He appears to be referring to
1 Timothy 5:9-10
9Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 10well reported for
good works: if she has brought up children, if she has
lodged strangers, if she has
washed the saints’ feet, if she has
relieved the afflicted, if she has
diligently followed every good work.
This is precipitated by verse 3, "Honor widows who are really widows." After Paul goes on to describe what widows are (including the above passage) he finishes with verse 16, "... do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows."
The point being, the church relieves widows who fit this criteria as being "widows indeed." This is a privilege of church membership for women who are faithful and have no family to care for them once they're widowed. The ideal is that the family will care for them. But, in a case where either there is no family or they will not fulfill their God given responsibility to honor their parents then the church is to take care of them.
But this same responsibility does not extend to all widowed women. We should do what we can for who we can, but those who are, according to this passage, widows indeed are absolutely to be provided for by the church.
I see how he sort of said it was an office, but didn't quite go there. It is a role women are to fulfill, and is a servant (deaconess) role. The previous two paragraphs seem to tie this together nicely. And the next several paragraphs also round out the discussion very well. He makes it pretty clear that this is what he addressing several paragraphs down, "We're stil in 1 Timothy 5."
I loved this statement:
Quote:
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Here's what I want them to do, verse 14, "Therefore I want younger widows to...what?...get married, bear children, keep house." That's it. That's what it says. I just want them to fulfill their god-given responsibility...get married, bear children, keep house. Can you imagine standing up in the...any university and announcing that as the pattern for women? Get married, bear children, keep house. You'd be a dead duck. But it's true, I wish I had that platform but no one will give it to me.
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Perhaps I missed something. But I thought he was responsible with the texts and biblical understanding of the ministry of and to widows within the church.