1 Timothy 5:8

1 Timothy 5:8. The precept is general, and in its terms includes the duty of parents to provide for their children as well as that of the children to provide for the parents. Practically, as the latter duty had been already enforced in 1 Timothy 5:4, it is probable that the words point to the duty of the widow to ‘provide' not in the material sense; but, in contrast to the wasteful wantonness of the spurious widow, to ‘ exercise forethought' for those connected with her. It would perhaps be too bold a change to translate ‘ she hath denied the faith,' but that would, it is believed, give St. Paul's meaning.

His own those of his own household. Better, in each case, ‘ her own.' The latter as the closer word the former, like our phrase ‘his people,' including servants, labourers, dependants of any kind.

Worse than an infidel. Better ‘ unbeliever,' as not involving the stigma which now attaches to the secondary sense of the word; ‘worse,' because the heathens as a rule laid stress on filial piety; worse, as sinning more against light and knowledge.