Verse 11
11. Cases to be rejected as not widows indeed, and so not to be permanently enrolled.
Younger widows As able, usually, to support themselves; or likely to get a husband to support them.
Refuse Reject from the college of superannuated widows entitled to support.
For It is of the first importance that the enrolled widowhood should possess the perfect veneration of the Church, since nothing would more surely arrest the contributions and break up the institution than a suspicion in the Church that its money went to a lot of wanton flirts.
When they… wax wanton The verb wax wanton refers to the sexual impulse arising from vigorous middle life. Under its influences not apostasy, but a wandering from Christ, and (1 Timothy 5:13) idleness and dissipation, result.
They will marry Rather, they will, or determine, to marry. The apostle does not say or mean that the marrying itself is against Christ. On the contrary, (1 Timothy 5:14,) he decides that it is the best thing they can do. But, first, the marriage, in such a case, results from an undevout mental state, scandalizing and endangering to the venerable college; and it results in an inroad by marriage upon the enrolment, indicating that it need not and should not have been made. It is, in general, better that the younger widows be turned over to matrimony, (1 Timothy 5:14,) possible or probable, than be enrolled.
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