

Paul continues “Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number” (v. 9a). So, the fourth qualifier for “true widows” is that she must be sixty years or older. This reflects the cultural norm for old age, and, perhaps, the age beyond which remarriage would be unlikely.

Next, Paul writes “and not unless she has been the wife of one man” (v. 9b). The fifth qualifier is that she had been faithful to her husband.

The literal Greek for v. 9b is “having become of one husband wife.” This is the same Greek construction for the qualification previously placed on overseers and deacons. The meaning is that they have not been involved in polygamy, which was present in the culture.

Paul concludes this passage with “well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work” (v. 10). So, the sixth, and final, qualifier to be a “true widow” in the church is that she has a reputation for devoting herself to all kinds of good works.

Paul then gives a representative sample of good works to which she may have devoted herself. The list is not intended to be required, nor exhaustive.

For example, if she did not have children to take care of her, she would not have been able to be devoted to bringing up children. Each example begins with the word “if” in the literal Greek, to allow for the possibility that the good work may have not been available to her.

So, in this passage, Paul has defined what a “true widow” is, for the purpose of the church providing care. This care is not required to be financial, but it could be.

More likely, it is a care of checking up on the widows, making sure they are eating well and have the necessities. It might mean doing chores that they are unable to do, transportation, or just general companionship.

Not every widow is entitled to care by the church, only those qualified herein. However, all widows, like all brothers and sisters in Christ, should be helped by those in the church when in need. That is the Godly thing to do..

Art Toombs Ministries 

Online Bible Commentary