Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Timothy 5:11

"But younger widows refuse: for when they have waxed wanton against Christ, they desire to marry;" — 1 Timothy 5:11 (ASV)

Regarding the widows under sixty years of age, Paul instructs Timothy not to put them on the official list. Most of them will become restless against the limitations of Christian widowhood and will want to marry. If they do, they incur “judgment” (GK 3210), because they will have broken “their first pledge” (GK 4411), i.e., the solemn promise to be devoted only to Christ that they made when they joined the list of widows.