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1 Timothy 5:13 – Sound in the Faith

A greasy blob descends through clear water leaving a trail of contamination (Grok)

Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to. 

Summary: This passage, at first glance, sounds like an offhand comment about bad behavior. Digging deeper, we find an existential threat beneath the surface.   

Our last meditation on 1 Timothy 12, “Serious Stuff,” emphasized the spiritual risk of turning our back on Jesus. In this verse, Paul talks about something that seems insignificant by comparison. In verse fourteen, he counsels young widows to do things that “give the enemy no opportunity for slander.” Finally, in verse fifteen, he notes that some have turned to follow Satan. 

There is a trajectory in Paul’s words. It goes something like this: 

1. A “young widow” is left alone without a husband to support her. 

2. She asks the church to provide her with the money she needs. 

3. If the church doesn’t follow Paul’s age limit, they might agree to support her. 

4. Freed from worry over money, the widow neglects her devotion to Jesus and turns to pastimes that interest her. 

5. These pastimes lead to sinful behavior — the outward expression of her inward lack of devotion to Christ. 

6. In some cases, some women turn away to follow Satan. 

Let’s ask ourselves some questions. 

First, does this fit our own personal experience? Have you ever known someone who, when in desperate need, makes all kinds of promises, and then, when the need is met, discovers they really don’t “need” to keep those promises? 

Second, if we know people who have done the very things Paul is warning about, is it such a stretch of the imagination to think that some people might go so far as to follow Satan instead of Jesus? 

If you have answered “Yes” to these two questions, then Paul’s warning of falling under judgment (v 12) makes complete sense. 

Interestingly, Paul’s concern about people being “idlers” and “busybodies” might not be limited to the widows we have been discussing. 

What happens when idlers and busybodies stir up people in the congregation? Do they serve the Kingdom of God, or are they undermining it? 

Timothy is responsible for guiding the Ephesian church in Paul’s absence. Can he afford to have people stirring up trouble in the congregation? 

In his letter to Titus, Paul talks about the need to “rebuke” the Cretans “sharply” (Titus 1:10-16). The goal of such rebuke is “so that they will be sound in the faith” (v 13). 

Could it be that the reason for Paul’s “Widow’s List” is also about keeping the congregation “sound in the faith?” 

Application: Keeping faith with Jesus requires diligence.  

Food for Thought: In Acts 20:29, Paul warns the Ephesians that “savage wolves” will be after the flock. Compare a wayward widow to a savage wolf. 

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1 Timothy 5:12 – Serious Stuff

A warning sign says "DANGER AHEAD" (Grok)

Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. 

Summary: This passage is an extremely blunt warning against turning our back on the Lord. 

One of the things that I find interesting about the Bible is not so much what it says, but what is not said. For example, an Old Testament prophet might be given a prophecy, but we, the readers, are not told what it is. Then later, when the prophet delivers the message, we hear the rest of the story (1 Kings 14:1-20). 

In this letter to Timothy, Paul, an Apostle, is writing to his “true son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2). You might think of Timothy as a kind of Junior Apostle. Because he had worked so closely with Paul for so many years, they had developed a common understanding of many topics. 

When Paul writes, “Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge,” we suspect that Timothy clearly understands what he means. For our part, we have to look to the rest of Scripture to understand God’s message here. 

First of all, what does Paul mean by “their first pledge?”

Let’s return to 1 Timothy 5:9-10:

“No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.”

This list describes the characteristics of a woman who has pledged themselves to be a servant of the Living God.* Obviously, the text doesn’t spell that out for us, but the description is clearly of a person devoted to the Lord. This devotion is their “first pledge.” They have promised themselves to Jesus Christ exclusively. 

In the following verses, Paul describes women whose priority is their own pleasure. These are not people fully devoted to the Lord or his Church. 

So what does it mean to “bring judgment on themselves”? 

It is one thing to be a new believer who still struggles with their sinful nature. It is another to be a devoted servant of the Lord and turn away to follow the desires of the flesh. 

The word Paul used in Greek is “kríma.” It does not mean “to make a judgment,” instead, it describes a judgment that has already been made, and the result is condemnation and damnation.†

This is serious stuff. 

Application: Don’t play games with God.  

Food for Thought: How does Paul’s statement in this passage fit with your understanding of God’s Grace, Mercy, and his calling for us to be part of his “vine”? (See John 15:5-6)

*See Exodus 20:3-17, Micah 6:8, Matt 22:39, John 13:13-17, and Matthew 25:35-36.

†”G2917 – krima – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (NIV).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 21 Jun, 2026. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2917/niv/mgnt/0-1/>.

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1 Timothy 5:9-10 – Brass Tacks

Picture of brass tacks (Grok)

No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.

Summary: This is a long passage, but worth looking at as a whole. In it, Paul lays out very specific requirements for a widow to qualify for support from the church.   

In this passage, Paul gets down to what used to be called “the brass tacks.” 

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1 Timothy 5:5 – Real Need

Older women in a lineup. (Grok)

The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.

Summary: Paul is giving instructions to Timothy regarding a special case of giving — making a commitment to support someone for the rest of their life.   

In this passage, Paul gives us three tests to be used in determining who is “really in need.” Remember, we are not talking about a one-time handout. A ‘widow in need’ needs help for the rest of her life. That is a big commitment and one worthy of caution before making it. 

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1 Timothy 5:4 – True Religion

An elderly mother is cared for by her daughter (Grok)

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. 

Summary: True religion begins at home.   

Caring for family is one of the great blessings of life. It is also one of the great challenges! Interestingly, putting our religion into practice is a very similar challenge. 

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