Heavenly Pilgrim said:
The certainty of hell is yet to be decided in finality for the living. In this life the wicked entertain the hope of eternal damnation just as we entertain the hope of eternal life through repentance, faith and continued obedience to the end.
Do you honestly think that Paul is speaking of condemnation to hell about those widows that the church would consider to support in a financial way? That seems like a very strange outlook to me.
Let's look at the entire context:
1 Timothy 5:3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.
--This is where the topic of widows begins. As a general rule they are to be given honor or "respect." "A widow indeed," or a true widow is one who had no means of support but is wholly dependant upon the Lord for her every need. She doesn't even have a living relative to rely upon.
1 Timothy 5:4-5 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
--Here is a second class of widows.
They are widows that have relatives--children, nephews, perhaps grandchildren or others. The Bible teaches: "Honor thy father and thy mother." Children (even when they grow older), have a responsibilty to take care of their parents. It is a poor testimony to the Christian faith to speak of Christianity, and then to neglect one's faith by neglecting their own family.
1 Timothy 5:6-7 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
7 And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
--Here the widow that lives in pleasure is put in contrast to the Godly widow. Is she unsaved? Probably not, but no doubt badly backslidden. She is dead as far as her communion with God is concerned.
Timothy is to warn such widows living in pleasure and is also to teach Christians to care for those who are related to them.
1 Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
--This is a serious charge--failing to provide for your own. Most societies that I have seen (in eastern cultures) have extended families, not the nuclear system that we have. There may be several generations living under one roof. If the head of the household does not see that all in the family are provided for then he is worse than an infidel. The responsibility lies on him. Often that responsibility is not the oldest or grandparent, but the eldest son, the wage-earner. A Christian can bring reproach upon the name of the Lord in a way that an unbeliever cannot.
1 Timothy 5:9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,
--Paul now begins to set forth guidelines, as to who the church should support financially as a widow.
1. She should be at least 60 years of age.
2. The wife of one man--the same requirement of a deacon or bishop (pastor). Her married life would have to be without reproach.
1 Timothy 5:10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
3. A reputation characterized by good works.
4. If she had children, they also must reflect her testimony of child-rearing.
5. She must have shown hospitality to others, to strangers.
6. Washing the feet of visitors was the duty of a slave, and would show the quality of humility.
7. Be kind--showing relief to the afflicted and other acts of mercy.
8. Diligent in every good work.
This is the type of widow that the church would give financial support to.
1 Timothy 5:11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
--It would be a mistake to support the younger widows. There is a good chance that they would marry again. The desire to marry could become so strong that they could end up marrying an unbeliever. Paul speaks of this as "growing wanton against Christ." If this should happen, and the church would have already be supporting such an one, then it would bring reproach upon the name of Christ.
1 Timothy 5:12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
--The word here has no reference to eternal perdition. It simply means judgment, the judgment for casting off her first faith. At one time she professed great loyalty to Christ. But now, after made a widow, and young enough to marry again, she marries someone who does not love Christ. She forgets her initial love for Christ and goes off with an unbeliever, unfaithful to her Saviour.
Paul does not criticize widows for not marrying. He encourages them to do so (vs.14), only in the Lord. There are Biblical principles to follow in marriage.
1 Timothy 5:13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
--What happens when the church assumes financial responsibility of a younger widow?
1. It encourages them to be idle. (They can work--Lydia was a seller of purple).
2. They may become gossips and busybodies.
1 Timothy 5:14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
--Here is a general principle:
Younger widows should marry, bear children, guide the house, and live above reproach. In that way they will not give any chance for the devil to make false accusations against them or to speak reproachfully.
1 Timothy 5:15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.
--Paul speaks from experience. He has already seen this happen. Some have already turned aside for not following his advice.
1 Timothy 5:16 If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
--Paul now again comes back to the responsibility of the family or relatives of the widows. The believing men and women of the church have the responsibility of caring for their own, not the church. The family is the primary care-giver not the church.
Verses 3-16 gives instruction to the church what it must do for widows under certain circumstances. Primary responsibility always falls on the family.
raying: