1Ti 5:4-7 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 4. But if any widow have children . Who would be dependent on her care, and who might themselves contribute to her support. Or nephews . The word nephew now commonly means the son of a brother or sister. Formerly the English word also meant grandchildren, or descendants of any description. Webster . The Greek word here εκγονα--has the latter meaning. It denotes those sprung from or born of; and then descendants of any kind--sons, daughters, grandchildren. The Greek word would not, in fact, properly include nephews and nieces. It embraces only those in a direct line. Let them learn first to show piety at home . Marg., "or kindness." That is, let the children and grandchildren learn to do this. Let them have an opportunity of performing their duty towards their aged parent or grandparent. Do not receive such a widow among the poor and dependent females of the church, to be maintained at public expense, but let her children support her. Thus they will have an opportunity of evincing Christian kindness, and of requiting her for her care? This the apostle calls " showing piety "--ευσεβειν that is, filial piety ; piety towards a parent by providing for the wants of that parent in advanced age. The word is commonly used to denote piety towards God, but it is also used to denote proper reverence and respect for a parent. Robinson . And to requite their parents . To repay them, as far as possible, for all their kindness. This debt can never be wholly repaid, but still a child should feel it a matter of sacred obligation to do as much towards it as possible. For that is good and acceptable before God . It is a duty everywhere enjoined. Comp. . (1) "show piety" "kindness"

1 Timothy 5:4-7

Verse 4. But if any widow have children. Who would be dependent on her care, and who might themselves contribute to her support.

Or nephews. The word nephew now commonly means the son of a brother or sister. Formerly the English word also meant grandchildren, or descendants of any description. Webster. The Greek word here εκγονα--has the latter meaning. It denotes those sprung from or born of; and then descendants of any kind--sons, daughters, grandchildren. The Greek word would not, in fact, properly include nephews and nieces. It embraces only those in a direct line.

Let them learn first to show piety at home. Marg., "or kindness." That is, let the children and grandchildren learn to do this. Let them have an opportunity of performing their duty towards their aged parent or grandparent. Do not receive such a widow among the poor and dependent females of the church, to be maintained at public expense, but let her children support her. Thus they will have an opportunity of evincing Christian kindness, and of requiting her for her care? This the apostle calls "showing piety"--ευσεβειν that is, filial piety; piety towards a parent by providing for the wants of that parent in advanced age. The word is commonly used to denote piety towards God, but it is also used to denote proper reverence and respect for a parent. Robinson.

And to requite their parents. To repay them, as far as possible, for all their kindness. This debt can never be wholly repaid, but still a child should feel it a matter of sacred obligation to do as much towards it as possible.

For that is good and acceptable before God. It is a duty everywhere enjoined. Comp. Mt 15:5-7; Eph 6:1,2.

(1) "show piety" "kindness" Verse 5. A widow indeed, and desolate. The word rendered desolate means solitary, alone. It does not necessarily imply the idea of discomfort, which we attach to the word desolate. The sense is, that she had no children or other descendants; none on whom she could depend for support.

Trusteth in God. She has no one else to look to but God. She has no earthly reliance; and, destitute of husband, children, and property, she feels her dependence, and steadily looks to God for consolation and support.

And continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. Continually. 1Timm 2:1. See also the description of Anna in Lk 2:36,37. The apostle regards this as one of the characteristics of those who were "widows indeed," whom he would have received into the class to be maintained by the church, and to whom the charge of younger members of the church might be intrusted.

(*) "desolate" "left alone" Verse 6. But she that liveth in pleasure. Marg., delicately. The Greek word σπαταλαω occurs nowhere else in the New Testament, except in Jas 5:5: "Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth." It properly means to live in luxury, voluptuously; to indulge freely in eating and drinking; to yield to the indulgence of the appetites. It does not indicate grossly criminal pleasures; but the kind of pleasure connected with luxurious living, and with pampering the appetites. It is probable that in the time of the apostle, there were professedly Christian widows who lived in this manner--as there are such professing Christians of all kinds in every age of the world.

Is dead while she liveth". To all the proper purposes of life she is as if she were dead. There is great emphasis in this expression, and nothing could convey more forcibly the idea that true happiness is not to be found in the pleasures of sense. There is nothing in them that answers the purposes of life. They are not the objects for which life was given, and as to the great and proper designs of existence, such persons might as well be dead.

(+) "liveth" "rioteth" (b) "dead" Rev 3:1 Verse 7. And these things give in charge. Announce, or declare these things, to wit, particularly respecting the duty of children to their widowed mothers, and the proper duty of those who are widows.