1 Timothy 5:16

16 And yf eny man or woman that beleveth have widdowes let the minister vnto them and let not the congregacion be charged: that yt maye have sufficient for them that are widdowes in dede.

1 Timothy 5:16 Meaning and Commentary

1 Timothy 5:16

If any man or woman that believeth have widows
That is, if any member of a church, whether a brother or a sister, have mothers or grandmothers, or any near relations widows, in mean circumstances, and incapable of taking care of themselves:

let them relieve them;
out of their own substance; which is what the apostle before calls showing piety at home, and requiting their own parents:

and let not the church be charged;
or burdened with the maintenance of them:

that it may relieve them that are widows indeed;
that the church may be in a better capacity, its stock not being expended on others, to supply the wants of those who are really widows; who have neither husbands, nor children, nor any relations, to provide for them; nor anything in the world to support themselves with.

1 Timothy 5:16 In-Context

14 I will therfore that ye yonger weme mary and beare childre and gyde the housse and geve none occasio to ye adversary to speake evill

15 For many of them are all redy turned bake and are gone after Satan.

16 And yf eny man or woman that beleveth have widdowes let the minister vnto them and let not the congregacion be charged: that yt maye have sufficient for them that are widdowes in dede.

17 The elders yt rule wel are worthy of double honoure most specially they which laboure in ye worde and in teachinge.

18 For the scripture sayth: Thou shalt not mousell the mouth of the oxe that treadeth out the corne. And the labourer is worthy of his rewarde.