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WIDOWS INDEED. I Timothy 5:9-16. 07/03/2022. #15.
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. 11 But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. 13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 14 Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15 For some have already turned aside after Satan. 16 If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.
1. In light of other passages
a. Often Paul or other writers will state a general principle in absolute terms
a1. Jesus did not mean that anything ask for, you will get (Matthew 18), for often we want selfish things (James 4)
a2. Proverbs 22:6 does not mean that every well-trained child will be godly
b. Proverbs, parables, and illustrations are generally true, but not universally true (a diligent man doesn’t always become rich, the godly often suffer from hunger, the prodigal does not always return,…)
c. Interpretation depends on many principles:
a. Compare with other passages
b. Context, grammar, and setting
c. Careful translation work is necessary
d. Seeming contradictions are actually different aspects of defining truth
2. The widow on the roll
a. A widow who can be supported by church:
a1. Mature (60+)
a2. Faithful (wife of one husband, faithful in ministering to others, holy, helpful, and hospitable)
a3. No family members to support her
b. Widows who are not to be enrolled for aid:
a1. The ungodly
a2. Younger widows
3. The young widows and the church
a. Young widows will tend to want to remarry, not wanting to just be helpers in church
a1. I Corinthians 7 this is not universally true, since Paul argued for single servants (note Anna’s service in Temple)
a2. Younger more active women will tend to be idle, busybodies, gossips, desiring to marry, and wanderers
b. “Wanton against the Lord” = refers to breaking their pledge to serve Lord only
a1. Not necessarily, leaving the faith
a2. Restless, with divided interests
c. Not all widows are gossips or busybodies, but Paul had seen enough to know trend
d. “Turning after Satan” = not losing faith, but tempted to become fleshly and worldly
e. Paul concludes that the church must not become a welfare organization
f. Paul’s point = temptation of idle youth is stronger than most pledges (I John 2:15-25)
g. Matthew 26:41 our spirit is willing to commit to the Lord, but the spirit is very weak
Key Verse: 1 John 2:15-2515 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.