A note from our Pastor:

”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.”

1 Timothy 5:13

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

In our study verse this week, the Apostle Paul continues his instruction on the subject of widows in the community of believers. This section of his instructions to Timothy was intended to inform the church on how to care for others and, also, to care for the health of the congregation. It has already been established that younger widows should not be allowed into the special order of widows and the Apostle expounds upon this further in our study verse.

After Paul’s calling into the ministry of Jesus Christ it became common for him to travel with Peter. During their travels, these two ministers reflected on the truth of Jesus Christ, the gospel they were supposed to teach, and the qualities necessary for discipleship. From these discussions, the two Apostles felt it important to instruct disciples to avoid gossip. They saw gossip and backbiting to be undermining discipleship and the health of the community of believers.

The Apostle Paul reflected his views on gossip when writing the book of Romans. In Romans 1:29-30 the Apostle lists out many actions which those who had turned away from God and were worshipping false idols engaged in. Included in that list are both murder and gossip. This is not to imply that one has to be completely evil to ever engage in gossip, but it points to how the Apostle recognized that gossip was destructive to all involved.

Peter likewise addresses the subject in 1 Peter 4:14-15 when he is addressing how the disciples of Christ will have to suffer for their beliefs. Peter told the disciples that suffering for the sake of Christ was honorable, but to avoid being guilty of murder and meddling in the affairs of others (gossip). The similarity of grouping murder and gossip in both of these texts reflects the conclusion these two great men reached on the subject.

All of this is important to our study verse. The Apostle was concerned if the younger widows were admitted to the special order of widows and then lost their fervency for service they would view their work within the congregation as an opportunity for gossip. This was not an indictment of the character of the younger widows or of women, but rather an understanding of human nature. If one is asked to travel to different homes and is not focused fully on Jesus Christ the conversation is going to turn to the activities of the people around them. Thus, the instruction the Apostle is giving regarding their place in the community of believers was for their well-being and the health of the congregation.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah