1 Timothy 5
1 Rebuke not an Elder, but exhort him as a father, and the yonger men as brethren,
Do not reprimand an older man, but plead with him as if he were your father. Treat the young men as brothers,
2 The elder women as mothers, the yonger as sisters, with all purenesse.
the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters – with all purity.
3 Honour widowes, which are widowes in deede.
Show consideration for widows – I mean those who are really widowed.
4 But if any widowe haue children or nephewes, let them learne first to shewe godlinesse towarde their owne house, and to recompense their kinred: for that is an honest thing and acceptable before 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 And shee that is a widowe in deede and left alone, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and praiers night and day.
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 shee that liueth in pleasure, is dead, while shee liueth.
But the life of a widow who is devoted to pleasure is a living death.
7 These things therefore warne them of, that they may be blamelesse.
Those are the points you should teach, so that there may be no call for your censure.
8 If there bee any that prouideth not for his owne, and namely for them of his housholde, hee denieth the faith, and is worse then an infidell.
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 Let not a widow be taken into the number vnder three score yeere olde, that hath beene the wife of one husband,
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 reported of for good woorkes: if shee haue nourished her children, if shee haue lodged the strangers, if shee haue washed the Saintes feete, if shee haue ministred vnto them which were in aduersitie, if shee were continually giuen vnto euery good woorke.
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 the yonger widowes: for when they haue begun to waxe wanton against Christ, they will marrie,
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 Hauing damnation, because they haue broken the first faith.
and so they bring condemnation on themselves for having broken their previous promise.
13 And likewise also being idle they learne to goe about from house to house: yea, they are not onely ydle, but also pratlers and busibodies, speaking things which are not comely.
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 I will therefore that the yonger women marie, and beare children, and gouerne the house, and giue none occasion to the aduersary to speake euill.
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 certaine are alreadie turned backe after Satan.
There are some who have already left us, to follow Satan.
16 If any faithfull man, or faithfull woman haue widowes, let them minister vnto them, and let not the Church bee charged, that there may bee sufficient for them that are widowes in deede.
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 The Elders that rule well, let them be had in double honour, specially they which labour in the worde and doctrine,
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 sayeth, Thou shalt not mousell the mouth of the oxe that treadeth out the corne: and, The labourer is worthie 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 Against an Elder receiue none accusation, but vnder two or three witnesses.
Do not entertain a charge against an church elder, unless it is supported by two or three witnesses;
20 Them that sinne, rebuke openly, that the rest also may feare.
but rebuke offenders publicly, so that others may take warning.
21 I charge thee before God and the Lord Iesus Christ, and the elect Angels, that thou obserue these thinges without preferring one to an other, and doe nothing partially.
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 Lay handes suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other mens sinnes: keepe thy selfe pure.
Never ordain anyone hastily, and take no part in the wrongdoing of others. Keep your life pure.
23 Drinke no longer water, but vse a litle wine for thy stomakes sake, and thine often infirmities.
Do not continue to drink water only, but take a little wine because of the weakness of your stomach, and your frequent ailments.
24 Some mens sinnes are open before hand, and goe before vnto iudgement: but some mens folowe after.
There are some people whose sins are conspicuous and lead on to judgment, while there are others whose sins dog their steps.
25 Likewise also the good woorkes are manifest before hande, and they that are otherwise, cannot be hid.
In the same way noble deeds become conspicuous, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.
