So, how did you answer the last question last week? Up to now the passages we have looked at have not made any distinctions between different types or kinds of widows. Now in 1 Tim 5:5-10 a distinction is made between widows and widows indeed or true widows. These select widows are eligible for care from the church. List below the qualifications you see in these verses that are required for special care:
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Some widows have children and even grand children. My own mother was widowed when I was 11. She never remarried. 1 Tim 5:4 describes the care she should have received from the church. What do you think she should have received? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
My mother was fairly young when my dad died but I don’t know exactly how old she was. 1 Tim 5:11-12 speaks to the issue of age. According to this verse, should my mother have received any special care from the church??
☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Maybe ☐ Depends on circumstances ☐ Don’t Know
What are the reasons given in these two verses? __________________________
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Verses 13-15 of 1 Tim 5 and 1 Cor 7:8-9 tell us what these young widows
should do. What do you think it is? : ________________________________
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These verses also tell why they should do it. Please list the reasons you see: ___
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1 Tim 5:16 gives specific instructions to any woman (who is a believer) concerning the treatment of widows. What are the instructions? ____________
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I think it is interesting that women are given these specific instructions concerning widows rather than men. However, this verse addresses both men and women in some translations and even relatives in general in some translations.
It does seem that widows are treated as a special case in so far as the instructions given. They are very specific and quite detailed. Clearly the Lord is concerned about widows.
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WIDOWS INDEED QUALIFICATIONS
1 Tim 5:5-10 Now she who is a widow indeed, and who has been left alone has fixed her hope on God, and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day. But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives. Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. Let a widow be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work. NAS
1 Tim 5:3-4 Honor widows who are widows indeed; but if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family, and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God. NAS
1 Tim 5:11-15 But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. And at the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention. Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; for some have already turned aside to follow Satan NAS
1 Tim 5:16 If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, let her assist them, and let not the church be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed. NAS
1 Cor 7:8-9 But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn. NAS