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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1Ti_5:9-16
9A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one Man_1:10 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. 11But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, 12thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. 13At 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. 14Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; 15for some have already turned aside to follow Satan. 16If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed.
1Ti_5:9 "A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old" This is a present passive imperative with the negative particle, which usually implies stop an act in process. Here is another qualification for the widows who were part of the ministry team. The term "the list" is the Greek term for "a legal register." The widows' roll may be synonymous with the concept of "deaconess" (cf. 1Ti_3:11; Rom_16:1). However, the "Apostolic Constitutions," written in the early second century, listed three categories of women ministers: virgins, deaconesses, and widows.
NASB "having been the wife of one man"
NKJV "and not unless she has been the wife of one man"
NRSV "and has been married only once"
TEV "In addition she must have been married only once"
NJB "who has had only one husband"
There has been much discussion as to what this phrase means (cf. 1Ti_3:1; 1Ti_3:12). But it is obvious that whatever it means, it was a very serious issue to the house churches of Ephesus and Crete (cf. 1Ti_3:1; 1Ti_3:12; 1Ti_5:9; Tit_1:6). Strong, godly families were (and are) a powerful witness to a lost and confused world.
For a more complete discussion see 1Ti_3:2. In 1Ti_5:14 young widows are admonished to remarry. This seems to imply that a second marriage was not seen as sinful (cf. Rom_7:2-3; 1 Corinthians 7). In Baptist circles in Europe this "husband of one wife" or "wife of one man" has been interpreted as a biblical rejection of second marriages, especially for pastors. However, this was not the case in middle eastern culture. This theory reflects the growing asceticism of the early church, but not of the NT. Greek thought (i.e., the body is evil) negatively impacted the early Gentile churches.
1Ti_5:10 "having a reputation for good works" There are five specific good deeds listed (all First class conditional sentences) in the remainder of 1Ti_5:10. See Special Topic: Qualifications for Female Church Workers at 1Ti_3:12. These good works reflect a woman's expected role in the local community.
▣ "if" This is a series of five first class conditional sentences in 1Ti_5:10, each of which denotes a qualification of a widow to be hired by the church.
▣ "if she has brought up children" This is not meant to imply that a childless woman cannot be considered, but that if she has had children, they must be godly. This is the recurrent emphasis (cf. chapter 3) upon a strong, godly, faithful family life.
▣ "if she has shown hospitality to strangers" This does not refer to the welcoming of any and everybody into one's home, but the boarding of itinerant Christian leaders.
▣ "if she has washed the saints' feet" This was an act of a household servant receiving a guest. Jesus did this for His own disciples to teach them humility (cf. John 13). Here it seems to be metaphorical of humble service (and possibly a culturally expected hospitality).
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▣ "is she has assisted those in distress" Here again this probably refers to a comforting ministry toward believers, but it could include needy, hurting, lost neighbors. Each of the qualifications reveals the servant heart of these elder widows.
1Ti_5:11 "But refuse to put younger widows on the list for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married" We must remember the positive theology of marriage which is presented in the Bible (cf. Genesis 1, 2). This phrase seems to relate to a vow that these widows took when they became house church helpers (cf. 1Ti_5:12). This is not a disparaging statement about marriage, but a disparaging comment about making a vow in Christ's name and not keeping it (i.e., as divorce does also).
1Ti_5:12 "thus incurring condemnation" The King James Version has "damnation" (NKJF has "condemnation"). This is much too severe a translation for the Greek word krino. Vows to God were/are a serious promise (cf. Leviticus 27 and Numbers 30), but not a salvation issue.
NASB "they have set aside their previous pledge"
NKJV "they have cast off their first faith"
NRSV "for having violated their first pledge"
TEV "of breaking their earlier promise to him"
NJB "for being unfaithful to their original promise"
The Greek term pistis, which is usually translated "faith," "trust," or "believe," has the OT connotation of faithfulness or trustworthiness. This is how it is used here, in the sense of a priority promise related to their serving Christ (literally, "the first faith").
1Ti_5:13 "as they go around from house to house" Possibly the widows helped in daily care and weekly distribution of food (as did the synagogue) to the members of all the different house churches. They may have visited house to house to check on believers.
▣ "gossips and busybodies" The first term is used in 3Jn_1:10 of false charges being brought against a church leader. The problem is clearly defined in Tit_1:11. The problem was not idle gossip, but heresy!
The second term is used of magic or sorcery in Act_19:19. However, in this context it applies to women who make their business tending to other people's business (NJB "meddlers").
▣ "talking about things not proper to mention" In the context of the Pastoral Letters the false teachers tricking young women (cf. 2Ti_3:5-7), it is possible that they were spreading the false teachings from house church to house church or from Christian homemaker to Christian homemaker (cf. Tit_1:11). This is why Paul will not let them speak publicly in the house churches (cf. 1Ti_2:9-15) and will not allow them to be church helpers.
1Ti_5:14 "Therefore, I want younger widows to get married" Marriage (for these a second marriage) is not evil or less spiritual (cf. 1Co_7:8; 1Co_7:39-40). Homemaking is a godly calling (cf. 1Ti_2:15).
▣ "give the enemy no occasion for reproach" The "enemy" is singular; it could refer to
1. Satan (cf. 1Ti_5:15)
2. anti-Christian pagan neighbors (NJB footnote, Jerome Biblical Commentary, p. 356)
3. a false teacher (cf. 2Ti_3:6-7)
These widows who had become sexually active have opened a door for both satanic attack and criticism from the whole community (believing and unbelieving).
The term "occasion" is a military term for a "beachhead" or "base of operations" (cf. Rom_7:8; Rom_7:11). The physical body is not evil, but it is the battleground of temptation. Human sexuality is not the problem. It is fallen humans taking God-given good things beyond God-given bounds.
1Ti_5:15 "for some have already turned aside to follow Satan" Possibly Timothy had related to Paul a specific occurrence such as the widow mentioned in 1Ti_5:6 or 13. The false teachers had targeted these young widows as surrogate speakers (as they had some male leaders, cf. 1Ti_1:20). Behind the false teachers was/is the activity of the evil one. See hyperlink at 1Ti_3:6.
1Ti_5:16 "if" This is a first class conditional sentence. Paul wants Christian families to do their duty (present active imperative). He also wants to provide for those who have no family (cf. 1Ti_5:4; 1Ti_5:8).
NASB "If any woman who is a believer"
NKJV "If any believing man or woman"
NRSV "If any believing woman"
REV, REB"But if any Christian woman"
NJB "If a woman believer"
Obviously there is a textual variant.
1. pistç – believing woman, MSS à , A, C, F, G, P
2. pistos – believing man, some Old Latin and Vulgate MSS and the Greek text used by Augustine
3. pistos ç pistç – believing man and woman, MS D and many minuscules
4. pistas – believing women, some Old Latin and Vulgate MSS
The UBS4 gives option #1 a "B" rating (almost certain).
▣ "church" See note at 1Ti_3:15 and Special Topic at 1Ti_3:5.