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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1 Timothy 5: YLT98
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maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society
1 Timothy 5
5
1#After a few words of general advice based on common sense (1 Tm 5:1–2), the letter takes up, in its several aspects, the subject of widows. The first responsibility for their care belongs to the family circle, not to the Christian community as such (1 Tm 5:3–4, 16). The widow left without the aid of relatives may benefit the community by her prayer, and the community should consider her material sustenance its responsibility (1 Tm 5:5–8). Widows who wish to work directly for the Christian community should not be accepted unless they are well beyond the probability of marriage, i.e., sixty years of age, married only once, and with a reputation for good works (1 Tm 5:9–10). Younger widows are apt to be troublesome and should be encouraged to remarry (1 Tm 5:11–15). Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as a father. Treat younger men as brothers,#Lv 19:32; Ti 2:2. 2older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters with complete purity.
Rules for Widows. 3Honor widows who are truly widows. 4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let these first learn to perform their religious duty to their own family and to make recompense to their parents, for this is pleasing to God. 5The real widow, who is all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.#Jer 49:11; Lk 2:37; 18:7. 6But the one who is self-indulgent is dead while she lives. 7Command this, so that they may be irreproachable. 8And whoever does not provide for relatives and especially family members has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years old, married only once, 10with a reputation for good works, namely, that she has raised children, practiced hospitality, washed the feet of the holy ones, helped those in distress, involved herself in every good work.#Jn 13:14; Heb 13:2. 11But exclude younger widows, for when their sensuality estranges them from Christ, they want to marry 12and will incur condemnation for breaking their first pledge. 13And furthermore, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers but gossips and busybodies as well, talking about things that ought not to be mentioned.#2 Thes 3:11. 14So I would like younger widows to marry, have children, and manage a home, so as to give the adversary no pretext for maligning us.#1 Cor 7:9. 15For some have already turned away to follow Satan. 16If any woman believer#Woman believer: some early Latin manuscripts and Fathers have a masculine here, while most later manuscripts and patristic quotations conflate the two readings, perhaps to avoid unfair restriction to women. has widowed relatives, she must assist them; the church is not to be burdened, so that it will be able to help those who are truly widows.
Rules for Presbyters.#The function of presbyters is not exactly the same as that of the episkopos, “bishop” (1 Tm 3:1); in fact, the relation of the two at the time of this letter is obscure (but cf. note on Ti 1:5–9). The Pastorals seem to reflect a transitional stage that developed in many regions of the church into the monarchical episcopate of the second and third centuries. The presbyters possess the responsibility of preaching and teaching, for which functions they are supported by the community (1 Tm 5:17–18). The realization that their position subjects them to adverse criticism is implied in the direction to Timothy (1 Tm 5:19–20) to make sure of the truth of any accusation against them before public reproof is given. He must be as objective as possible in weighing charges against presbyters (1 Tm 5:21), learning from his experience to take care in selecting them (1 Tm 5:22). Some scholars take 1 Tm 5:22 as a reference not to ordination of presbyters but to reconciliation of public sinners. The letter now sounds an informal note of personal concern in its advice to Timothy not to be so ascetic that he even avoids wine (1 Tm 5:23). Judgment concerning the fitness of candidates to serve as presbyters is easy with persons of open conduct, more difficult and prolonged with those of greater reserve (1 Tm 5:24–25). 17Presbyters who preside well deserve double honor, especially those who toil in preaching and teaching.#1 Cor 16:18; Phil 2:29. 18For the scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is threshing,” and, “A worker deserves his pay.”#Dt 25:4; 1 Cor 9:8 / Mt 10:10; Lk 10:7. 19Do not accept an accusation against a presbyter unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.#Dt 17:6; 19:15; Mt 18:16; 2 Cor 13:1. 20Reprimand publicly those who do sin, so that the rest also will be afraid.#Gal 2:14; Eph 5:11; 2 Tm 4:2; Ti 1:9, 13. 21I charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to keep these rules without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism. 22Do not lay hands too readily on anyone, and do not share in another’s sins. Keep yourself pure.#4:14; 2 Tm 1:6. 23Stop drinking only water, but have a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
24Some people’s sins are public, preceding them to judgment; but other people are followed by their sins. 25Similarly, good works are also public; and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.
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