1 Timothy 5
5
Instructions for the Believers
1 Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.
Honouring the True Widows
3 Honour widows who are truly widows. 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety* to their* own household and to give back what is due to their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God. 5 Now she who is truly a widow and has been left alone has put her hope in God, and she continues in petitions and prayers night and day. 6 But she who lives in pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7 And command these things, so that they may be above reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own relatives,* and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 Let a widow be put on the list if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one husband, 10 being attested by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality, if she has washed the feet of the saints, if she has helped those who are oppressed, if she has devoted herself to every good work. 11 But refuse younger widows, for when their sensual desires draw them away from Christ, they want to marry, 12 thus incurring condemnation, because they have violated their former pledge. 13 And at the same time, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house;* and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not. 14 Therefore, I want younger widows* to marry, to bear children, to manage their households, to give no opportunity to the adversary* for reviling. 15 For some have already turned aside after Satan. 16 If any believing woman* has widows under her care,* let her help them, and let not the church be burdened, so that it may help those who are truly widows.
Honouring the Preaching and Teaching Elders
17 The elders who lead well must be considered worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox, while it is treading out the grain”* and “The worker is worthy of his wages.” * 19 Do not accept a charge against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. 20 Rebuke those who persist in sin in the presence of all, so that the rest also may experience fear.
Other Instructions
21 I earnestly charge you before God and Christ Jesus* and the elect angels, that you keep these things without prejudgment,* doing nothing out of favouritism. 22 Do not be quick to lay hands on anyone, and do not participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
23 Drink no longer water alone, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
The Obviousness of Sins and Good Works
24 The sins of some people are obvious, preceding them to judgment, but for some, they follow after. 25 Likewise, also, good works are obvious, and those that are otherwise cannot be concealed.
Notes
4 Greek to be pious
4 Greek the . Here, the Greek definite article functions pronominally, corresponding contextually to the English possessive their
8 Greek the own [in the plural sense]
13 Greek going about houses
14 The word widows is supplied to the text on contextual considerations for the sake of clarity
14 Greek the one who opposes
16 The word woman is supplied to the text on contextual considerations for the sake of clarity
16 The prepositional phrase under her care is supplied to the text on contextual considerations for the sake of clarity
18 Quoted from Deut. 25:4
18 Quoted from Matt. 10:10; Lk. 10:7
21 Some ancient manuscripts read Lord Jesus Christ, while others read Jesus Christ
21 Or prejudice
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Copyright © 2026 Michael Adeyemi Adegbola. This Scripture text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).
