Quote:
Originally Posted by leandrasusan
If a woman was unmarried, and had no living male relatives, who would she belong to?
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That would depend on the circumstances. If we are talking about a young woman who has become widowed, she should remarry as soon as possible lest she turn into an idle gossip.
1 Tim 5:11-15
11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
13 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.
14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.
The church is commanded not to support any widow under 60, and even then only if she has been the wife of one husband. Old sluts can starve. They are no one's problem.
1 Tim 5:9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man. Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
Childless women can also starve, and those who haven't been good hostesses. They belong to no one. Good works aren't necessary for salvation, but they are necessary for a widow to be taken care of by the church.
If a 60+ woman becomes widowed, her next-of-kin must take care of her.
1 Tim 5:4, 8, 16 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
The church must not support widows who have relatives to take care of them. For some reason, Jesus sidestepped the next-of-kin rule -- one of the privileges of being God. He had four brothers.
Mat 13:55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
Yet He decided to give His mother to the Apostle John.
Jn 19:26-27 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
Perhaps He didn't trust His brothers. But Mary must have been 60 or over; had she been 59, Jesus would have told her to remarry. (Mary's age is further proof that
Jesus was well in His forties when He died.)
If, however, a widowed woman is over 60, has had only one husband, has born children, done good works, entertained fellow Christians, done good works and helped the poor, then she would belong to the church. The saints would take care of her. Does that answer your question?