1 Timothy 5:3,4 - Looking after widows

5:3

Some have argued that the existence of a system for looking after widows indicate that the church must have been well developed, and therefore the letter must have been written after the first century, and therefore not by Paul. This is argument is without foundation. In Acts we see that from the earliest days the church was looking after widows (Acts 6:1), so there is no surprise at all that the church in Ephesus was looking after widows. In the Old Testament we read that God looks after widows and orphans, and His people are to do the same.

5:4

Now this verse has significant implications for social policy!  As a caricature, the socialist parties are seen as loving to dole out money without restriction, and the capitalist parties are seen as mean and stingy, wanting to restrict social benefits. Once again we see that the Bible has it right! There absolutely is to be active concern for the poor and needy, but then we see that the first means of providing this care is the family. If a children and grandchildren exist, then they are to take first responsibility to look after the widow. So much of modern social policy seeks to diminish the role and responsibilities of the family. Such policy is deeply unbiblical.