1Ti 5:11-15 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Tim 5:11-15: 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 . Summary for 1Tim 5:11-12: 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.

Summary for 1Tim 5:11-15: 5:11-15 ^a Young widows still in their childbearing years required a different approach. Paul was concerned that the false teachers were leading them astray.
Summary for 1Tim 5:11-12: 5:11-12 ^b If Paul was concerned about remarriage to unbelievers (cp. 5:14 ^c), 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 ^d; cp. Acts 9:36-37 ^e), entered by a vow that Paul refers to as the previous pledge.
5:13 ^f Too seldom do those who are fully supported by the church invest their lives in remarkable piety (cp. 2:9-10 ^g; 5:10 ^h). Abusing the church’s support does not help them or the Good News (cp. 5:14 ⁱ).

• talking about things they shouldn’t: The wording suggests involvement in the false teaching (5:15 ^j; cp. 2 Thes 3:11-13 ^k; Titus 1:11 ^l).
5:14 ^m Paul is advising younger widows to remarry—and to marry believers (5:11-12 ⁿ; cp. 2:15 ^o).

• not ... say anything against them: Their actions were hurting their testimony for the Good News (see 1 Thes 4:11-12 ^p; Titus 2:8 ^q).
5:15 ^r now follow Satan: They had committed apostasy, renouncing Christ, probably in connection with the false teachers (1:6-7 ^s; cp. 3:6-7 ^t; Heb 2:1 ^u) and their self-indulgence (1 Tim 5:6 ^v, 13 ^w).