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| 1 Timothy 5:10 |
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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.
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of the chapter to this point and maybe a verse or
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Let us read verses
9 and 10:
1 Timothy 5:9-10
9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under
threescore years old, having been the wife of one
man,
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.
AN HONOURED AND A USEFUL OLD AGE
1 Timothy 5:9–10
Let a woman be enrolled as a widow only if she is
more than sixty years of age; if she has been the
wife of one husband; if she has earned an attested
reputation for good works; if she has nourished
children; if she has been hospitable to strangers;
if she has helped those in trouble; if she has
washed the feet of the saints; if she has devoted
herself to every good work.
FROM this passage, it is clear that the Church had
an official register of widows; and it seems that
the word widow is being used in a double sense.
Women who were elderly and whose husbands had died
and whose lives were lovely and filled with good
works were the responsibility of the Church; but it
is also true that, perhaps as early as this, and
certainly later in the early Church, there was an
official order of widows, an order of elderly women
who were set apart for special duties. In the
regulations of the Apostolic Constitutions, which
tell us what the life and organization of the Church
were like in the third century, it is laid down:
‘Three widows shall be appointed, two to persevere
in prayer for those who are in temptation, and for
the reception of revelations, when such are
necessary, but one to assist women who are visited
with sickness; she must be ready for service,
discreet, telling the elders what is necessary, not
avaricious, not given to much love of wine, so that
she may be sober and able to perform the night
services, and other loving duties.’
Such widows were not ordained as the elders and the
bishops were; they were set apart by prayer for the
work which they had to do. They were not to be set
apart until they were over sixty years of age. That
was an age which the ancient world also considered
to be specially suited for concentration on the
spiritual life. Plato, in his plan for the ideal
state, held that sixty was the right age for men and
women to become priests and priestesses.
The Pastoral Epistles are always intensely
practical; and in this passage we find seven
qualifications which the Church’s widows must
satisfy.
They must have been the wife of one husband. In an
age when the marriage bond was taken lightly and
almost universally dishonoured, they must be
examples of purity and fidelity.
They must have earned an attested reputation for
good works. The office-bearers of the Church, male
or female, have within their keeping not only their
personal reputation but also the good name of the
Church. Nothing discredits a church like unworthy
office-bearers; and nothing is so good an
advertisement for it as an office-bearer who has
taken his or her Christianity into the activity of
daily living.
They must have nourished children. This may well
mean more than one thing. It may mean that widows
must have given proof of their Christian piety by
bringing up their own families in the Christian way.
But it can mean more than that. In an age when the
marriage bond was very lax, and men and women
changed their partners with bewildering rapidity,
children were regarded as a misfortune. When a child
was born, it was brought and laid before the
father’s feet. If the father stooped and lifted the
child, that meant that he acknowledged it and was
prepared to accept responsibility for its
upbringing. If the father turned and walked away,
the child was quite literally thrown out, like an
unwanted piece of rubbish. It often happened that
such unwanted children were collected by
unscrupulous people and, if they were girls, brought
up to stock the public brothels. If they were boys,
they were trained to be slaves or gladiators for the
public games. It would be a Christian duty to rescue
such children from death and worse than death, and
to bring them up in a Christian home. So, this may
mean that widows must be women who had been prepared
to give a home to abandoned children.
They must have been hospitable to strangers. Inns in
the ancient world were notoriously dirty, expensive
and immoral. Those who opened their homes to
travellers, or to strangers in an unfamiliar place,
or to young people whose work and study took them
far from home, were doing a most valuable service to
the community. The open door of the Christian home
is always a precious thing. They must have washed
the feet of the saints. That need not be taken
literally, although the literal sense is included.
To wash a person’s feet was the task of a slave, the
lowest of all duties. This means that Christian
widows must have been willing to accept the humblest
tasks in the service of Christ and of his people.
The Church needs its leaders who will be prominent
in its work, but no less it needs those who are
prepared to do the tasks which receive no prominence
and little thanks.
