1 Timothy 5:13-15

Placement on the list of supported widows would not be good for younger widows because it would open them to the temptation of idleness as well as inconsistency. They would normally face temptation to use their energy and time in too much talking and getting into other people’s affairs. In short, they would fail to participate in constructive activities and instead become involved in what was destructive. Contrast the behavior of the commended widows in 1 Timothy 5:10.

"In their visits to homes they pick up private matters and spread them abroad. This is always a snare to those who go from home to home or church to church." [Note: Earle, p. 378.]

In view of these possibilities Paul encouraged younger widows to remarry. In the ancient world most people expected that a widow would remarry. [Note: Bruce W. Winter, "Providentia for the Widows of 1 Timothy 5:3-16," Tyndale Bulletin 39 (1988):85; W. K. Lacey, The Family in Classical Greece, p. 117.] The apostle urged the younger widows to use their strength to bear children and to care for their families, the primary duties of a typical Christian wife (cf. Titus 2:5). The Greek word oikodespotein, translated "keep house" in the NASB, means "rule the house(hold)." Since the husband is ultimately responsible to God for what happens in his home (1 Timothy 3:4; Genesis 3:16), Paul must have meant that the wife is to rule over the household under his authority.

By remarrying, the younger widows would not give the enemy (any accuser of believers) an opportunity to criticize them for going back on their pledge to serve Christ as a "widow indeed." Evidently this had already happened in the Ephesian church (1 Timothy 5:15). In forsaking their professed service of Christ in this way some had turned aside to follow Satan. This is a strong description of the real situation involved in going back on a commitment to Christ.

Did Paul mean that every young widow, and perhaps every young woman, should get married and bear children? I think not. This was the typical role of a young woman in Paul’s day and still is today worldwide. This seems to be another example of presenting the typical situation with room for exceptions assumed.

"The wife who works simply to get luxuries may discover too late that she has lost some necessities. It may be all right to have what money can buy, if you do not lose what money cannot buy." [Note: Wiersbe, 2:231.]