1 Timothy 5
5
1Don’t speak angrily to an older man. But talk to him as if he were your father. Treat the younger men like brothers. 2Treat the older women like mothers. And treat the younger women with respect like sisters.
Taking Care of Widows
3Take care of widows who really need help. 4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, the first thing they need to learn is this: to show their devotion to God by taking care of their own family. They will be repaying their parents, and this pleases God. 5A widow who really needs help is one who has been left all alone. She trusts God to take care of her. She prays all the time, night and day, and asks God for help. 6But the widow who uses her life to please herself is really dead while she is still living. 7Tell the believers there to take care of their family so that no one can say they are doing wrong. 8Everyone should take care of all their own people. Most important, they should take care of their own family. If they do not do that, then they do not accept what we believe. They are worse than someone who does not even believe in God.
9To be added to your list of widows, a woman must be 60 years old or older. She must have been faithful to her husband.#5:9 faithful to her husband Literally, “a woman of one man.” 10She must be known for the good she has done: raising children, welcoming travelers into her home, serving the needs#5:10 serving the needs Literally, “washing the feet,” a social custom of the first century, because people wore open sandals on very dusty roads. of God’s people, helping those in trouble, and using her life to do all kinds of good.
11But don’t put younger widows on that list. When their strong physical needs pull them away from their commitment to Christ, they will want to marry again. 12Then they will be guilty of not doing what they first promised to do. 13Also, these younger widows begin to waste their time going from house to house. They also begin to gossip and try to run other people’s lives. They say things they should not say. 14So I want the younger widows to marry, have children, and take care of their homes. If they do this, our enemy will not have any reason to criticize them. 15But some of the younger widows have already turned away to follow Satan.
16If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she#5:16 woman … she Some Greek copies have “man or woman … he/she.” should take care of them herself. Then the church will not have that burden and will be able to care for the widows who have no one else to help them.
More About Elders and Other Matters
17The elders who lead the church in a good way should receive double honor#5:17 double honor Or “double pay.”—in particular, those who do the work of counseling and teaching. 18As the Scriptures say, “When a work animal is being used to separate grain, don’t keep it from eating the grain.”#Quote from Deut. 25:4. And the Scriptures also say, “A worker should be given his pay.”#Quote from Lk. 10:7.
19Don’t listen to someone who accuses an elder. You should listen to them only if there are two or three others who can say what the elder did wrong. 20Tell those who sin that they are wrong. Do this in front of the whole church so that the others will have a warning.
21Before God and Jesus Christ and the chosen angels, I tell you to make these judgments without any prejudice. Treat every person the same.
22Think carefully before you lay your hands on anyone to make him an elder. Don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
23Timothy, stop drinking only water, and drink a little wine. This will help your stomach, and you will not be sick so often.
24The sins of some people are easy to see. Their sins show that they will be judged. But the sins of some others are seen only later. 25It is the same with the good things people do. Some are easy to see. But even if they are not obvious now, none of them will stay hidden forever.
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
1 Timothy 5
5
1Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brethren: 2the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity.
3Honour widows that are widows indeed. 4But if any widow hath children or grandchildren, let them learn first to shew piety towards their own family, and to requite their parents: for this is acceptable in the sight of God. 5Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, hath her hope set on God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. 6But she that giveth herself to pleasure is dead while she liveth. 7These things also command, that they may be without reproach. 8But if any provideth not for his own, and specially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. 9Let none be enrolled as a widow under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, 10well reported of for good works; if she hath brought up children, if she hath used hospitality to strangers, if she hath washed the saints' feet, if she hath relieved the afflicted, if she hath diligently followed every good work. 11But younger widows refuse: for when they have waxed wanton against Christ, they desire to marry; 12having condemnation, because they have rejected their first faith. 13And withal they learn also to be idle, going about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. 14I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, give none occasion to the adversary for reviling: 15for already some are turned aside after Satan. 16If any woman that believeth hath widows, let her relieve them, and let not the church be burdened; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
17Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in the word and in teaching. 18For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his hire. 19Against an elder receive not an accusation, except at the mouth of two or three witnesses. 20Them that sin reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear. 21I charge thee in the sight of God, and Christ Jesus, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality. 22Lay hands hastily on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. 23Be no longer a drinker of water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. 24Some men's sins are evident, going before unto judgement; and some men also they follow after. 25In like manner also there are good works that are evident; and such as are otherwise cannot be hid.
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