1 Timothy 5:1-10 (12/7) Epistle for
Monday of the Twenty-Seventh Week after Pentecost
Church As Community I ~ Care for Widows: 1 Timothy 5:1-10, especially
vs. 3: "Honor widows who are really widows."
Saint Nikolai of Zica notes that although "...before Christ men were
able with their own spirit and effort to create great civilizations.
was not possible to arrive at a proper concept of God...as love." And
to demonstrate this truth he asks, "How would men know about charity
had God not first acted with His?" For it is with Christ that a
world-wide community of care, love, and charity came into being and
exists, even with imperfections, to this day, extending care and love
through its members despite their great diversity.
It seems natural to us that the Church of God, filled with His Holy
Spirit, is meant to be a caring, loving community. Yet as Saint Nikolai
notes: "As there are plants that grow only in one region, so this rare
plant, this rare love, grows and flourishes only in Christ's Church. If
anyone would be convinced...
the fathers and confessors of the Christian faith...." It is God Who
makes love the norm and expected in the Church.
This week we read four passages that conclude the First Epistle to
Timothy. Each of the readings is concerned with the status and needs of
a particular group or class of persons within the Church: widows,
presbyters, slaves, teachers, and the wealthy. Since all of these are
members of the Body of Christ, all are of special concern to the Church
as a loving community.
Saint Paul's remarks concerning care for widows in the first century
Church, prompt us to consider and plan how to apply to contemporary
circumstances the truths he teaches us, especially with respect to the
dependent women and widows among us.
Today's reading discloses that a monastic-style order of widows was
established in the early days, to avoid having the Church's goodwill
abused. The general criteria for admission: "...sixty years old..." and
"...the wife of one man, well reported for good works..." (vss. 9,10).
Younger widows were refused admission, "...for when they have begun to
grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, having condemnation
because they have cast off their first faith" (vss. 11,12). "...younger
widows [should] marry, bear children, manage the house..." (vs. 14),
and, as Tertullian noted later, to take "...the whole course of
probation whereby a female can be tested."
The Apostle counsels Timothy that care be given to those widows who
truly require the help of the Church, those "...who are really widows"
(vs. 3). Notice, however, that he divides widows who have "...children
or grandchildren.
(vs. 5). These latter are of special concern because they have no
natural family who might "...repay their parents..." (vs. 4). Where
families are capable of assisting, they should bear the burden of caring
for their dependent relatives: "...for this is good and acceptable
before God" (vs. 4). When one who calls himself a Christian but
"...does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his
household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (vs. 8).
On the other hand, women who have no recourse except to make
"...supplications and prayers night and day" to God for help (vs. 5)
genuinely are the responsibility of the Church, because the community
bears Christ's name. In the second century, Saint Ignatius of Antioch
counseled a fellow Bishop similarly: "Do not let the widows be
neglected; after the Lord, you must be their guardian." However, such
an obligation should not be thrust on the Church in any or every case.
If a woman "...lives in pleasure (or indulgence),
she may be a widow - simply because her husband is deceased - she is in
fact, "...dead while she lives" (vs. 6). Christian churches should
shelter dependent members, but expect others to live diligently.
Heavenly Father, guide Thy Church to administer justice for the
fatherless and widows.
Monday of the Twenty-Seventh Week after Pentecost
Church As Community I ~ Care for Widows: 1 Timothy 5:1-10, especially
vs. 3: "Honor widows who are really widows."
Saint Nikolai of Zica notes that although "...before Christ men were
able with their own spirit and effort to create great civilizations.
was not possible to arrive at a proper concept of God...as love." And
to demonstrate this truth he asks, "How would men know about charity
had God not first acted with His?" For it is with Christ that a
world-wide community of care, love, and charity came into being and
exists, even with imperfections, to this day, extending care and love
through its members despite their great diversity.
It seems natural to us that the Church of God, filled with His Holy
Spirit, is meant to be a caring, loving community. Yet as Saint Nikolai
notes: "As there are plants that grow only in one region, so this rare
plant, this rare love, grows and flourishes only in Christ's Church. If
anyone would be convinced...
the fathers and confessors of the Christian faith...." It is God Who
makes love the norm and expected in the Church.
This week we read four passages that conclude the First Epistle to
Timothy. Each of the readings is concerned with the status and needs of
a particular group or class of persons within the Church: widows,
presbyters, slaves, teachers, and the wealthy. Since all of these are
members of the Body of Christ, all are of special concern to the Church
as a loving community.
Saint Paul's remarks concerning care for widows in the first century
Church, prompt us to consider and plan how to apply to contemporary
circumstances the truths he teaches us, especially with respect to the
dependent women and widows among us.
Today's reading discloses that a monastic-style order of widows was
established in the early days, to avoid having the Church's goodwill
abused. The general criteria for admission: "...sixty years old..." and
"...the wife of one man, well reported for good works..." (vss. 9,10).
Younger widows were refused admission, "...for when they have begun to
grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, having condemnation
because they have cast off their first faith" (vss. 11,12). "...younger
widows [should] marry, bear children, manage the house..." (vs. 14),
and, as Tertullian noted later, to take "...the whole course of
probation whereby a female can be tested."
The Apostle counsels Timothy that care be given to those widows who
truly require the help of the Church, those "...who are really widows"
(vs. 3). Notice, however, that he divides widows who have "...children
or grandchildren.
(vs. 5). These latter are of special concern because they have no
natural family who might "...repay their parents..." (vs. 4). Where
families are capable of assisting, they should bear the burden of caring
for their dependent relatives: "...for this is good and acceptable
before God" (vs. 4). When one who calls himself a Christian but
"...does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his
household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (vs. 8).
On the other hand, women who have no recourse except to make
"...supplications and prayers night and day" to God for help (vs. 5)
genuinely are the responsibility of the Church, because the community
bears Christ's name. In the second century, Saint Ignatius of Antioch
counseled a fellow Bishop similarly: "Do not let the widows be
neglected; after the Lord, you must be their guardian." However, such
an obligation should not be thrust on the Church in any or every case.
If a woman "...lives in pleasure (or indulgence),
she may be a widow - simply because her husband is deceased - she is in
fact, "...dead while she lives" (vs. 6). Christian churches should
shelter dependent members, but expect others to live diligently.
Heavenly Father, guide Thy Church to administer justice for the
fatherless and widows.
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