Note 8 at 1 Tim. 5:3: W.E. Vine defines this Greek word as "to honor: the respect and material assistance to be given to widows." Paul is speaking of rendering financial aid to the widows in the church.

Wuest Word Studies says, "The word 'honor' (timao)...has in it the idea of properly appreciating the value of someone or something and of paying that person or thing the respect, reverence, deference, and honor due him or it by reason of its value or position. Here, the context injects the added idea of financial support as included in the honor shown widows" (p.78).

Jesus used this same Greek word "TIMAO" when He referred to the honor we are to show our parents (Mt 15:4). In that instance He also linked financial assistance to this word that was translated "honor."

Note 9 at 1 Tim. 5:3: The English word "widow" means, "a woman whose husband has died and who has not remarried" (NAHD). The Greek word "CHERA" from which "widow" was translated has a broader meaning. "CHERA" meant "a widow (as lacking a husband) literally or figuratively" (Strong).

The Greek word "CHERA" was a derivative of the word "CHASMA" which meant "a chasm or vacancy" (Strong). So, this word is descriptive of a woman who has a vacancy whether literally through the loss of her husband to death, or figuratively through the loss of her husband to desertion or other circumstances.

Therefore, Paul's instructions about the inclusion of widows into the number of people whom the church becomes financially responsible for is not limited to just women whose husbands have died. Those who are in the same situation as a widow through means other than death, would meet the conditions Paul is describing.

An Old Testament example of a woman who would meet these qualifications is Tamar, the daughter-in-law of David. She was raped by her stepbrother Amnon (2 Sam. 13), and then deserted. In 2 Samuel 13:20 the word "desolate" is used to describe her condition just as it is used in 1Timothy 5:5, about the widows who are to be cared for by the church.

Note 10 at 1 Tim. 5:3: The relationships between the believers in the first century church were much closer than we see in the body of Christ today (see note 5 at Acts 2:44, p. 584). Here, Paul is revealing that the church took care of its widows (see note 9 at this v.) financially.

It is no doubt that much of the reason why the church provided for the widows was due to the social situation of their day. Women were not given the opportunity to work and make a living as women are today. The women of Paul's day primarily depended on their husbands for financial security. With no social net, a widow was in dire straits unless other family members came to her aid. The church took up this charge out of Christian love.

Therefore, with the social programs we have in place today, some might argue that providing for the widows is no longer a necessary function of the church. However, the argument could also be made that if the church would accept this responsibility, then the widows would be taken care of much better than the government does and there would not be the abuse that we see in our welfare system today.

Paul listed the requirements for the widows who would receive the church's support (see note 11 at this v.). If this assistance was administered descriminatingly by godly men and women of the church according to these instructions, then those in need would be helped and those who are simply lazy would be forced to work. Much of the abuse of the social programs we see today is because the church abdicated this God-given responsibility and has let the government take over benevolence.

The government can never be as efficient or as discriminating as the church. The church is also missing a great opportunity to demonstrate its Christian love to the world. Because of the inefficiency of the government programs, we pay more in taxes for the welfare programs than it would cost the church to simply meet these financial needs. The world is looking to the government as its source instead of to the Lord and His people. The modern church would do well to take care of its own just as Paul is instructing here.