John Calvin Commentary 1 Timothy 5:3

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

Honor widows that are really widows. By the word honor he does not mean any expression of respect, but that special care of them which bishops took in the ancient Church; for widows were taken under the protection of the Church, so that they might be supported out of the common funds.

The meaning of this mode of expression is as if he had said, “For selecting widows that are to be taken under your care and that of the deacons, you ought to consider who they are that are really widows. We will explain their condition more fully later.”

But we must consider here the reason why Paul admits only those who are absolutely widows and, at the same time, widows without children; for, in that condition, they dedicated themselves to the Church, so that they might withdraw from all the private concerns of a family and might lay aside every hindrance.

Therefore, Paul justly forbids receiving mothers of families, who are already bound by a charge of a different kind. When he calls them really widows, he alludes to the Greek word χήρα, which is derived ἀπὸ τοῦ χηροῦσθαι, from a verb which signifies being “deprived” or “destitute.”