1 Timothy 5:3

The Care of Widows

1 Timothy 5:3 “Honor”: To revere, venerate, and in this context, “honor” includes not only respect, but also financial support (Matthew 15:4). God had equally stressed care for widows in the Old Testament as well (Exodus 2:22; Deuteronomy 10:18; Deuteronomy 27:19; Deuteronomy 14:28; Deuteronomy 24:19; Deuteronomy 26:12). The term “honor” also reminds us that the financial support mentioned in this section is not to be dealt out to them as to mere paupers, in. manner to degrade them, but as to women whom the church holds in honor. The support here is not charity or. hand out; rather it is. way of honoring these women.

1 Timothy 5:3 “Widows”: The basic thought of the word “widow” is that of loneliness. “The word comes from an adjective meaning ‘bereft' and speaks of her resultant loneliness as having been bereft of her husband” (Hiebert p. 91).

1 Timothy 5:3 “Who are widows indeed”: Truly, in reality, in point of fact. The term “indeed” is. contrast between. widow who has family and one who is completely alone (1 Timothy 5:4). Timothy is to see to it that such widows are cared for, and such is an indication of true religion (James 1:27).