(Lesson 2147)(10-23-17)  1 Timothy 5:9-16
    “Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man. Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some are already turned aside after Satan. If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.”

    Today’s quote deals with the instructions that Paul passed on to Timothy pertaining to the churches responsibilities toward widows in their community.
    I believe these instructions Paul gave in today’s quote were more of an opinion relating to the times rather than a standing instruction meant to last throughout the ages. Today, and I believe, and rightfully so, women have much more standing in the community, as well as in the church, than they did in those ancient times. Also, that same Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians that among the children of God, there are NO spiritual differences between the sexes; “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been *baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, THERE IS NEITHER MALE NOR FEMALE: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
*The term baptized, as it is applied in this text, means immersed. The text should read as follows; ‘For as many of you as have been ‘immersed’ into Christ, have put on Christ’. ~