1 Timothy 5
1 Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers,
Do not reprimand an older man, but plead with him as if he were your father. Treat the young men as brothers,
2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters – with all purity.
3 Honor the widows who are truly widows.
Show consideration for widows – I mean those who are really widowed.
4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.
But, if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn to show proper regard for the members of their own family first, and to make some return to their parents; for that is pleasing in God’s sight.
5 The widow who is truly in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers.
As for the woman who is really widowed and left quite alone, her hopes are fixed on God, and she devotes herself to prayers and supplications night and day.
6 But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive.
But the life of a widow who is devoted to pleasure is a living death.
7 Give these instructions to the believers, so that they will be above reproach.
Those are the points you should teach, so that there may be no call for your censure.
8 If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Anyone who fails to provide for their own relatives, and especially for those under their own roof, has disowned the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, the wife of one man,
A widow, when her name is added to the list, should not be less than sixty years old; she should have been a faithful wife,
10 and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.
and be well spoken of for her kind actions. She should have brought up children, have shown hospitality to strangers, have washed the feet of her fellow Christians, have relieved those who were in distress, and devoted herself to every kind of good action.
11 But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry,
But you should exclude the younger widows from the list; for, when they grow restive under the yoke of the Christ, they want to marry,
12 and thus will incur judgment because they are setting aside their first faith.
and so they bring condemnation on themselves for having broken their previous promise.
13 At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention.
And not only that, but they learn to be idle as they go about from house to house. Nor are they merely idle, but they also become gossips and busybodies, and talk of what they ought not.
14 So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.
Therefore I advise young widows to marry, bear children, and attend to their homes, and so avoid giving the enemy an opportunity for scandal.
15 For some have already turned aside to follow Satan.
There are some who have already left us, to follow Satan.
16 If any believing woman has dependent widows, she must assist them and not allow the church to be burdened, so that it can help the widows who are truly in need.
Any Christian woman, who has relatives who are widows, ought to relieve them and not allow them to become a burden to the church, so that the church may relieve those widows who are really widowed.
17 Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
Those church elders who fill their office well should be held deserving of especial consideration, particularly those whose work lies in preaching and teaching.
18 For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”
The words of scripture are – “You should not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain.” and again – “The worker is worth their wages.”
19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Do not entertain a charge against an church elder, unless it is supported by two or three witnesses;
20 But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.
but rebuke offenders publicly, so that others may take warning.
21 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to maintain these principles without bias, and to do nothing out of partiality.
I charge you solemnly, before God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels, to carry out these directions, unswayed by prejudice, never acting with partiality.
22 Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
Never ordain anyone hastily, and take no part in the wrongdoing of others. Keep your life pure.
23 Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
Do not continue to drink water only, but take a little wine because of the weakness of your stomach, and your frequent ailments.
24 The sins of some men are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment; but the sins of others do not surface until later.
There are some people whose sins are conspicuous and lead on to judgment, while there are others whose sins dog their steps.
25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even the ones that are inconspicuous cannot remain hidden.
In the same way noble deeds become conspicuous, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.
