A CRITICAL EXEGETICAL ANALYSIS OF 'ONTOSCHERAS' (1TIMOTHY 5: 3-5, 8): ITS IMPLICATION FOR THE CHURCH

Abstract

Many studies have been carried out on the responsibility of the church in caring for widows that are in real need but few have focused on Paul's recommendation for the Church regarding those that are widows 'indeed' and how they should be cared for. The number of women becoming widows has been increasing on daily basis due to the deaths of their husbands which are caused by various reasons such as insurgency, ethnic wars, HIV infections, accidents, old age and many others. This paper, therefore, examines critically Paul's teaching on care of real widows in 1Timothy 5:3-5, 8 in relation to the practice of care of widows in the church. The paper adopts a critical exegetical interpretation drawing resources from secondary sources. The secondary source has to do with both published and unpublished materials from books, journals, commentaries, newspapers, internets, etc. The study recommends that there is need for the Church to follow the recommendations spelt out by St. Paul in 1Timothy 5:3-5, 8, so that the Church is not over-burdened with so many responsibilities.