Hi Dorcas,
I don't see it that way, Robert...Isn't the question: does a widower qualify because he has now no wife...
_________________Robert Wurtz II
The thing that has always puzzled me is; why would Paul then exhort the Church to refuse to take into the number younger widows (I Timothy 5:11) and rather instruct them to marry, have children and guide the house (v 14) if marrying the second time was ultimately going to disqualify them from being taken in if they were to fall in need (no husband or children, etc.) when they got older?
_________________Ron Bailey
Have we asked the question "why should this particular criterion be applied only to those joining the 'oversight'?"
_________________Mike Compton
MC's
Can a remarried person play a guitar in music ministry? Can a remarried person testify of Christ in the workplace? Those are also areas of "leadership"...that is they are areas of influence for Christ.
I have been looking at David's genealogy... currently I have 8 legitimate wives, 21 legitimate sons and 1 legitimate daughter. Not counting concubines and their offspring!That's interesting. We were discussing David because of his adultery....
_________________Diane
Hi Diane,Thank you for that exposition. (I really mean that. I had not thought through the specifics of David's situation in that way.)I think today, though, that if a husband of one wife takes another man's wife to bed, he is committing adultery both against his own wife and the husband of the adulteress.He would be committing adultery against his own wife if he took an unmarried woman to bed, with whom he committed fornication.I agree with the other excellent questions you raised and will be interested in others' responses.
We need to grasp the seriousness of the sin of the heart because it applies today.
there is an understanding that a man needs a wife. It is not until Jesus suggests that a man might choose not to have a wife, for the kingdom's sake, that this is challenged... and later taken up by Paul as a valid option for a (born again)
I have read most of the posts folllowing and I do not think anyone has suggested this, so please excuse me if I am repeating what has been said. I Timothy 5: 1 Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, 2 the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity. 3 Honor widows who are widows indeed; 4 but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God. 5 Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day. 6 But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 9A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, 10 having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work. 11But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, 12thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. 13At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention. 14Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; 15for some have already turned aside to follow Satan. 16If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed. I would like to look at the context. It tells us how one should regard others in the church and since Paul was writing to a young man so one must consider that because of the angle he presenting this. He is to relate to the older people as a parent: men - fathers; women - mothers; young girls as sisters. And widows are to be respected and honored. Then follows admonition on how a family should care for a widow. If there is a young one, she should remarry.Now the issue arises on what is meant in v. 9: "widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man". I would like to make this suggestion: the list would not be a membership list to a body of believers but is likely talking about a separate order that existed in the church that functioned as a benevolent organization to assist people in their distresses. To me this interpretation would make more sense because of the context.What do you think?ginnyrose
_________________Sandra Miller
Quote: If the interpretation that a elder must not be divorced is correct, then surely it needs to be extended to include "neither have been a fornicator" ? Surely the fact that a man was legally married and divorced, shouldn't disqualify him when compared to a man that lived with a girlfriend out of wedlock and later split up?The difference between a divorced person and one who was shacking is a vow. If you study the scriptures about vow making/keeping, you will find God takes this very seriously. Failure to keep a vow is referred to as a 'truce breaker'which is a sin. Today we would call it lying. ginnyrose