1 Timothy 5
5
1Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2older women as mothers, and with all propriety, the younger women as sisters.
The Support of Widows
3Support # Lit Honor widows # Ex 22:22; Jms 1:27 who are genuinely widows. 4But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must learn to practice godliness toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God. 5The real widow, left all alone, has put her hope in God # 1Co 7:34 and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers; 6however, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. # Lk 15:24; Eph 2:1,5; 5:14; Rv 3:1 7Command this also, so they won’t be blamed. 8But if anyone does not provide # Rm 12:17; 2Co 8:21 for his own, that is his own household, he has denied the faith # Mt 10:33; Php 1:27; 1Tm 1:2; 2Pt 2:1; Jd 4; Rv 2:13 and is worse than an unbeliever.
9No widow should be placed on the official support list # Lit be enrolled unless she is at least 60 years old, has been the wife of one husband, 10and is well known for good works # Mk 14:6; 2Co 9:8; Gl 3:10; Jms 2:14-26 — that is, if she has brought up children, shown hospitality, # 2Jn 10 washed the saints’ feet, # Lk 7:44; Jn 13:5-14 helped the afflicted, # Heb 11:37 and devoted herself to every good work. # 2Co 9:8 11But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry # 1Tm 5:14 12and will therefore receive condemnation # Mk 12:40 because they have renounced their original pledge. 13At the same time, they also learn to be idle, going from house to house; they are not only idle, but are also gossips # Pr 17:9; 3Jn 10 and busybodies, saying things they shouldn’t say. 14Therefore, I want younger women to marry, # Gn 2:18-25; 1Co 7:9-10; 1Tm 4:3; 5:11 have children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us. # Ti 2:4-5 15For some have already turned away # Heb 12:13 to follow Satan. 16If any # Other mss add believing man or believing woman has widows in her family, she should help them, and the church should not be burdened, so that it can help those who are genuinely widows.
Honoring the Elders
17The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium, # Or of respect and remuneration ; lit of double honor especially those who work hard # 1Th 5:12 at preaching and teaching. 18For the Scripture says:
Do not muzzle an ox
while it is treading out the grain, # Dt 25:4; 1Co 9:9 # Dt 25:4 and,
the worker is worthy of his wages. # Lv 19:13; Dt 24:14-15; Mt 10:10; Lk 10:7; 1Co 9:4-14; 2Pt 2:13
19Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. # Dt 19:15 20Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will also be afraid. 21I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe # Lk 11:28 these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism. 22Don’t be too quick to appoint # Lit to lay hands on = to ordain # Ex 29:10; Lv 4:15; Lk 4:40; Ac 6:6; 28:8; 1Tm 4:14; Heb 6:2 anyone as an elder, and don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. # Php 4:8 23Don’t continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. 24Some people’s sins are obvious, going before them to judgment, # Mt 12:41; Jn 5:22-30; Heb 9:27 but the sins of others surface # Lit follow later. 25Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden.
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© 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.
1 Timothy 5
5
Instructions About Widows, Elders and Slaves
1Correct an older man in a way that shows respect. Make an appeal to him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as if they were your brothers. 2Treat older women as if they were your mothers. Treat younger women as if they were your sisters. Be completely pure in the way you treat them.
3Take care of the widows who really need help. 4But suppose a widow has children or grandchildren. They should first learn to put their faith into practice. They should care for their own family. In that way they will pay back their parents and grandparents. That pleases God. 5A widow who really needs help and is left all alone puts her hope in God. Night and day she keeps on praying. Night and day she asks God for help. 6But a widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still living. 7Give these instructions to the people. Then no one can be blamed. 8Everyone should provide for their own relatives. Most of all, everyone should take care of their own family. If they don’t, they have left the faith. They are worse than someone who doesn’t believe.
9No widow should be put on the list of widows unless she is more than 60 years old. She must also have been faithful to her husband. 10She must be well known for the good things she does. That includes bringing up children. It includes inviting guests into her home. It includes washing the feet of the Lord’s people. It includes helping those who are in trouble. A widow should spend her time doing all kinds of good things.
11Don’t put younger widows on that kind of list. They might want pleasure more than they want Christ. Then they would want to get married again. 12If they do that, they will be judged. They have broken their first promise. 13Besides, they get into the habit of having nothing to do. They go around from house to house. They waste their time. They also bother other people and say things that make no sense. They shouldn’t say those things. 14So here is the advice I give to younger widows. Get married. Have children. Take care of your own homes. Don’t give the enemy the chance to tell lies about you. 15In fact, some have already turned away to follow Satan.
16Suppose a woman is a believer and takes care of widows. She should continue to help them. She shouldn’t let the church pay the expenses. Then the church can help the widows who really need it.
17The elders who do the church’s work well are worth twice as much honor. That is true in a special way of elders who preach and teach. 18Scripture says, “Do not stop an ox from eating while it helps separate the grain from the straw.” (Deuteronomy 25:4) Scripture also says, “Workers are worthy of their pay.” (Luke 10:7) 19Don’t believe a charge against an elder unless two or three witnesses bring it. 20But those elders who are sinning should be corrected in front of everyone. This will be a warning to the others. 21I command you to follow these instructions. I command you in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels. Treat everyone the same. Don’t favor one person over another.
22Don’t be too quick to place your hands on others to set them apart to serve God. Don’t take part in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
23Stop drinking only water. If your stomach is upset, drink a little wine. It can also help the other sicknesses you often have.
24The sins of some people are easy to see. They are already being judged. Others will be judged later. 25In the same way, good works are easy to see. But even good works that are hard to see can’t stay hidden forever.
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