Read & explore together
Honoring True Widows
This passage gives practical teaching about how believers should honour widows. It explains who should be helped by the assembly, what families must do first, and what kind of conduct fits this care.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
In this part of the letter, the writer gives ordered instructions about widows in the believing community. He distinguishes widows who are “widows indeed” from those with family support, describes qualifications for enrolment, and addresses the conduct of younger widows and the duty of believing relatives.
1 Timothy 5:3–16Main takeaway
Believers are to honour widows carefully, with family members relieving their own relatives and the assembly supporting those who are truly left alone.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Honour and family responsibilityThe passage opens by saying, “Honor widows who are widows indeed.” It then adds an important distinction.
Explanation
The passage opens by saying, “Honor widows who are widows indeed.” It then adds an important distinction. If a widow has children or grandchildren, they are to show piety toward their own family and repay their parents. The text says this family care is acceptable in the sight of God.
02A true widow and a serious warningA widow indeed is described as desolate, with her hope set on God, continuing in petitions and prayers night and day.
Explanation
A widow indeed is described as desolate, with her hope set on God, continuing in petitions and prayers night and day. In contrast, the one who gives herself to pleasure is described as dead while she lives. These things are to be commanded so that they may be without reproach. The passage also insists that people provide for their own household.
03Who may be enrolledThe letter then speaks about enrolment. A widow is not to be enrolled if she is under sixty years old, “having been the wife of one man”.
Explanation
The letter then speaks about enrolment. A widow is not to be enrolled if she is under sixty years old, “having been the wife of one man”. She is also to be approved by good works, including bringing up children, showing hospitality to strangers, washing the saints’ feet, relieving the afflicted, and diligently following every good work.
04Younger widows and care within the churchYounger widows are to be refused for this enrolment, because the passage warns about desire to marry, rejecting a first pledge, idleness, gossip, and busy behaviour.
Explanation
Younger widows are to be refused for this enrolment, because the passage warns about desire to marry, rejecting a first pledge, idleness, gossip, and busy behaviour. The writer therefore desires that younger widows marry, bear children, and rule the household. Believing men or women with widows are to relieve them, so the assembly can help widows indeed.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What two verses show both the command to honour widows and the family’s first responsibility?
Read the opening instruction, then notice how the next verse qualifies it by speaking about children and grandchildren caring for their own family.
02How does the passage describe a widow indeed, and what opposite picture does it give?
Compare the widow who hopes in God and continues in petitions and prayers with the woman who gives herself to pleasure.
03Why does verse 16 tell believing relatives to relieve widows in their own care?
Look at the purpose given at the end of the verse about not burdening the assembly, so it can relieve those who are widows indeed.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Timothy 5:3–16
3Honor widows who are widows indeed.
4But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety toward their own family and to repay their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
5Now she who is a widow indeed and desolate, has her hope set on God and continues in petitions and prayers night and day.
6But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives.
7Also command these things, that they may be without reproach.
8But if anyone doesn’t provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9Let no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man,
10being approved by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, and if she has diligently followed every good work.
11But refuse younger widows, for when they have grown wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,
12having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge.
13Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.
14I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for insulting.
15For already some have turned away after Satan.
16If any man or woman who believes has widows, let them relieve them, and don’t let the assembly be burdened, that it might relieve those who are widows indeed.