1 Timothy 5:16
1 Timothy 5:16
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Believers with widowed relatives should support them, so the church can care for widows who are truly alone.
What Does 1 Timothy 5:16 Mean?
Paul returns to the principle of family responsibility. Believers who have widowed relatives should care for them personally rather than leaving the burden to the church.
This frees the church's resources for those who have no one else, the truly destitute widows. Paul wants both family duty and church charity working together, so that everyone in need is cared for and no resource is wasted.