1 Timothy 5
5
How To Act toward Others
1Don't correct an older man. Encourage him, as you would your own father. Treat younger men as you would your own brother, 2and treat older women as you would your own mother. Show the same respect to younger women that you would to your sister.
3Take care of any widow who is really in need. 4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn to serve God by taking care of her, as she once took care of them. This is what God wants them to do. 5#Jdt 8.4-6. A widow who is really in need is one who doesn't have any relatives. She has faith in God, and she keeps praying to him night and day, asking for his help.
6A widow who thinks only about having a good time is already dead, even though she is still alive.
7Tell all this to everyone, so they will do the right thing. 8People who don't take care of their relatives, and especially their own families, have given up their faith. They are worse than someone who doesn't have faith in the Lord.
9For a widow to be put on the list of widows, she must be at least 60 years old, and she must have been faithful in marriage.#5.9 been faithful in marriage: Or “been the wife of only one husband.” 10She must also be well-known for doing all sorts of good things, such as raising children, giving food to strangers, welcoming God's people into her home,#5.10 welcoming God's people into her home: The Greek text has “washing the feet of God's people.” In New Testament times most people either went barefoot or wore sandals, and a host would often wash the feet of special guests. helping people in need, and always making herself useful.
11Don't put young widows on the list. They may later have a strong desire to get married. Then they will turn away from Christ 12and become guilty of breaking their promise to him. 13Besides, they will become lazy and get into the habit of going from house to house. Next, they will start gossiping and become busybodies, talking about things that are none of their business.
14I would prefer that young widows get married, have children, and look after their families. Then the enemy won't have any reason to say insulting things about us. 15Look what's already happened to some of the young widows! They have turned away to follow Satan.
16If a woman who is a follower has any widows in her family, she#5.16 woman … she: Some manuscripts have “man or woman … that person.” should help them. This will keep the church from having that burden, and then the church can help widows who are really in need.
Church Leaders
17Church leaders#5.17 church leaders: Or “elders” or “presbyters.” who do their job well deserve to be paid#5.17 paid: Or “honored” or “respected.” twice as much, especially if they work hard at preaching and teaching. 18#Dt 25.4; Mt 10.10; Lk 10.7. It is just as the Scriptures say, “Don't muzzle an ox when you are using it to grind grain.” You also know the saying, “Workers are worth their pay.”
19 #
Dt 17.5-7; 19.15. Don't listen to any charge against a church leader, unless at least two or three people bring the same charges. 20But if any of the leaders should keep on sinning, they must be corrected in front of the whole group, as a warning to everyone else.
21In the presence of God and Christ Jesus and their chosen angels, I order you to follow my instructions! Be fair with everyone, and don't have any favorites.
22Don't be too quick to accept people into the service of the Lord#5.22 to accept people into the service of the Lord: Or “to forgive people.” by placing your hands on them.
Don't sin because others do, but stay close to God.
23Stop drinking only water. Take a little wine to help your stomach trouble and the other illnesses you often have.
24Some people get caught in their sins almost at once, even before the time of judgment. But other people's sins don't show up until later. 25It is the same with good deeds. Some are easily seen, but none of them can be hidden.
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1 Timothy 5: CEV
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
1 Timothy 5
5
1An aged person thou mayest not rebuke, but be entreating as a father; younger persons as brethren;
2aged women as mothers, younger ones as sisters — in all purity;
3honour widows who are really widows;
4and if any widow have children or grandchildren, let them learn first to their own house to show piety, and to give back a recompense to the parents, for this is right and acceptable before God.
5And she who is really a widow and desolate, hath hoped upon God, and doth remain in the supplications and in the prayers night and day,
6and she who is given to luxury, living — hath died;
7and these things charge, that they may be blameless;
8and if any one for his own — and especially for those of the household — doth not provide, the faith he hath denied, and than an unbeliever he is worse.
9A widow — let her not be enrolled under sixty years of age, having been a wife of one husband,
10in good works being testified to: if she brought up children, if she entertained strangers, if saints' feet she washed, if those in tribulation she relieved, if every good work she followed after;
11and younger widows be refusing, for when they may revel against the Christ, they wish to marry,
12having judgment, because the first faith they did cast away,
13and at the same time also, they learn [to be] idle, going about the houses; and not only idle, but also tattlers and busybodies, speaking the things they ought not;
14I wish, therefore, younger ones to marry, to bear children, to be mistress of the house, to give no occasion to the opposer to reviling;
15for already certain did turn aside after the Adversary.
16If any believing man or believing woman have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the assembly be burdened, that those really widows it may relieve.
17The well-leading elders of double honour let them be counted worthy, especially those labouring in word and teaching,
18for the Writing saith, ‘An ox treading out thou shalt not muzzle,’ and ‘Worthy [is] the workman of his reward.’
19Against an elder an accusation receive not, except upon two or three witnesses.
20Those sinning, reprove before all, that the others also may have fear;
21I testify fully, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the choice messengers, that these things thou mayest keep, without forejudging, doing nothing by partiality.
22Be laying hands quickly on no one, nor be having fellowship with sins of others; be keeping thyself pure;
23no longer be drinking water, but a little wine be using, because of thy stomach and of thine often infirmities;
24of certain men the sins are manifest beforehand, leading before to judgment, and certain also they follow after;
25in like manner also the right works are manifest beforehand, and those that are otherwise are not able to be hid.
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