Read or listen First Epistle to Timothy Chapter 5 online (ESV, Bible Gateway)

Poor Widows – 5:1-8

The advice in verses 1 and 2 is good for many situations: “transform” the situation into something familiar in your mind, then it will be easier to act correctly. For example, the speaker may think that he is speaking to a certain familiar person (see also Rom 16:13).

The old man (verse 1) is “presbyteros” in Greek; the same word in verse 17 means an elder in the church. Likewise, "widow" means not only an "ordinary widow" (verses 3-8) but also an "officer" of the church (verses 9-15). In those days there was no middle age, the young became old straight away (verse 1, compare 1 Tim 4:12).

Chastity and purity (verse 2) were important because in the society of that time, intercourse between men and women was not as common as it is today (John 4:27, see also 2 Tim. 3:6-7). Nasty rumors began to spread easily.

The congregations helped those widows who had no relatives to care for them (verses 3 and 16). Honor (verse 3) also includes the idea of ​​support in Greek (verse 17). The congregation in Rome is known to have had about 1,500 widows and others in need of help around 250 AD.

The help received from the congregation also attracted widows from outside the congregation. Perhaps it happened that their relatives deliberately neglected to care for them so that they would come under the congregation’s care. To prevent this from happening, the congregation had to investigate those seeking help so that the congregation’s help would not be misused.

The obligation of children and grandchildren to help widows is justified in two ways: first, it is compensation for the help they themselves received from their parents when they were young, and second, it is in accordance with God's will (verse 4). At that time, a bride price, dowry, was paid for the bride. The law specifically required relatives to take care of widows who had received a dowry.

An important role for a widow was to pray (verse 5, compare Anna in the temple, Luke 2:36-37).

At that time, widows were not respected. The Old Testament contained various provisions that sought to ensure that widows were also provided for (Deuteronomy 14:29, 16:11, 24:17-21, see also Isa 1:16-17). It is good to remember that in the early church in Jerusalem the office of deacon was established to take care of widows (Acts 6:1-7, see also Jas 1:27).

Verse 6 could refer to a widow who has become a prostitute. At that time, it was almost the only way for a single woman to earn money to live.

Verse 8 shows that faith is not just a doctrine, but it should also be seen in everyday life. If one does not want to keep the fourth commandment, "Honor your father and your mother" (Exodus 20:12), one is spiritually dead (Revelation 3:2, see also Mark 7:10-13, 12:38-40). The spiritually dead is even more miserable than a pagan: he thinks he is alive (Ephesians 4:17-19), and therefore does not feel the need for repentance (2 Peter 2:21-22).

The ministry of widows – 5:9-16

The widow, who was over 60, no longer planned to remarry (verse 9), so she was able to commit herself to serving the church. The widows made a vow of loyalty (verse 12, "having Abandoned their former faith"). The duties of the widows included prayer (verse 5), service (verse 10), and home visits (verse 13). In the 3rd century AD, problems began to arise in the ministry of widows, including some who wanted to become spiritual leaders, and over time the position of widows in the church ceased. The Church Fathers have preserved mentions of the office of widows. In our church, that office would correspond to the office of deacon (compare Acts 9:36-41). Later, the minimum age for widowhood was lowered to 50 years (verse 9).

The wife of one husband (verse 9) probably means faithfulness. In verse 14, Paul urges young widows to remarry (see also 1 Tim 3:2,12). Washing feet was a slave's work (compare with John 13:4-5, Luke 7:44); it required humility.

Laziness and idleness (v. 13) easily lead to other bad habits.

Verse 15 may refer to women who converted to Gnosticism. Heresy means following Satan.

Verse 16 reminds us again (compare verses 3 and 8) that the congregation’s help is intended only for widows who really need it. Paul’s teaching also has something to say to society today. The extent of the need should influence the help given. Social benefits, which are given to everyone, no longer even out income differences. Poor control encourages abuse of help. Paul saw that even Christians have an old greedy and selfish person living inside them, so the congregation must monitor the distribution of help. We should also not assume that we do not need to help those in need because society takes care of its weak members.

Guidelines for leading the church – 5:17-25

Most of the elders in the church were laymen; they had their own jobs and were in charge of the church in addition to their own duties (verse 17). This is still the case in most churches today. Some of the elders were able to devote themselves full-time to preaching the gospel (compare Acts 18:5), but in that case the church had to provide for their livelihood.

Sometimes verse 17 has been interpreted to mean that there were two kinds of elders: those who led the congregation and those who taught. Most obviously, elders were both leaders and teachers. Perhaps Paul is referring in verse 17 to those who are full-time ministers.

The literal translation in verse 17 is “double honor,” but in this context the word also carries the idea of ​​financial help and support, so it could be translated also: “honor and compensation.”

Verse 18 is a quote from Deuteronomy 25:4 and a quote from a word of Jesus that we know from Luke 10:7. At the time of writing the letter, Luke had probably not yet written his Gospel, but the point is that even before the Gospels were written, there were collections of Jesus' teachings and accounts of his activities (compare Luke 1:1-4). Paul also quotes the same passage from the book of Genesis in 1 Corinthians 9:9.

The leaders of the church were watched and also envied. Therefore, false accusations could also be made against them. A mere accusation was not enough, there had to be two or three witnesses (verse 19). The Law of Moses required the same, especially when serious crimes were involved (Deut. 17:6, 19:15, compare 2 Cor. 13:1).

Verse 20 is probably about the rebuke of the church leader. The rebuke took place in front of the elders. If the sin was public, the rebuke had to be public (compare Matt 18:15-17, Gal 2:11-14).

Timothy was to be impartial and fair (verse 21). An important characteristic of spiritual leadership is impartiality (compare Romans 2:11). Unfortunately, we often fall into favoritism.

The ordainer was responsible for the ordaining (verse 22). If the office holder proved to be unfit, it was a sign that the consecrator had not sufficiently investigated the suitability of the person for the office (compare 1 Tim 3:10).

It has been suggested that verse 22 speaks of the forgiveness of sins. It is known from the 3rd century AD that the forgiveness of sins also involved the laying on of hands, but such a practice was unlikely to have been in use until the 60s AD. Paul elsewhere connects the laying on of hands with ordination to office (1 Tim 4:14, 2 Tim 1:6).

Verse 23 has even been used as a justification for drunkenness. At that time, water was often contaminated. Wine is preserved better than water. It is possible that the verse is also based on Gnostic asceticism: the Gnostics did not approve of the use of alcohol at all. Timothy's total abstinence could therefore be interpreted as a degree of acquiescence to the demands of the Gnostics. The Old Testament also knew saints who refused wine: Daniel and his companions (Dan 1:12), the Rechabites (Jer 35). Wine was also used as medicine.

Even at that time, the use of wine offended some Christians (Romans 14:21). Paul’s position is clear: we are not saved by eating or drinking or by abstaining from them, but neither should we unnecessarily irritate “weak Christians” with our own freedom (Romans 14:22-23, 1 Corinthians 8:7-13, 10:23-33).

Verses 24 and 25 are probably still related to the elders. When choosing them, it is worth remembering the “iceberg phenomenon”: only 10% of it is visible and 90% is hidden below the surface of the water. A person who is outwardly perfect may have dark secrets (verse 24). On the other hand, some people’s gifts are not as easily seen as others (verse 25). However, God sees everything, nothing is hidden from Him. Even though we humans make mistakes in our judgments, God is always right, both in our good and bad deeds.