1 Timothy 5:4

But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. IF ANY WIDOW - not "a widow indeed," as having children who ought to support her. NEPHEWS, [ ekgona (G1549)] - 'descendants,' or 'grandchildren.' Nephews in old English meant grandchildren (Hooker, 'Ecclesiastical Polity,' 5: 20). LET THEM - the children and descendants. LEARN FIRST - before calling the church to support them. TO SHOW PIETY AT HOME - by sustaining their widowed mother or grandmother. [ Ton (G3588) idion (G2398)...

4_If any widow _There are various ways of explaining this passage; and the ambiguity arises from this circumstance, that the latter clause may refer either to widows or to their children. Nor is this consistent with the verb (_let them learn) _being plural, while Paul spoke of a _widow _in the singular number; for a change of number is very customary in a general discourse, that is, when the writer speaks of a whole class, and not of an individual. They who think that it relates to widows, are of the opinion that the meaning is, “let them learn, by the pious government of their family, to repay to their successors the education that they received from their ancestors.” This is the explanation given by Chrysostom and some others. But others think that it is more natural to interpret it as relating to children and grandchildren. Accordingly, in their opinion, the Apostle teaches that the m...

3-8 Honour widows that are widows indeed, relieve them, and maintain them. It is the duty of children, if their parents are in need, and they are able to relieve them, to do it to the utmost of their power. Widowhood is a desolate state; but let widows trust in the Lord, and continue in prayer. All who live in pleasure, are dead while they live, spiritually dead, dead in trespasses and sins. Alas, what numbers there are of this description among nominal Christians, even to the latest period of life! If any men or women do not maintain their poor relations, they in effect deny the faith. If they spend upon their lusts and pleasures, what should maintain their families, they have denied the faith, and are worse than infidels. If professors of the gospel give way to any corrupt principle or conduct, they are worse than those who do not profess to believe the doctrines of grace....

Verse 1 Timothy 5:4. _BUT IF ANY WIDOW HAVE CHILDREN OR NEPHEWS_] This shows that _widows indeed_ are those that have _neither_ children nor nephews, i.e. no relatives that either will or can help them, or no near relatives alive. _LET THEM LEARN FIRST TO SHOW PIETY AT HOME_] Let these children and nephews provide for their aged or helpless parents or relatives, and not burden the Church with them while they are able to support them. _AND TO REQUITE THEIR PARENTS_] Και αμοιβας αποδιδοναι τοις προγονοις· Let them learn to _give benefit for benefit_. Your parents supported and nourished you when you were young and helpless; _you_ ought therefore to support _them_ when they are old and destitute. This is called _showing piety_; and there is doubtless an allusion to the fifth commandment: Honour

BUT IF ANY WIDOW HAVE CHILDREN - Who would be dependent on her care, and who might themselves contribute to her support. OR NEPHEWS - The word nephew now commonly means the son of a brother or sister. Formerly the English word also meant grandchildren, or descendants of any description. Webster. The Greek word here - ἔκγονα ekgona - has the latter meaning. It denotes those “sprung from or born of;” and then descendants of any kind - sons, daughters, grandchildren. The Greek word would not, in fact, properly include nephews and nieces. It embraces only those in a direct line. LET THEM LEARN FIRST TO SHOW PIETY AT HOME - Margin, “or kindness.” That is, let the children and grandchildren learn to do this. Let them have an opportunity of performing their duty toward their aged parent or grandparent. Do not

EXPOSITION 1 TIMOTHY 5:1 _Exhort _for _intreat_,_ _A.V.; _and _omitted. REBUKE NOT (μὴ ἐπιπλήξης); only here in the New Testament for the more usual ἐπιτιμάω (2 Timothy 4:2, and frequently in the Gospels) or ἐλέγχω, as Titus 1:13; Titus 2:15; Revelation 3:19, and elsewhere. In classical Greek it expresses a sharp castigation with words. Compare the "patruae verbera linguae" (Hor., 'Od.,' 3.

BUT IF ANY WIDOW HAVE CHILDREN OR NEPHEWS,.... Such are not widows indeed; they are not desolate, or alone, or without persons to take care of them; their children or nephews should, and not suffer the church to be burdened with them. Wherefore it follows, LET THEM LEARN FIRST TO SHOW PIETY AT HOME; which some understand of the widows, who, instead of casting themselves upon the church for a maintenance, or taking upon them the office of a deaconess, to take care of others, should continue in their own families, and bring up their children and nephews in like manner as they have been brought up by their parents, which will be more pleasing and acceptable unto God; but it is better to interpret it of their children; and so the Ethiopic version expresses it, "let the children first learn to do well to their own house", or family. It is the duty of children to take care of their parents in...

V. INSTRUCTIONS AND EXHORTATIONS CHAPTER 5 _ 1. Concerning widows (1 Timothy 5:1)_ 2. Concerning elders (1 Timothy 5:17) 3. Responsibility and personal instructions (1 Timothy 5:22) 1 Timothy 5:1 It is not necessary to follow all these instructions in detail and explain their meaning. An elder was not to be rebuked sharply, but to be entreated as a father, and younger men as brethren. Then he speaks of widows. Those who are widows indeed are to be held in honor. Piety was to be shown at home, if they had children. “She that is a widow indeed, and desolate (left alone) trusteth in

WIDOWS. The space devoted to widows indicates the existence of a special difficulty in Asia. Paul gives Timothy definite instructions. (_a)_ Deserving widows really left alone should be maintained from Church funds (1 Timothy 5:3). (_b)_ The funds, however, must not be burdened by widows with descendants or friends capable of assisting. Descendants must make it their first charge to fulfil the family obligation involved. Otherwise they disown the Christian way of life, and acknowledge a standard lower than that of unbelievers (1 Timothy 5:4; 1 Timothy 5:8; 1 Timothy 5:16). (_c_) The mark of a true widow is that, avoiding

THE DUTY TO REPRIMAND (1 Timothy 5:1-2)...