I Timothy 5:11
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But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry,
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
younger--than sixty years old (Ti1 5:9). refuse--to take on the roll of presbyteress widows. wax wanton--literally, "over-strong" (Ch2 26:16). against Christ--rebelling against Christ, their proper Bridegroom [JEROME]. they will--Greek, "they wish"; their desire is to marry again.
Open source ↗Here the apostle, I. Directs Timothy how to reprove (Ti1 5:1, Ti1 5:2). II. Adverts to widows, both elder and younger (Ti1 5:3-16). III. To elders (Ti1 5:17-19). IV. Treats of public reproof (Ti1 5:20). V. Gives a solemn charge concerning ordination (Ti1 5:21, Ti1 5:22). VI. Refers to his health (Ti1 5:23), and states men's sins to be very different in their effects (Ti1 5:24, Ti1 5:25).
Open source ↗5:11-15 Young widows still in their childbearing years required a different approach. Paul was concerned that the false teachers were leading them astray. 5:11-12 If Paul was concerned about remarriage to unbelievers (cp. 5:14), their previous pledge would refer to their Christian faith, which they would surrender upon entering a pagan marriage; such a marriage would probably have alienated them from Christ. It is also possible that Paul and the church recognized a special category of “sacred widowhood” (see 5:5; cp. Acts 9:36-37), entered by a vow that Paul refers to as the previous pledge.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.
When they had pasture, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, their hearts became proud, and as a result they forgot Me.
You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter.
The LORD also says: “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty— walking with heads held high and wanton eyes, prancing and skipping as they go, jingling the bracelets on their ankles—
A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, the wife of one man,
But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked— becoming fat, bloated, and gorged. He abandoned the God who made him and scorned the Rock of his salvation.
With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice those who are just escaping from others who live in error.
As much as she has glorified herself and lived in luxury, give her the same measure of torment and grief. In her heart she says, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow and will never see grief.’
They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.