3 “Honor widows who are truly widows. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.” (1 Timothy 5:3–4 (ESV)
The Apostle Paul turned his attention to three specific people groups in the Ephesian Church where there were problems and concerns. These concerns involved widows, elders, and slaves.
Paul stated, “Honor widows who are truly widows.” The word honor (τίμα; tima) is a present, active, imperative verb. It means to consistently, actively and obediently give assistance to and provide for the needs of widows. A widow (Χήρας; cheras) is a woman whose husband has died. However, the apostle stipulated the widow in question is truly (ὄντως; onmtos), certainly and really a woman whose husband is deceased.
“The apostle begins his discussion in 1 Timothy 5:3–4 by calling the church to make sure that it cares for women truly in need of help. When Paul tells Timothy to “honor widows who are truly widows,” he is not speaking primarily of an attitude but of an action. That is to say, to honor widows is to support them financially just as honoring elders means paying them a stipend or salary for their work (vv. 17–18). But the church is not to expend its limited resources on every woman who has lost her husband; rather, the Christian community is to help only those who are both alone and destitute, having no family members such as children and grandchildren upon whom to rely,” explains Dr. R.C. Sproul.
The cause for widows and orphans was not just relegated to Deuteronomy and I Timothy. In the church’s infancy, ecclesiastically and canonically, the Lord placed great importance on the church caring for those who could not care for themselves.
Acts 6:1–6 (ESV) says, “Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.”
James 1:26–27 (ESV) says, “26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”
Whether it was in the infancy of the early church, or in the infancy of the New Testament Canon of Scripture, the Lord placed great importance on the church caring for those who could not care for themselves.
However, Paul provided some wise caution and counsel to Timothy regarding the church discerning and meeting true needs by those who were truly in need. One was whether a widow without any financial means of support had an immediate and/or an extended family. If so, they were to provide care for the widow or widower in question. For children and others to provide for the widow in question was pleasing to the Lord.
“Adult children or other close relatives were expected to care for destitute widows, who had no opportunity to earn wages in ancient society. It was believed that one owed this care to one’s parents for their support during youth; Paul agrees. Judaism even understood this support as part of the commandment to honor one’s parents (see Mk 7:9–13).”[1]
“Under Roman law, a father could discard a newborn child; the child was not regarded as a person and member of the household until the father agreed to raise and support the child. This way of thinking no doubt contributed to children’s recognition of responsibility to parents. Early Jews and Christians, however, unanimously opposed abortion, infanticide and throwing out babies, seeing personhood as a gift of God, not of parents. Caring for aged parents was a matter not only of custom but of law, and was common even in Western society until recent times.”[2]
Paul is concerned first about widows with no means of support. At a time when there was no welfare state the alleviation of poverty was a real problem and Paul recognized that the Christians had a responsibility in this. But if a widow had a family to support her it would clearly have been wrong for the church to intervene. Indeed, family support is pleasing to God. Social responsibility is seen as a religious requirement. The teaching here is in line with the fifth commandment, requiring the honouring of parents.”[3]
Are you providing for a widowed parent in your family? Does your church provide honor for those widows within the church without a family? May each of us evaluate what we can do and how may do it to minister to these who can be so easily overlooked. Remember, we are not getting any younger. Think about it.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), 1 Ti 5:4.
[2] Ibid., 1 Ti 5:4.
[3] Donald Guthrie, “1 Timothy,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 1301.
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