1 Timothy 5:3

5:3 Honor ¹  widows who are truly in need. ² 

1 Timothy 5:11

5:11 But do not accept younger widows on the list, ³  because their passions may lead them away from Christ ⁴  and they will desire to marry,

1 Timothy 5:16

5:16 If a believing woman ⁵  has widows in her family, ⁶  let her help them. The church should not be burdened, so that it may help the widows who are truly in need. ⁷ 

¹ sn The word honor here carries the double meaning of respect and financial support. This Greek word can imply both senses, and both are intended in this context.

² tn Grk “the real widows,” “those who are really widows.”

³ tn Grk “refuse younger widows.”

⁴ tn With a single verb and object, this clause means “pursue sensuous desires in opposition to Christ.”

⁵ tc Most witnesses (D Ψ Ï sy) have πιστὸς ἤ (pisto" h) before πιστή (pisth), with the resultant meaning “if a believing man or woman.” But such looks to be a motivated reading, perhaps to bring some parity to the responsibilities of men and women listed here, and as a way of harmonizing with v. 4. Further, most of the earliest and best witnesses (א A C F G P 048 33 81 1175 1739 1881 co) lack the πιστὸς ἤ, strengthening the preference for the shorter reading.

⁶ tn Grk “has widows.”

⁷ tn Grk “the real widows,” “those who are really widows.”