They must have helped those in trouble. In times of
persecution, it was no small thing to help
Christians who were suffering for their faith. This
was to identify oneself with them and to accept the
risk of coming to a similar punishment. Christians
must stand by those in trouble for their faith, even
if, in so doing, they bring trouble on themselves.
They must have devoted themselves to all good works.
We all concentrate on something; Christians
concentrate their lives on obeying Christ and
helping others. When we study these qualifications
for those who were to be enrolled as widows, we see
that they are the qualifications of every true
Christian.
THE PRIVILEGE AND THE DANGERS OF SERVICE
AS we have already said, the widows became an
accepted order in the Christian Church, if not as
early as the time of the Pastoral Epistles then
certainly in later days. Their place and work are
dealt with in the first eight chapters of the third
book of the Apostolic Constitutions, and these
chapters reveal the use that such an order could be
and the dangers into which it almost inevitably ran.
(1) It is laid down that women who would serve the
Church must be women of discretion. Particularly,
they must be discreet in speech: ‘Let every widow be
meek, quiet, gentle, sincere, free from anger, not
talkative, not clamorous, not hasty of speech, not
given to evil-speaking, not given to finding fault,
not double-tongued, not a busybody. If she sees or
hears anything that is not right, let her be as one
that does not see, and as one that does not hear.’
Such officers of the church must be very careful
when they discuss the faith with outsiders: ‘For
unbelievers when they hear the doctrine concerning
Christ, not explained as it ought to be, but
defectively, especially that concerning his
incarnation or his passion, will rather reject it
with scorn, and laugh at it as false, than praise
God for it.’
There is nothing more dangerous than an officer of
the church who talks about things which ought to be
kept secret; and a church office-bearer must be
equipped to communicate the gospel in a way that
will make people think more and not less of
Christian truth.
Note:
There is a specific difference between being a light
and spreading the gospel and discussing your faith
with outsiders. See 1 Corinthians 2:14.
(2) It is laid down that women who serve the Church
must not be gadabouts, always popping into and out
of the houses of neighbours: ‘Let the widow
therefore own herself to be the “altar of God”, and
let her sit in her own house, and not enter into the
houses of the unfaithful, under any pretence to
receive anything; for the altar of God never runs
about, but is fixed in one place. Let therefore the
virgin and the widow be such as do not run about, or
visit the houses of those who are alien from the
faith. For such as these are gadabouts and
impudent.’ The restless gossip is ill-equipped to
serve the Church.
(3) It is laid down that widows who accept the
charity of the Church are not to be greedy. ‘There
are some widows who esteem gain their business; and
since they ask without shame, and receive without
being satisfied, render other people more backward
in giving . . . Such a woman is thinking in her mind
of where she can go to get, or that a certain woman
who is her friend has forgotten her, and she has
something to say to her . . . She murmurs at the
deaconess who distributed the charity, saying, “Do
you not see that I am in more distress and need of
your charity? Why therefore have you preferred her
before me?”’ It is not an attractive act to seek to
live off the Church rather than for the Church.
(4) It is laid down that such women must do all they
can to help themselves: ‘Let her take wool and
assist others rather than herself want from them.’
The charity of the Church does not exist to make
people lazy and dependent.
(5) Such women are not to be envious and jealous:
‘We hear that some widows are jealous, envious
slanderers, and envious of the quiet of others . . .
It becomes them when one of their fellow-widows is
clothed by anyone, or receives money, or meat, or
drink, or shoes, at the refreshment of their sister,
to thank God.’
There we have at one and the same time a picture of
the faults of which the Church is all too full, and
of the virtues which should be the marks of the true
Christian life.
~this text from the
Barclay Commentary
Now to
the other commentaries.
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.
The verse is divided into six phrases as follows:
1] Well reported of for good works.
2] If she have brought up children.
3] If she have lodged strangers.
4] If she have washed the saints' feet.
5] If she have relieved the afflicted.
6] If she have diligently followed every good work.
Let us begin with the succinct meanings from
Robertson's Word Pictures:
1] Well reported of for good works. -
2] If she have brought up children. - Qualification
for her work as leader.
