Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 50

Paul Instructs Timothy on how Members of Christ Body should be Treated in Christ Church Part 6

1 Timothy 5:10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. KJV

In the last commentary/bible study, we learned that the Apostle Paul instructed Brother Timothy to declare the cutoff age for widows to receive financial relief or assistance from the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ to be the age of 60 years old. Now the Apostle moves on from there to inform Brother Timothy on what the character of the age appropriate widow likewise should be to qualify her, that is, prove her capable and spiritually fit to serve in the paid/compensated office of widow in the Church of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ by writing these words to Brother Timothy at that time and to everyone of us believers of every era and generation saying this should be their well documented character, "Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work." (1 Timothy 5:10) (KJV).

First of all Paul says that she should be 'well reported of for good works', The little English phrase here 'well reported of' is translated by one Greek word martureō which means to be a witness, that is, testify (literally or figuratively): - give evidence of, or bear record concerning the person or persons. When Paul says, 'for good works', he means that the works should be virtuous, that is, morally excellent and good for others and also valuable for others. In other words, the qualified widow should'nt be a witch (literally or figuratively), but instead a woman who has spent her life doing good to others and for others and not in any way causing harm to come to others or hurting others for selfish gain or to gain favor in the community, such as was said of Tabitha as recorded for us by Dr. Luke, "Now there was at Joppa a disciple [a woman] named [in Aramaic] Tabitha, which [in Greek] means Dorcas. She was abounding in good deeds and acts of charity." (Acts 9:36) (Amplified Bible).

Next on the Apostle Paul's list is this reference 'if she have brought up children' and in making this statement, Paul seeks the woman that has experience in loving nurture of her children or the children of another, knowing that such a woman would be well suited to care for the sick and shut in saints and orphaned children in the office of widow in the Church of Christ. The little English phrase 'brought up children' is translated by one Greek word teknotropheō (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) meaning to be a child rearer, that is, fulfill the duties of a female parent: - bring up children. Here is what Adam Clarke had to say concerning bringing up children, "It was customary among the Gentiles to expose their children, when so poor that they were not able to provide for them. Pious and humane people took these up; and fed, clothed, and educated them. The words brought up may refer to the children of others, who were educated in the Christian faith by pious Christian women."

Next on the Apostle Paul's list is this reference 'if she have lodged strangers' and this reference in no way applies to any person that wandered her way off the streets, but it is a reference to her being the person who would provide her place or home for many traveling saints to stay (such as Paul, Silas, or Timothy) as they went about from town to town and city to city as missionaries and evangelist preaching the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to all who would listen. Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say concerning the lodging of strangers, "As Abraham and Lot did, who entertained angels unawares: this may be understood of strangers in common, but especially of the brethren, ministers, and others, who came from distant parts, and travelled about to spread the Gospel of Christ. The Jews say many things, 'in honour of hospitality' or entertaining of strangers, especially of receiving into their houses the disciples of the wise men, and giving them food and drink, and the use of their goods; this was what gave persons a very great character with them, and highly recommended them."

Next on the Apostle Paul's list is this reference 'if she have washed the saints' feet' and this reference was peculiar for that day in the land and area where the Apostle Paul lived and the places he visited on his missionary journeys because the land was covered with red dusty clay dirt on the traveling roads that were walked primarily (walked in sandals) by everyone to get to and from their homes and places of business. Therefore, when people would enter the homes of others they would commonly have a servant who would remove their sandals and wash their feet in a basin of water kept by the doorway or entry way. Paul is saying here that the widow who did this regulary and customarily for those who would enter her home was the type of widow given a position in the office of widow or deaconess in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, just as our Lord Jesus Himself did by washing the dirty dusty feet of His disciples showing them how they should treat one another as it is written, "Then He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the [servant's] towel with which He was girded." (John 13:5) (Amplified Bible).

Note: "This act of feet washing in most or many places today is not necessary. Those who do this feet washing (literally) today (in most cases) are not doing some great service for another saint, but instead they should be willing to provide resources such as shoes to the millions of children around the world that have none, nor have any way of ever getting any shoes. The benevolent offering taken up in many Churches is never used for such things just as this, which is exactly why the Church instituted such an offering in the first place." Next on the Apostle Paul's list is this reference 'if she have relieved the afflicted' and here Paul means the persecuted saints by the afflicted and the little English phrase 'she have relieved' is translated by one Greek word eparkeō meaning to avail for, that is, help: - relieve.

The little English phrase 'the afflicted' is translated by one Greek word thlibō meaning the troubled and persecuted saints who were suffering tribulation for and because of their faith in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. Lastly on the Apostle Paul's list is this reference 'if she have diligently followed every good work' and this simply means to sum up all the others that he has previously listed above and also that she herself has made it a pattern of her life over the years in Christ Church to follow after or to pursue those things that are good and well pleasing to Him. Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say concerning the diligent following of good works, "Not only have done good works at certain times, but has followed that which is good; has closely pursued it, and that with great eagerness and diligence; has been constant and indefatigable in the performance of it."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…