1 Timothy 5
5
Rules for Living with Others
1Do not speak angrily to an older man, but plead with him as if he were your father. Treat younger men like brothers, 2older women like mothers, and younger women like sisters. Always treat them in a pure way.
3Take care of widows who are truly widows. 4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to do their duty to their own family and to repay their parents or grandparents. That pleases God. 5The true widow, who is all alone, puts her hope in God and continues to pray night and day for God’s help. 6But the widow who uses her life to please herself is really dead while she is alive. 7Tell the believers to do these things so that no one can criticize them. 8Whoever does not care for his own relatives, especially his own family members, has turned against the faith and is worse than someone who does not believe in God.
9To be on the list of widows, a woman must be at least sixty years old. She must have been faithful to her husband. 10She must be known for her good works—works such as raising her children, welcoming strangers, washing the feet of God’s people, helping those in trouble, and giving her life to do all kinds of good deeds.
11But do not put younger widows on that list. After they give themselves to Christ, they are pulled away from him by their physical desires, and then they want to marry again. 12They will be judged for not doing what they first promised to do. 13Besides that, they learn to waste their time, going from house to house. And they not only waste their time but also begin to gossip and busy themselves with other people’s lives, saying things they should not say. 14So I want the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their homes. Then no enemy will have any reason to criticize them. 15But some have already turned away to follow Satan.
16If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should care for them herself. The church should not have to care for them. Then it will be able to take care of those who are truly widows.
17The elders who lead the church well should receive double honor, especially those who work hard by speaking and teaching, 18because the Scripture says: “When an ox is working in the grain, do not cover its mouth to keep it from eating,” and “A worker should be given his pay.”
19Do not listen to someone who accuses an elder, without two or three witnesses. 20Tell those who continue sinning that they are wrong. Do this in front of the whole church so that the others will have a warning.
21Before God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels, I command you to do these things without showing favor of any kind to anyone.
22Think carefully before you lay your hands on anyone, and don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
23Stop drinking only water, but drink a little wine to help your stomach and your frequent sicknesses.
24The sins of some people are easy to see even before they are judged, but the sins of others are seen only later. 25So also good deeds are easy to see, but even those that are not easily seen cannot stay hidden.
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The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
1 Timothy 5
5
Instructions for the Church
1 # [Lev. 19:32] Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, #Titus 2:6younger men as brothers, 2older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.
3Honor widows #ver. 5, 16who are truly widows. 4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn #Matt. 15:4-6; Mark 7:10-13; Eph. 6:1, 2; [Gen. 45:9-11] to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for #ch. 2:3this is pleasing in the sight of God. 5She #ver. 3, 16 who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and #[Luke 2:37; 18:1-5]continues in supplications and prayers night and day, 6but #James 5:5; [Ezek. 16:49] she who is self-indulgent is #Rev. 3:1dead even while she lives. 7#ch. 4:11; 6:2Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. 8But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for #See Gal. 6:10 members of his household, he has #Rev. 2:13; [2 Tim. 3:5; Titus 1:16; 2 Pet. 2:1; Rev. 3:8]denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been #[ch. 3:2]the wife of one husband,#5:9 Or a woman of one man 10and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has #[See ver. 9 above] shown hospitality, #See Gen. 18:4 has washed the feet of the saints, has #ver. 16 cared for the afflicted, and has #[ch. 6:18]devoted herself to every good work. 11But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when #[Rev. 18:3, 7, 9]their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry 12and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. 13Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also #3 John 10 (Gk.) gossips and #2 Thess. 3:11; 1 Pet. 4:15busybodies, saying what they should not. 14So I would have #[1 Cor. 7:9] younger widows marry, bear children, #[Titus 2:5] manage their households, and #ch. 6:1; Titus 2:5, 8give the adversary no occasion for slander. 15#[ch. 1:20]For some have already strayed after Satan. 16If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those #ver. 3, 5who are truly widows.
17Let the elders #Rom. 12:8; 1 Thess. 5:12; [1 Cor. 12:28] who rule well be considered worthy of #Deut. 21:17double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18For the Scripture says, #1 Cor. 9:9; Cited from Deut. 25:4 “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, #Matt. 10:10; Luke 10:7; [Lev. 19:13; Deut. 24:15; 1 Cor. 9:4, 7-14]“The laborer deserves his wages.” 19Do not admit a charge against an elder except #See Deut. 19:15on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20As for those who persist in sin, #Titus 1:13; 2:15 rebuke them in the presence of all, #Deut. 13:11so that the rest may stand in fear. 21In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels #ch. 6:13; 2 Tim. 2:14; 4:1 I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, #See 2 Cor. 5:16doing nothing from partiality. 22#[ch. 3:10] Do not be hasty in the #See Acts 6:6 laying on of hands, nor #[2 John 11]take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. 23(No longer drink only water, but #[ch. 3:8] use a little wine #Ps. 104:15for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) 24The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. 25So also good works are conspicuous, and #[Ps. 37:6; Prov. 10:9]even those that are not cannot remain hidden.
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