1 Timothy 5

Duties toward Believers

1Do not speak harshly to an older man,#5.1 Or an elder, or a presbyter but speak to him as to a father, to younger men as brothers, 2to older women as mothers, to younger women as sisters—with absolute purity.

3Honor widows who are really widows. 4If a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn their religious duty to their own family and make some repayment to their parents; for this is pleasing in God's sight. 5The real widow, left alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day; 6but the widow#5.6 Gk she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7Give these commands as well, so that they may be above reproach. 8And whoever does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9Let a widow be put on the list if she is not less than sixty years old and has been married only once;#5.9 Gk the wife of one husband 10she must be well attested for her good works, as one who has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the saints' feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to doing good in every way. 11But refuse to put younger widows on the list; for when their sensual desires alienate them from Christ, they want to marry, 12and so they incur condemnation for having violated their first pledge. 13Besides that, they learn to be idle, gadding about from house to house; and they are not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not say. 14So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, and manage their households, so as to give the adversary no occasion to revile us. 15For some have already turned away to follow Satan. 16If any believing woman#5.16 Other ancient authorities read believing man or woman; others, believing man has relatives who are really widows, let her assist them; let the church not be burdened, so that it can assist those who are real widows.

17Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor,#5.17 Or compensation especially those who labor in preaching and teaching; 18for the scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves to be paid.” 19Never accept any accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest also may stand in fear. 21In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels, I warn you to keep these instructions without prejudice, doing nothing on the basis of partiality. 22Do not ordain#5.22 Gk Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, and do not participate in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

23No longer drink only water, but take a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

24The sins of some people are conspicuous and precede them to judgment, while the sins of others follow them there. 25So also good works are conspicuous; and even when they are not, they cannot remain hidden.

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1 Timothy 5

Guidelines for Dealing with Other Christians

1Never use harsh words when you correct an older man, but talk to him as if he were your father. Talk to younger men as if they were your brothers, 2older women as if they were your mothers, and younger women as if they were your sisters, while keeping yourself morally pure.

3Honor widows who have no families. 4The children or grandchildren of a widow must first learn to respect their own family by repaying their parents. This is pleasing in God’s sight.

5A widow who has no family has placed her confidence in God by praying and asking for his help night and day. 6But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead although she is still alive. 7Insist on these things so that widows will have good reputations. 8If anyone doesn’t take care of his own relatives, especially his immediate family, he has denied the Christian faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9Any widow who had only one husband and is at least 60 years old should be put on your list ⌞of widows⌟. 10People should tell about the good things she has done: raising children, being hospitable, taking care of believers’ needs, helping the suffering, or always doing good things.

11Don’t include younger widows ⌞on your list⌟. Whenever their natural desires become stronger than their devotion to Christ, they’ll want to marry. 12They condemn themselves by rejecting the Christian faith, the faith they first accepted. 13At the same time, they learn to go around from house to house since they have nothing else to do. Not only this, but they also gossip and get involved in other people’s business, saying things they shouldn’t say.

14So I want younger widows to marry, have children, manage their homes, and not give the enemy any chance to ridicule them. 15Some of them have already turned away to follow Satan. 16If any woman is a believer and has relatives who are widows, she should help them. In this way the church is not burdened and can help widows who have no families.

17Give double honor to spiritual leaders #5:17 Or “pastors,” or “elders.” who handle their duties well. This is especially true if they work hard at teaching God’s word. 18After all, Scripture says, “Never muzzle an ox when it is threshing #5:18 Threshing is the process of beating stalks to separate them from the grain. grain,” and “The worker deserves his pay.”

19Don’t pay attention to an accusation against a spiritual leader unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. 20Reprimand those leaders who sin. Do it in front of everyone so that the other leaders will also be afraid.

21I solemnly call on you in the sight of God, Christ Jesus, and the chosen angels to be impartial when you follow what I’ve told you. Never play favorites.

22Don’t be in a hurry to place your hands on anyone ⌞to ordain him⌟. Don’t participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself morally pure.

23Stop drinking only water. Instead, drink a little wine for your stomach because you are frequently sick.

24The sins of some people are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment. The sins of others follow them there. 25In the same way, the good things that people do are obvious, and those that aren’t obvious can’t remain hidden.

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