1 Timothy 5:9

The number. A literal translation of this verse reads: “Let a widow be enrolled who has become not less than 60 years old, wife of one husband.” The function of this special enrollment of widows, though understood in Paul’s day, is now not clear. This was not the only circle of “widows indeed” (vs. 4, 5), because obviously there were cases of “desolate” widows (v. 5), without children, who had not yet reached 60 years of age. Indeed, v. 10 describes the special widows of v. 9 as having reared children, and this raises the question as to why these children were not caring for their mothers. Possibly the children were not now living, or were unable or unwilling to perform their filial duties. Under any circumstances the “widow indeed” needed special help.

Threescore years old. Paul counseled the young widows to remarry (see on vs. 11–14). Hence, this arbitrary age limit implies that remarriage was most unlikely for the widows who constituted the special group. In other words, their now single state was considered permanent. Thus, the expectation that they would continue in a single state was based, apparently, on the age to which they had attained, not on any vows some claim they were supposed to have taken.

One man. Compare ch. 3:2, 12. The widow honored by the church in this special enrollment must have a worthy record, that is, a widow who had been a faithful wife and mother.