1 Timothy 5:3-6 3Honor widows who are really widows; 4but if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to be godly in regards to their own household and give back to their parents, for this is pleasing before God. 5And the true widow, who has also been left alone, hopes in God and remains in petitions and prayers night and day. 6But the one who lives for pleasure though alive is dead.
The next group in Paul’s list for Timothy are the widows who needed special care and instruction. Although Paul gives direction to Timothy, the whole Ephesian church stands in the background and should participate in relationship building and care for one another. Three types of widows are mentioned in this section: There are three types of widows in this passage: 1) those over 60 who are in need, 2) those who have family to help them, and 3) young widows of marriageable age. Each of these required a different approach. The first group in these verses are the especially needy widows, implied with the repetition of the word widow in verse 3. Honor (tima) can take many forms. Paul gives Timothy some practical ways to show widows honor in these verses, depending on their situation.
Verse 4 gives an important condition for consideration for those widows who were part of a family with with children and grandchildren. Many households at that time had multiple generations living together. Widows’ first place of service was their families. Families were obligated to take care of their elderly. The challenge with verse 4 is that the verb let them learn is plural. The closest plural words are the children and grandchildren from verse 3, which would mean that the widows should have raised a godly family who honored their elders and took care of their widows.
If this is the case, then Paul lists two ways a family should care for widows. First, they must be godly (eusebein), one of the important words in this letter (2:2). This word connotes living out one’s faith in devoted, pious, and sincere actions that are evident to others and build stronger relationships with God and those around. One of the most honoring things to do for a widow is to follow her godly example and live a life of faith. Second, the widow’s children should show honor to their widowed mother and grandmother by giving back to them obligation (apodidonai), a word that can mean “pay back” or “give back.” Parents invest big in their children to raise and educate them. The children can pay this back by taking care of the parents when they are old. God is pleased when family members honor their elderly this way. Taking care of our parents when they are old can be a significant way of fulfilling the fifth commandment.
Verses 5 and 6 describe two different responses widows could have to their situation. Some widows had no family and were left alone, which could create a desperate situation of destitution for them since there was no government assistance or disability insurance for old people. Because these widows had no family, they would be in great need of the assistance of the church. There are two praiseworthy character qualities for such widows: hoping in God and being devoted to prayer. These widows have learned to put their hope in God and trust God for all their needs. Prayer helps this hope grow in those who seek God and not self. The dedication of these widows is evident in that they pray night and day, which shows that prayer as their lifestyle and habit. One of the most powerful ministries in the church are the dear old ladies and old men who pray for the church, pastor, and people. We should never underestimate the importance of this ministry.
The other type of widows are those who live for pleasure and self-indulgence (spatalōsa, a rare word that indicates a focus on what this world can provide). These widows look alive but their spirits are dead. They look to what the world can provide, enjoying the end of their days in luxury but neglecting the most important need of their souls eternal destiny. A person can live for the world and not be wealthy. It is a matter of priority. Paul shows Timothy how he could encourage the widows so that they also could grow in their faith.
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