1 Timothy 5:9-10 9Let a widow be put on the list who is not less than sixty years old, the wife of one man, 10having a testimony of good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality, if she has washed the feet of the saints, if she has helped the afflicted, if she has devoted herself to every good work.
Some widows do not have family to support them. Paul now places some conditions upon those who should be helped by the church. The verb put on the list (katalegesthō) is the basis for the English “catalog,” which is a register of some type. The Ephesian church was to create a list of qualified widows with need who should be given special assistance. The list has eight fairly specific qualifications.
The age qualification of not less than sixty years old would have been considered old at that time because the average life expectancy was short due to disease, poor nutrition, and wars. According to Leviticus 27:7, sixty was a special age for dedicating oneself to serving the Lord. These widows should also have shown marital faithfulness by having only one husband, similar to 3:2, 12. This condition would not prohibit a widow from remarrying if her husband died. Her character should be evident by good works, a point restated at the end of verse 10. Good works would include deeds that exemplify a Christian testimony of salvation and that positively affect the people around a person. Different examples such good deeds are given in the rest of the list.
One of the greatest testimonies a widow can have is how her children live. This statement should not be taken to mean that widows without children do not qualify to be on the list but rather that the widow has done her best to raise her children in a caring and nurturing way. She should not have been abusive or neglectful of her family duties. She should also show hospitality (exenodochēsen), a compound word meaning to give consideration to strangers. Hospitality was important in the culture and a significant virtue in the early church (Romans 12:13; 16:23; Hebrews 13:2; 1 Peter 4:9). Hospitality is an expression of love and compassion and reveals the heart of a person. The widow’s servant heart could be seen if she washed the feet of the saints in imitation of Jesus (John 13:14). People’s feet would get quite dirty because of wearing sandals or other open footwear. There is no evidence that foot washing has become a ceremony; it was simply an act of kindness to help someone feel good and welcomed. A widow should also help the afflicted. The type of affliction is not designated here and cold include physical, emotional, or spiritual suffering.
The last qualification summarizes all of the above and repeats the idea of good works. Devoted (epēkolouthēsen) gives the sense of follow or be dedicated to something. This phrase emphasizes the overall lifestyle of the widow and that she is focused on helping others and not living for herself. Even though widows may feel alone or that they have little to contribute, how they live in simplicity and sincerity can be a powerful testimony of their faith. This list can be both evaluative for widows who are worthy of being on the list and an incentive for all women to be devoted to these matters because they may become widows at some point themselves.
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