Note 20 at 1 Tim. 5:8: In verse four, Paul had already commanded the children and grandchildren to take care of their own widows (see note 12 at v. 4, p. 1296). Now he reveals that failure to do so is equal to denying the faith and is worse than the treatment an unbeliever gives his parents. These statements make this a non-negotiable matter: Christian children must provide for their godly widows.

Although the context of this statement definitely refers to children taking care of widows, it is logical to say that this would also hold true for the members of one's immediate family such as a wife or children. Anyone who is able to provide, but doesn't, is denying the faith.

Note 21 at 1 Tim. 5:8: In this chapter, Paul is advocating that the church take care of widows; however, he makes it very clear that the church is not supposed to take this responsibility to relieve a family member of his personal responsibility. The responsibility for providing for the widows rests with family members. Only in the cases where a widow is destitute, with no family to help her, is the church to intervene.

The NIV translates this verse as, "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

Note 22 at 1 Tim. 5:8: Notice that Paul says that those who don't provide for their own have denied THE faith, not THEIR faith. This makes a distinction between denying the doctrines of godly conduct, and an individual renouncing his personal faith in the Lord.

The phrase "the faith" was used to describe not only personal faith in the Lord for salvation, but it also embraced all the doctrines of Christ or the church (examples: Acts 6:7; 14:22; 16:5; Rom. 14:1; 1 Cor. 16:13; 2 Cor. 13:5; Gal. 1:23).

Paul is not saying that those who don't provide for their own families financially, have lost their salvation or become reprobates (see note 6 at Rom. 1:28, p. 746), but that those who fail to give financial assistance to those they are responsible for are denying the teachings or doctrines of Christ and the church. This is abhorrent to any true believer.

Note 23 at 1 Tim. 5:8: The term "infidel" refers to a non-believer or a person who has not put faith in Christ and is born-again (see note 2 at Jn. 3:3, p. 92). The context of 2 Corinthians 6:15 makes it clear that this word refers to a non-Christian (see note 5 at 2 Cor. 6:15, p. 1012).