Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Timothy 5:3

"Honor widows that are widows indeed." — 1 Timothy 5:3 (ASV)

Honour widows. The particular attention and respect that are commanded here seem to refer to the class of widows who were supported by the church and were entrusted with performing certain duties toward the other female members (1 Timothy 5:9). It is to be remembered that social interaction between the sexes was much more restricted in Eastern countries than it is among us. Access to the female members of the church would have been much less free than it is now, and consequently, there might have been a special appropriateness in entrusting the duty of watching over the younger women among them to older women.

This duty would naturally be entrusted to those who did not have the care of families. It would also be natural to commit it, if they were qualified, to those who lacked the means of support and who, while being maintained by the church, might render a valuable service to it.

It would seem, therefore, that there was a class of this description who were entrusted with these duties, and about whose qualifications it was proper for Timothy to be instructed. The change of customs in society has made this class less necessary, and the arrangement was probably never designed to be permanent. Still, it may be a question whether such an arrangement would not now be wise and useful in the church. On this subject, see Barnes on Romans 16:1.

That are widows indeed. This means those who are truly widows. We commonly associate with the word "widow" not only the idea of the loss of a husband but also many other things that are the usual accompaniments of widowhood—a poor and dependent condition, care and solicitude, sadness and sorrow. This idea is implied in the use of the word employed here—chra—which properly means one who is bereaved (from the adjective chrov, bereaved), and which, as Calvin says, conveys the idea of one in distressed circumstances. What Paul regarded as constituting true widowhood, he specifies in 1 Timothy 5:4, 5, 9, 10. He connects with it the idea that she had no persons dependent on her; that she was desolate and demonstrated true trust in God; that she was so aged that she would not marry again; and that by her life she had given evidence of possessing a heart of true benevolence (1 Timothy 5:10).