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Timothy is bidden to honour widows who are in real need. The word `honour' means
more than being respectful, and includes the idea of material support. "Widows indeed"
means widows with no other means support, that is, those who were genuinely destitute.
It was a Christian duty to provide for such. But Paul is concerned that this should not be
abused. Widows who had close relatives should be maintained by them (verse 4). The
Apostle knew the tendency of some to avoid their responsibility and expect the church or
other benevolent institutions to keep relatives in need. This was selfishness and a definite
breach of the fifth commandment of the law, whereas practical concern for them was
acceptable and pleasing to God (verse 4 and cp. I Tim. 2: 3).
No age has a monopoly of poverty and it is good to realize all through the Scriptures,
the poor and the needy are recognized by God and He expects His people, whether
earthly or heavenly, to respond generously to their needs.
No.8.
5: 3 - 25.
pp. 21 - 26
We are still dealing with the section of this epistle (5: 3-16) relating to the needs of
destitute widows. Paul now gives the characteristics of the true widow who was eligible
for practical support by the local church. She was `desolate' (memonomene, meaning left
entirely alone). She had her hope set on God (that is, she was a true believer), and was
also a woman of constant prayer (she continued in prayer, verse 5). This reminds one of
Anna (Luke 2: 37), whereas the widow, whose needs were not genuine, lived for an
empty life of pleasure, and Paul likens her condition graphically to a living corpse (5: 6).
Such had no claim on the assembly's care and provision.
"These things" Timothy should command, that is the responsibility of children to
support their parents in need, and in so doing they would be irreproachable (anepilemptos
cp. 3: 2). Provision for one's own close relatives was an indisputable Christian duty and
those who omitted to do this were `worse than unbelievers' (5: 8). The word `infidel'
(A.V.) in its modern sense is too strong. Even the unregenerate pagan world recognized
its family ties and it was unthinkable that Christian standards should sink below this.
The Apostle goes on to deal with eligible widows and the service they can render.
Some of the statements are not easy to apprehend:
"Let none be enrolled as a widow under threescore years old, having been the wife of
one man, well reported of for good works; if she hath brought up children, if she hath
used hospitality to strangers, if she hath washed the saints' feet, if she hath relieved the
afflicted, if she hath diligently followed every good work" (5: 9, 10, R.V.).