Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Timothy 5:10

"well reported of for good works; if she hath brought up children, if she hath used hospitality to strangers, if she hath washed the saints` feet, if she hath relieved the afflicted, if she hath diligently followed every good work." — 1 Timothy 5:10 (ASV)

Having defined a real widow as one bereft of all relatives to take care of her, Paul now restricts the matter further by saying that no widow under sixty years of age should be “put on the list.” It seems evident that an official list of widows was kept by each church and that only these received material support.

Furthermore, she must have “been faithful to her husband” (lit., “the wife of one man”). This is the same sort of expression as is found in the qualifications for overseers (3:2) and deacons (3:12). As we noted there, this does not mean “only once married,” especially since Paul goes on in v.14 to instruct younger widows to remarry.

To qualify for enrollment, a widow must also be well known for her good deeds, several of which are spelled out as essential if she were going to be supported by the church. The first is “bringing up children” (GK 5452). This would most naturally refer to her own children but could also include the care of orphans. The second is “showing hospitality” (lit., “welcoming strangers”; GK 3827). Next is “washing the feet of the saints”; this was an important courtesy whenever guests entered a house. The last two duties are “helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.”