3] If she have lodged strangers. - Hospitality
another qualification for such leadership
4] If she have washed the saints' feet. - Proof of
her hospitality, not of its being a church
ordinance.
5] If she have relieved the afflicted. - Experience
that qualified her for eleemosynary work (ĕl'ə-mŏs'ə-nĕr'ē)
[concerned for charity]..
6] If she have diligently followed every good work.
- In a word such a widow must show her
qualifications for leadership as with bishops and
deacons. ~Robertson's Word
Pictures
Now to the rest of the commentaries:
1]
Well reported of for good
works - Of good character or reputation; see
the [study] on 1 Timothy 3:7.
~Barnes Notes
Quoted verse:
1 Timothy 3:7
Moreover he must have a good report of them which
are without; lest he fall into reproach and the
snare of the devil.
Well reported of for good
works - Numbers being able to bear testimony,
as the word implies, that she has not only avoided
all sin, but that she has walked according to the
testimony of God. ~Adam
Clarke
Well reported of for good
works - Both by the members of the church,
and by them that were without:
~John Gill
2]
If she have brought up
children - Either her own or others. The idea
is, if she has done this in a proper manner.
~Barnes Notes
If she have brought up
children - It was customary among the
Gentiles to expose their children, when so poor that
they were not able to provide for them. Pious and
humane people took these up; and fed, clothed, and
educated them. The words brought up may refer to the
children of others, who were educated in the
Christian faith by pious Christian women.
~Adam Clarke
If she have brought up
children - that is, "well", as the Arabic
version adds; in the nurture and admonition of the
Lord; commanding them, as Abraham did, to keep the
way of the Lord, and to do justice and judgment;
training them up in the paths of religion and
virtue, from which they will not so easily depart
when grown up. ~John Gill
3]
If she have lodged strangers
- If she has been characterized by hospitality - a
virtue greatly commended in the Scriptures; compare
[study] on 1 Timothy 3:2.
~Barnes Notes
Quoted verse
1 Timothy 3:2
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one
wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to
hospitality, apt to teach;
If she have lodged strangers
- If she have been given to hospitality, freely
contributing to the necessitous, when she had it in
her power. ~Adam Clarke
If she have lodged strangers - as Abraham and Lot
did, who entertained angels unawares: this may be
understood of strangers in common, but especially of
the brethren, ministers, and others, who came from
distant parts, and travelled about to spread the
Gospel of Christ. The (y) Jews say many things בכבוד
אכסניא, "in honour of hospitality" or entertaining
of strangers, especially of receiving into their
houses the disciples of the wise men, and giving
them food and drink, and the use of their goods;
this was what gave persons a very great character
with them, and highly recommended them.
~John Gill
4]
If she have washed the saints’
feet - It is not certain whether this is to
be understood literally, or whether it merely
denotes that she had performed offices of a humble
and self-denying kind - such as would be shown by
washing the feet of others. It was one of the rites
of hospitality in the East to wash the feet of the
guest Genesis 18:4, and Paul might have spoken of
this as having been literally performed. There is
not the slightest evidence that he refers to it as a
religious rite, or ordinance, anymore than he does
to the act of bringing up children as a religious
rite; compare notes on John 13:1-10.
~Barnes Notes
Quoted verses:
Genesis 18:4
...in the account of the angels that visited Abraham
Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash
your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
John 13:1-10
1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus
knew that his hour was come that he should depart
out of this world unto the Father, having loved his
own which were in the world, he loved them unto the
end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put
into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to
betray him;
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things
into his hands, and that he was come from God, and
went to God;
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his
garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and
began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them
with the towel wherewith he was girded.
6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith
unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou
knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my
feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou
hast no part with me.
9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet
only, but also my hands and my head.
10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not
save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and
ye are clean, but not all.
If she have washed the saints’
feet - This was an office of humanity shown
to all strangers and travelers in the eastern
countries, who, either walking barefoot, or having
only a sort of sole to defend the foot, needed
washing when they came to their journey’s end. Pious
women generally did this act of kindness.
