Section Four

Caring for Children as a

Duty

The New Testament has some verses that show how the care of children is a condition of: • holding a church office (‘overseer’ or ‘deacon’ or ‘elder’) • receiving money for being a widow

Church Office

1. An ‘overseer’ must ‘manage his own family well’, including that his children should obey him 2. A ‘deacon’ must ‘manage his children and his household well’ 3. An ‘elder’ must have children who are not ‘wild’ or ‘disobedient’. The children must ‘believe’ or be ‘trustworthy’

Widows

By the time of the letters to Timothy, widows were looked after with gifts. Widows, especially those without sons, were in a vulnerable position and could be excluded from society. 1. If a widow has children or grandchildren, it is pleasing to God to care for the family 2. Bringing up children well is a mark of a ‘good deed’ 3. Younger widows are advised to marry again and raise a family