Paul says to honor widows who are truly widows, distinguishing those who are left alone and set their hope on God. He also notes that families should care for their own, and gives criteria related to enrolling widows for ongoing support. See 1 Timothy 5:3–16.
In 1 Timothy 5:3–7 the writer tells Timothy to give “honor” to widows who truly meet the description of being without support. The key distinction is whether a widow has family who can and should care for her. A “widow indeed” is both left alone and oriented toward God in ongoing prayer. This unit sits inside a larger set of practical instructions about relationships and responsibilities within the church community (chapter 5). Just before this, Timothy is told how to treat older and younger men and women with family-like respect (5:1–2), and this naturally leads to the question of how to treat widows.
The passage draws a clear line between widows who should receive church “honor” and widows who have family able to care for them (textual claim: widows with children or grandchildren should be cared for by family). The writer treats family care as a real moral duty, described as “repaying” parents and as “acceptable in God’s sight” (textual claims).
A careful answer keeps the immediate passage, the book's argument, and the whole-Bible storyline together, so the question is answered in context instead of as a detached idea.
Start with 1 Timothy 5:3-16, then read the surrounding section so the answer stays connected to the passage's flow.
3Honor widows who are widows indeed.
4But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family, and to repay their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
5Now she who is a widow indeed, and desolate, has her hope set on God, and continues in petitions and prayers night and day.
6But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives.
7Also command these things, that they may be without reproach.
8But if anyone doesn`t provide for his own, and specially his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.
9Let none be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man,
10well reported of for good works; if she has brought up children, if she has used hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints` feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.
11But refuse younger widows, for when they have grown wanton against Christ, they desire to marry;
12having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge.
13Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.
14I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for reviling.
15For already some have turned aside after Satan.
16If any man or woman who believes has widows, let them relieve them, and don`t let the assembly be burdened; that it might relieve those who are widows indeed.