1 Timothy 5:3 - Exposition

Honor ( τίμα ). The use of the verb τιμάω in the comment on the fourth commandment in Matthew 15:4-6 , where the withholding of the honor due consists in saying, "It is corban, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me," and so withholding the honor due, shows clearly that in the notion of honoring is included that material support which their condition as widows required. So again in Matthew 15:17 of this chapter, the " double honor" due to elders who labor in the Word and doctrine is clearly shown by Matthew 15:18 to include payment for their maintenance. This is also borne out by the frequent use of τιμή in the sense of "price" ( Matthew 27:6 , Matthew 27:9 ; Acts 4:34 ; Acts 7:16 ; Acts 19:19 ; 1 Corinthians 6:20 , etc.). The passage might, therefore, be paraphrased, "Pay due regard to the wants of those widows who are widows indeed." The "honor" here prescribed would be exactly the opposite to the "neglect" ( παρεθεωροῦντο ) complained of by the Grecian Jews ( Acts 6:1 ). The same idea is in the Latin honorarium , for a fee . Widows indeed ; i.e. really, as in Matthew 15:5 and Matthew 15:16 , desolate and alone. We learn from this passage that the care of widows by the whole Church, which began at Jerusalem in the very infancy of the Church, was continued in the Churches planted by St. Paul. We find the same institution though somewhat different in character, in subsequent ages of the Church. Widowhood, as well as virginity, became a religious profession, and widows were admitted with certain ceremonies, including the placing on their heads a veil consecrated by the bishop. Deaconesses were very frequently chosen from the ranks of the widows (Bingham, 'Antiq.,' bk. 7. 1 Timothy 4:1-16 .).