Biblical and African culture seems to agree on the
fact that, the father is the head and the provider for
the family. However, it has been observed in recent
years that the changing economic role of women has
greatly crushed the role of fathers. The women's
upsurge in financial power reduces the important of
paternal financial role in many families, specifically
among Christian families. Many Christian fathers had
abandoned their role for their wives, as a result, there
are increasing rates of divorce and remarriage,
defiant and laziness, also unfaithfulness among
Christian couples cannot be over emphasized. The
biblical injunction which described whoever does not
provide for his own…. seems to be confusingly gender
based, some interpret that passage to mean both
genders while some think otherwise, consequently, it
remains contentious in our contemporary world.
Hence interpretation of the 1 Timothy 5:8, in relation to
the Christian families, become necessary. Historical
critical method, with the exegesis of the pericope was
employed. It has been discovered that some men
imbibe the colonial way of life and abandoned their
family under duress, out of inferiority complex they
bow for the western way of life and dodge their
responsibilities this which usually led to violence in the
family some demand for gender compliment. The
load of responsibilities shifted on some women has
increased the burden and sudden death of some
mothers. However, some men withstand and uphold
both the Biblical and African traditional belief and
culture, these are the few that were able to take care
and provide for their family as a man and father.