~Adam Clarke
If she have washed the saints’
feet - which was usual in those hot
countries, where they wore sandals only, partly for
refreshment, and partly for the removal of dust and
filth, contracted in walking; instances of this we
have in several places of Scripture, Genesis18:4 [quoted
above]. It
was such a common piece of civility, that our Lord
complains of the neglect of it towards him,
Luke 7:44. It was what he did to his own disciples,
and in so doing set them an example of what they
should do to one another, John 13:14 and being a mean
and low office, and which very likely was done by
the servants of the house; the sense may be, if she
has condescended to do the meanest office for the
saints. ~John Gill
Quoted verses:
Luke 7:44
And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon,
Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house,
thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath
washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the
hairs of her head.
John 13:14
If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your
feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
5]
If she have relieved the afflicted - If it
has been her character that she was ready to furnish
relief to those who were in distress.
~Barnes Notes
If she have relieved the
afflicted - Visited and ministered to the
sick. ~Adam Clarke
If she have relieved the
afflicted - either in body, with her purse;
or in mind, by visiting them, and speaking
comfortably to them: in general,
~John Gill
6]
If she have diligently
followed every good work - Notice how this
commentary goes directly to all Christians and not
just the widows of this passage.
This is one of the
characteristics of true piety. A sincere Christian
will, like God, be the friend of all that is good,
and will be ready to promote every good object
according to his ability. He will not merely be the
friend of one good cause, to the neglect of others,
but he will endeavor to promote every good object,
and though from special circumstances, and special
dealings of Providence, he may have been
particularly interested in some one object of
charity, yet every good object will find a response
in his heart, and he will be ready to promote it by
his influence, his property, and his prayers.
~Barnes Notes
If she have diligently
followed every good work - In a word, if she
have been altogether a Christian, living according
to the precepts of the Gospel, and doing the Lord’s
work with all her heart, soul, and strength.
~Adam Clarke
If she have diligently
followed every good work - not only have done
good works at certain times, but has followed that
which is good; has closely pursued it, and that with
great eagerness and diligence; has been constant and
indefatigable (ĭn'dĭ-făt'ĭ-gə-bəl) [tireless] in the performance of it.
~John Gill
Recap
1] Well reported of for good works.
---Be of good character.
---Be of good reputation from within and outside the
church.
---Be in the process of overcoming and avoiding sin
[a maturity process].
---Be walking according to the Word of God; living
by every word of God [a
maturity process].
2] If she have brought up children.
---Have brought up or otherwise trained children.
---Have cared for children.
---Have shown outgoing concern and love for
children.
---Looks for opportunities to teach or demonstrate
Godly principles to children.
---Is an example to children.
3] If she have lodged strangers.
---Is given to hospitality as she is able.
---Has literally housed guests in her home.
---Has feed guests or even strangers.
---Has offered possessions to the use of guests,
brethren or those in need.
4] If she have washed the saints' feet.
---Is humble.
---Is a servant.
---Invokes the Godly principle of service.
---Invokes the Godly principle of compassion.
---Seeks the other person's wealth and prosperity
[that they have these things] (1 Corinthians 10:24).
5] If she have relieved the afflicted.
---Has furnished relief to those in distress OR is
always ready to do this.
---Has visited the sick or those in need.
---Has ministered to the sick or afflicted.
---Has helped or relieved the afflicted either in
body, with her purse or in her mind [prayer].
6] If she have diligently followed every good
work.
---Is diligent.
---Invokes diligence, fervency and zeal.
---Is a friend, like God, of all that is
good...speaking of individuals, things and concepts
or truths.
---Is ready to promote every good object according
to her ability.
---Promotes every good thing with his influence,
personal gifts of God, his property and his prayers.
---Lives by every word of God [again,
a maturity process].
---Puts her heart, soul and strength into the Work
of God [mostly by doing all
and striving after all listed above].
---She follows after good and pursues it.
---Is tireless. |
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