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1 Timothy 5:4
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4 But [de] if any [ei tis] widow [chera] have [echo] children [teknon] or [e] nephews, [ekgonon] let them learn [manthano] first [proton] to shew piety [eusebeo] at home [idios], [oikos] and [kai] to requite [amoibe] [apodidomi] their parents: [progonos] for [gar] that [touto] is [esti] good [kalos] and [kai] acceptable [apodektos] before [enopion] God. [theos] KJV-Interlinear
4 but if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family, and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God. NASB
Paul mentioned the phrase ‘widow indeed,’ referring to one who is without resources.
One of the first tests of a widow lacking resources, is whether or not she has family or extended family.
One of the first obligations of family is to take care of their own.
No person is considered good (1 Tim. 5:8) if they simply want to turn their elders out to pasture so to speak, or to simply get rid of the inconvenience or obligation by placing them out of sight. And especially widows who usually have nowhere else to turn.
So, children have a responsibility to their parents. Grandchildren have a responsibility to their grandparents, and so forth.
This is not restricted to just two generations, but can go on for as long as folks are alive. But generally most families have only a couple of generations in view in this regard, when the grandchildren are old enough to be out on their own (thirty to forty years old etc.), and have the means to take care of others. Great-grandparents, even grand-parents probably will not be around by then. Only parents will probably be around.
With family assuming the first line of support responsibility, then that lessens the burden on others who give to their local church or assembly or group, for the purposes of charity and help, for folks such as these.
The word for first, ‘proton,’ means first in line, or first in priority. This is a mandate from God, and is one of the many tests of your obedience to God, when you accept without question, your responsibility to care for your own family.
Parents raised you and kept you for the better part of your younger years. So as children, you (we all), have a responsibility to give back to our parents, when they are in need. This of course does not apply when the parents are well off, obviously.
‘This is acceptable in Gods sight,’ makes it a mandated obligation.
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