Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,
Let {G2639} not {G3361} a widow {G5503} be taken into the number {G2639} under {G1640} threescore {G1835} years old {G2094}, having been {G1096} the wife {G1135} of one {G1520} man {G435},
Let a widow be enrolled on the list of widows only if she is more than sixty years old, was faithful to her husband,
A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, the wife of one man,
Let none be enrolled as a widow under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,
-
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; -
1 Timothy 5:11
But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; -
Luke 2:36
And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; -
Luke 2:37
And she [was] a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served [God] with fastings and prayers night and day. -
1 Corinthians 7:10
¶ And unto the married I command, [yet] not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from [her] husband: -
1 Corinthians 7:11
But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to [her] husband: and let not the husband put away [his] wife. -
1 Timothy 5:3
¶ Honour widows that are widows indeed.
1 Timothy 5:9 is part of Paul’s detailed instructions to Timothy regarding the proper care and administration of widows within the early church at Ephesus. This verse specifies two key qualifications for a widow to be formally supported or "taken into the number" – likely a register of widows who received regular financial aid and potentially served the church in specific ways.
Context
In 1 Timothy chapter 5, Paul lays out guidelines for how Timothy, as a young leader, should interact with different age groups and social categories within the church, including elders, younger men and women, and specifically widows. Paul emphasizes the church's responsibility to care for its needy members, especially genuine widows who are truly destitute (1 Timothy 5:3). However, he also provides discerning criteria to ensure that church resources are used wisely and that those supported truly meet the qualifications for such care. The "number" refers to a formal roll or register of widows who were deemed eligible for ongoing support and perhaps a specific role of prayer and service, as seen in the early church's practice of caring for widows in Acts 6:1.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insight
The phrase "threescore years old" simply means sixty years old. This age likely signified a point where a woman was less likely to remarry and would typically have fewer familial obligations or means of support, making her truly dependent on the church.
The phrase "having been the wife of one man" is a translation of the Greek `henos andros gynē` (ἑνὸς ἀνδρὸς γυνή). This is often debated, but most scholars interpret it similarly to the qualification for elders and deacons being "the husband of one wife" (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6). It generally implies a woman known for her marital fidelity and purity, having been faithful to one husband throughout her life, even if widowed. It speaks to a reputation of moral uprightness and commitment in marriage, rather than necessarily meaning she could never remarry after widowhood (which Paul addresses later in the chapter for younger widows).
Practical Application
While the specific cultural context of formal "widow rolls" may differ today, the underlying principles remain highly relevant for the church: