Younger Widows getting remarried in I Timothy

[Guest]

I Timothy 5: 11-12 "But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith."

I didn't take the time to put all the verses regarding this matter in I Timothy 5 here for you to read. You can read chapter 5:3 -16 if you desire. While I was reading this book yesterday, this matter puzzled me. Paul said that he desired the younger widows to marry so why are these younger widows having condemnation for desiring to marry and why is having the desire to marry a casting off of their first faith?

[Guest]

Here is the full section concerning widows in First Timothy chapter 5.

"Honor widows who are really widows. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. Now she who is really a widow, and is left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. And these things command, that they may be blameless. But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse then an unbeliever.
Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, well reported of good works:
if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.
But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some have alreay turned aside after Satan. If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows."(New King James)

Maybe this will help you to consider my question. Why would a younger widow desiring to marry have condemnation and why would desiring to marry be a casting off of their first faith?

[Guest]

Why would a younger widow desiring to marry have condemnation and why would desiring to marry be a casting off of their first faith?

The condemnation for "casting off their first faith" isn't because they marry, but because they broke the initial commitment to wholly serve the body of Christ.

Older widows are to be accepted as the Church's charge if they have no one else to take care of them and they are wholly devoted to serving the body of Christ.

When Paul makes a distinction between older and younger widows, I think he is referring to their ability to remarry, they younger widows possessing that ability.

While a younger widow may devote her life to the care and service of the body of Christ like an older widow, she may be more likely to abandon this commitment when presented with the opportunity to remarry (verses 11,12). Paul is apparently concerned with widows who will stay the course in their service and devotion to the body of Christ (verse 16).

Verse 13 implies that younger widows face the temptation of gossip and slander, because they can become lazy, possibly due to immaturity.

Therefore, in verse 14, Paul directs younger widows to remarry, raise Godly children and manage a household, which shows that remarrying isn't casting off their faith, but rather that Godly mothering is a Godly calling. Also, a mother who is busy caring for her family has less time to gossip and slander.

Paul seems to be addressing specific cultural situations in this passage, not broad-brushing younger widows. However, principles can be gleaned from this passage:


1) It is a Godly calling to manage a household and raise children. As one with a wife who does so, it is also an incredible asset to our family and a blessing to her husband. (Gee, I hope she reads this )

2) Occupying yourself with serving others, whether they be your biological family, or the body of Christ or both, can help to keep one from temptation.

3) Discernment is needed when the body of Christ supports individuals to ensure that they aren't "freeloading". If you are being supported by the body of Christ, you should busy yourself with serving as if you're getting paid for it.


Just my thoughts from the context.

[_Steve]

Good treatment of that material, David.

[Guest]

Thank you Schoel for your answer.

I have friends( a husband and wife) who were serving the Lord full time, being supported by the church for many years. Now they are both working full time jobs and are no longer in that function, although they are still participating in church fellowship and are wonderful precious believers in Christ. Have they " left their first faith" because they are no longer living a life totally devoted to the service of the body of Christ?

When Paul speaks of "condemnation" in these verses, what is he talking about? Is he speaking about "loss of salvation" or just that they broke a commitment and that they feel bad about it?

Thank you for taking the time to answer.

[Guest]

Thank you Schoel for your answer.

I have friends( a husband and wife) who were serving the Lord full time, being supported by the church for many years. Now they are both working full time jobs and are no longer in that function, although they are still participating in church fellowship and are wonderful precious believers in Christ. Have they " left their first faith" because they are no longer living a life totally devoted to the service of the body of Christ?

When Paul speaks of "condemnation" in these verses, what is he talking about? Is he speaking about "loss of salvation" or just that they broke a commitment and that they feel bad about it?

Thank you for taking the time to answer.

First, keep in mind that this passage is specifically referring to widows. Your friends don't fall in that category.

Second, while there are principles to be gleaned from the passage for application today, Paul's instructions are aimed at a specific culture and time.

Finally, note what Paul says in verses 11 and 12:
11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry 12 and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith.

The assertion by Paul may be that younger widows are drawn away from Christ by their passions, and may result in them not entering into a Godly marriage. This would obviously incur condemnation and consequences and prevent these widows from serving the Body of Christ.

Since we don't know all the specifics of the situation, some of this is conjecture.
However, the entire context of verses 3-16 are summed up in verse 3:
3 Honor widows who are truly widows

I think it can be inferred that Paul was giving Timothy guidelines for the churches to enable them to support true Godly widows.
This passage isn't an explanation of who is or isn't saved in all situations and cultures.

What do you think?

[_Steve]

Since Paul's words in this passage are just about all we have to go on, we have to somewhat read between the lines. In my opinion, certain older widows made a pledge never to remarry, but rather to be "married" to the church--that is to serve the church in various ministries appropriate for women--in exchange for the church supporting them financially (that is, instead of a husband). This arrangement was apparently taken very seriously, and entered by a pledge, which was binding for life.

That would be why Paul wanted to restrict such commitments to widows who were old enough not to be greatly tempted to remarry. A young widow might be allowed to participate in the arrangement, if not for the fact that they might thereafter find that there were attractive options for remarriage. Since the arrangement was seemingly primarily a means of supporting widows at the church's expense, Paul favored the younger widows, who could do so, to marry and allow their support to fall on their new husbands. Even the older widows who had younger relatives were expected to be excluded from the arrangement so that the church should not be "burdened" by their support.

The arrangement (like marriage) was not intended to be a temporary means of a widow to draw support from the church while she shopped around for a new husband, but more of a permanent arrangement that both she andf the church could count on long-term. Thus, the "pledge" was like a marriage covenant (somewhat), the breaking of which incurred guilt.

[Guest]

Thanks to both Steve and Schoel for their comments concerning this matter. I know it is not a hugely crucial matter concerning our faith but it was just something that caught my attention while reading the word recently. It would be wonderful if there were historical documents of some nature that told us what was actually happening concerning this matter at that time but we have what we have and do the best with what we have. Thank you both.

[Guest]

Is there a record of the types of ministry that these older widows, who were supported by the body of believers, were expected to perform in exchange for their support?

livingink

[_Steve]

Not in scripture. There may be something in the writings of the church fathers, but I have not personally run across it.