5”She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, 6 but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.” (1 Timothy 5:5–6 (ESV)
In addressing the subject of widows in the church, and financially providing for their needs, how are church leaders and pastors to discern who are truly widows in the biblical context of I Timothy 5? The answer to this question begins in today’s featured biblical text.
Without hesitation, the Apostle Paul said to Timothy, “She who is truly a widow…” The word truly (ὄντως; ontos) means really and certainly. Paul wanted Timothy to know without a shadow of doubt who the church should financially support. It could not be women who claimed to be widows, but those who were in fact really widows according to the biblical requirements. What were, and are, the biblical requirements for a church to financially support a widow? There were both positive and negative considerations.
First, she is left all alone (μεμονωμένη; memonomene). This is a perfect, passive singular participle. To be alone means to be without a family or relatives. Whatever the reason for her aloneness, the widow under consideration for the church’s financial assistance is all by herself. She has no parents, no husband, no children, grandchildren, aunts, uncles or cousins. It is a situation unlikely to change in the present or in the future.
“The care of widows, who frequently had great material needs, is a major theme in the OT (Deut. 24:19-21; Isaiah 1:17; Jer. 22:1-3; Zech. 7:9-10; Mal. 3:1-5) and a special concern of the early church (Acts 6:1; James 1:27). Paul’s designation (‘truly widows’) means that not every widow is eligible for the church’s material benevolences. Women whose husband’s had died, but who had children or other family members to provide for them, were not ‘truly widows’ by Paul’s criteria (vv. 4, 8, 16), but only those left all alone,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
Second, a true widow was not only a woman who was left all alone, but also who had set her hope on God (ἤλπικεν θεὸν; elpiken theon). In her past, the widow under consideration actively placed her confident expectation in the One, True God of heaven and earth. The hope she placed in the Lord during her past circumstances continued in her present circumstances. In other words, she wasn’t looking for a handout from the church because she placed all her confidence in the Lord to meet all her needs. On that basis, the church leadership had great confidence in financially assisting her. They knew she would not take advantage of the church’s generosity. The church leadership viewed her as a sound investment.
Thirdly, a widow under consideration for the church’s financial assistance is one who “continues in supplications and prayers night and day,” She is a prayer warrior.
This description reminds me of our pastor’s grandmother. My wife and I lived and took care of her at the beginning our marriage. I took care of the lawn and snow while my wife cooked meals and cleaned the house. While hampered by failing health, Alice was a fervent prayer warrior. She was a wonderful example for a young couple beginning their married life.
Dr. William Hendriksen writes, “There is here a play upon words, for in the original the word widow means the one bereaved, deprived (of her husband; hence, often without means of support). Hence, what the apostle is saying amounts to this, “As deprived ones, honor those (who are) really deprived” (or “As destitute, honor those who are really destitute”). If certain etymologists are correct (not all agree), then we could have a similar play of words in English, for the word “widow” = Latin vidua, is by them linked with such words as void and devoid. Hence, one might say, “As viduae (widows), honor those who are really devoid (of means of support).”[1]
“Gainful employment for widows was scarce. Besides, some widows were too old to provide for themselves. Hence, those who had no other means of support must be provided for by the church.”[2]
However, Paul provides one more stipulation. A true widow is not a woman who is self-indulgent (σπαταλῶσα; spatalosa). This refers to a woman who is continuously, actively, and personally lewd and given to riotous living. She lives a life of wanton pleasure. By living physically in such a manner, she gives evidence she is dead spiritually.
These criteria provide the church with clear direction in assisting those who are truly widows. May we who serve as leaders in the church be sure to follow these directives.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 168.
[2] Ibid., 168.
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