1 Timothy 5 11

1 Timothy 5:11 kjv

But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;

1 Timothy 5:11 nkjv

But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,

1 Timothy 5:11 niv

As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry.

1 Timothy 5:11 esv

But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry

1 Timothy 5:11 nlt

The younger widows should not be on the list, because their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Christ and they will want to remarry.

1 Timothy 5 verses

1 Timothy 5 11 Meaning

This verse instructs Timothy not to add younger widows to the list of those to be supported by the church. This prohibition is contingent upon their fulfilling specific conditions, which suggests a discernment process is necessary. The core reason is that their desire to marry Christ indicates a distraction from their commitment.

1 Timothy 5 11 Context

1 Timothy 5 addresses church leadership and responsibilities, including care for widows. The previous verses (verses 3-10) detail the qualifications for widows whom the church should support. These include being at least sixty years old, having been faithful to one husband, and having a reputation for good works like raising children and showing hospitality. This current verse, 1 Timothy 5:11, presents a strong prohibition for younger widows against being enrolled for church support, specifying a reason related to their marital desires and a potential falling away. The chapter as a whole aims to instruct Timothy on establishing sound order and doctrine within the Ephesian church. The broader context of 1 Timothy is Paul's guidance to his young protégé on church planting and organization, dealing with false teachers and setting standards for Christian living.

1 Timothy 5 11 Word Analysis

• καὶ (kai): And. A common conjunction connecting phrases or clauses.
• τῶν (tōn): Of the. Genitive article.
• νεωτέρων (neōterōn): Younger. Genitive plural of νεώτερος (neōteros), meaning "younger." This specifically refers to younger widows, distinguishing them from the older widows described in the preceding verses.
• χεiras (cheiras): Hand. Accusative plural of χείρ (cheir), "hand." Used idiomatically here.
• ἀποστραφεῖσαι (apostrapheisai): Having turned away. Perfect passive participle of ἀποστρέφω (apostrephō), meaning "to turn away," "to turn aside." Implies a conscious decision to reject something or someone.
• τοῦ (tou): Of the. Genitive article.
• Χριστοῦ (Christou): Christ. Genitive of Χριστός (Christos), "Christ." Refers to Jesus Christ.
• τοῦ (tou): Of the. Genitive article.
• τῆς (tēs): The. Genitive article.
• ἐπιθυμίας (epithymias): Desire. Genitive of ἐπιθυμία (epithymia), meaning "desire," "longing," often with a negative connotation of lust or craving.
• αὐτῶν (autōn): Their. Genitive plural personal pronoun.
• γενομένης (genomenes): Becoming. Genitive feminine singular perfect passive participle of γίνομαι (ginomai), "to become," "to be." This refers to the becoming or growth of their desire.

Words-group analysis:

• "τῶν νεωτέρων χεῖρας" (tōn neōterōn cheiras): This is an idiomatic expression. Literally "hands of the younger," but idiomatically it means "to turn away from" or "to put aside." The participle "apostrapheisai" confirms this active turning away.
• "τῆς τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐπιθυμίας" (tēs tou Christou epithymias): This phrase points to a specific kind of desire associated with Christ. Scholars interpret this in different ways: a desire to serve Christ devotedly (like a consecrated widow) or, as the verse implies, a desire that leads them away from commitment and towards something else. The context strongly suggests the latter.
• "γενομένης" (genomenes): This participle links the turning away with the growing desire. The turning away is a result of the desire's development.

1 Timothy 5 11 Bonus Section

The concept of widows being "enrolled" (verse 9) suggests an official list for church assistance. The refusal in verse 11 is not arbitrary but stems from the perceived negative consequences for these younger widows and, by extension, the church's integrity. The desire to "marry Christ" could refer to a vow of perpetual widowhood, similar to later monastic ideals, but Paul cautions that if this vow leads to distraction and falling away, it is detrimental. This emphasizes that actions and commitments must align with spiritual fruitfulness. The directive to younger widows to "marry, bear children, manage their households" (verse 14) reflects the cultural and biblical expectation of marriage and family life as a primary calling for many, providing stability and avoiding idleness or gossip.

1 Timothy 5 11 Commentary

This verse marks a clear directive to exclude younger widows from receiving church stipends. The justification given is crucial: their "desire to marry Christ" (which could also be interpreted as a commitment to a life of widowhood dedicated to Christ's service) had become a stumbling block, causing them to "turn away." This implies a spiritual danger; rather than fostering devotion, their circumstances or attitudes led to a departure from commitment, possibly leading to remarriage against their former vows or a loss of their focused spiritual purpose. The church's role was not to enable this deviation but to redirect younger widows towards fulfilling marriage roles and responsibilities. This distinction between older widows cared for by the church and younger ones encouraged to remarry highlights practical and spiritual considerations for the community's structure and support systems.