Instructions on Supporting Widows

1 Timothy 5:3-16

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress (James 1:27)

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Published March 21st, 2019; Updated March 21st, 2019

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Adnan

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Main point summary

Paul gives Timothy instructions on supporting with widows in the church. The first point of support for widows should be their families. However, older widows that are alone and meet certain criterion should be supported by the church.

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1 Timothy 5:3-16

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Honor widows who are a widows indeed;

Χήρας τίμα τὰς ὄντως χήρας.

but if any widow has children or grandchildren,

* εἰ δέ τις χήρα τέκνα ἢ ἔκγονα ἔχει,

a they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family

μανθανέτωσαν πρῶτον τὸν ἴδιον οἶκον εὐσεβεῖν

and to 1 make some return to their parents;

καὶ ἀμοιβὰς ἀποδιδόναι τοῖς προγόνοις•

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for this is b acceptable in the sight of God.

τοῦτο γάρ ἐστιν ἀπόδεκτον ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ.

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Now she who is a a widow indeed and who has been left alone, b has fixed her hope on God and continues in c entreaties and prayers night and day.

ἡ δὲ ὄντως χήρα καὶ μεμονωμένη ἤλπικεν ἐπὶ θεὸν καὶ προσμένει ταῖς δεήσεσιν καὶ ταῖς προσευχαῖς νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας,

But she who a gives herself to wanton pleasure is b dead even while she lives.

ἡ δὲ σπαταλῶσα ζῶσα τέθνηκεν.

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1 a Prescribe these things as well,

καὶ ταῦτα παράγγελλε,

so that they may be above reproach.

ἵνα ἀνεπίλημπτοι ὦσιν.

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But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household,

εἰ δέ τις τῶν ἰδίων καὶ μάλιστα οἰκείων οὐ προνοεῖ,

he has a denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

τὴν πίστιν ἤρνηται καὶ ἔστιν ἀπίστου χείρων.

inference

A widow is to be a put on the list

Χήρα καταλεγέσθω

only if she is not less than sixty years old,

μὴ ἔλαττον ἐτῶν ἑξήκοντα γεγονυῖα,

having been b the wife of one man,

ἑνὸς ἀνδρὸς γυνή,

having a reputation for a good works;

ἐν ἔργοις καλοῖς μαρτυρουμένη,

and if she has brought up children,

εἰ ἐτεκνοτρόφησεν,

if she has b shown hospitality to strangers,

εἰ ἐξενοδόχησεν,

if she c has washed the 1 saints’ feet,

εἰ ἁγίων πόδας ἔνιψεν,

if she has d assisted those in distress,

εἰ θλιβομένοις ἐπήρκεσεν,

and if she has devoted herself to every good work.

εἰ παντὶ ἔργῳ ἀγαθῷ ἐπηκολούθησεν.

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But refuse to put younger widows on the list,

νεωτέρας δὲ χήρας παραιτοῦ•

for when they feel a sensual desires in disregard of Christ,

ὅταν γὰρ καταστρηνιάσωσιν τοῦ Χριστοῦ,

they want to get married,

γαμεῖν θέλουσιν

thus incurring condemnation,

ἔχουσαι κρίμα

because they have set aside their previous 1 pledge.

ὅτι τὴν πρώτην πίστιν ἠθέτησαν•

temporal

At the same time they also learn to be idle,

ἅμα δὲ καὶ ἀργαὶ μανθάνουσιν

as they go around from house to house;

περιερχόμεναι τὰς οἰκίας,

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and not merely idle, but also a gossips and b busybodies,

οὐ μόνον δὲ ἀργαὶ ἀλλὰ καὶ φλύαροι καὶ περίεργοι,

talking about c things not proper to mention.

λαλοῦσαι τὰ μὴ δέοντα.

progression

Therefore, I want younger widows to get a married, bear children, b keep house, and c give the enemy no occasion for reproach;

Βούλομαι οὖν νεωτέρας γαμεῖν, τεκνογονεῖν, οἰκοδεσποτεῖν, μηδεμίαν ἀφορμὴν διδόναι τῷ ἀντικειμένῳ λοιδορίας χάριν•

for some a have already turned aside to follow b Satan.

ἤδη γάρ τινες ἐξετράπησαν ὀπίσω τοῦ σατανᾶ.

If any woman who is a believer a has dependent widows,

εἴ τις πιστὴ ἔχει χήρας,

she must b assist them

ἐπαρκείτω αὐταῖς

and the church must not be burdened,

καὶ μὴ βαρείσθω ἡ ἐκκλησία,

so that it may assist those who are c widows indeed.

ἵνα ταῖς ὄντως χήραις ἐπαρκέσῃ.

It is possible to be dead while alive but also alive when dead (John 11:25).

All conditionals in the pericope are class, assumed to true from the authorˋs perspective.

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1 Timothy 5:3-16

A. Support for True Widows

Honor widows who are widows indeed;

B. Support for Widows with Family

but if any widow has children or grandchildren,

they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family

and to make some return to their parents;

for this is acceptable in the sight of God.

C. Dealing with Problems Regarding Widows

Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day.

But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives.

Prescribe these things as well,

so that they may be above reproach.

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.

D. Characteristics of True Widows

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,

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.

C'. Dealing with Problems Regarding Widows

But refuse to put younger widows on the list,

for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ,

they want to get married,

thus incurring condemnation,

because they have set aside their previous pledge.

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.

Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach;

for some have already turned aside to follow Satan.

B'. Support for Widows with Family

If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows,

she must assist them

A'. Support for True Widows

and the church must not be burdened,

so that it may assist those who are widows indeed.

phrasing

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