1 Timothy 5
1 Do not rebuke/scold older men. Instead, exhort/advise them [respectfully] as you would [exhort/advise] your father. Exhort/advise younger men [gently] as you would exhort/advise your brothers.
Do not reprimand an aged man, but continue pleading with him as if he were your father. Treat the young men as brothers,
2 [Exhort/advise] older women [respectfully] as [you would exhort/advise] your mother. [Exhort/advise] younger women [gently] as [you would exhort/advise] your sisters; but you must act in a completely proper way as you do that.
the older women as mothers, the younger women as sisters in all purity.
3 [Make sure that the congregation] takes care of widows who have no one to care for them.
Ever honor widows who are really widows;
4 If a widow has children or grandchildren, these [children or grandchildren] should learn that they are to take care of their own family first. By doing that they can repay their parents and grandparents for all that they did for them when they were young, because doing that pleases God.
but if any widow has children or grandchildren, let these learn to show their piety first toward their own household, and to make some return to their parents, for that is pleasing in God’s sight.
5 The widows who are really alone and have no one [to help them] confidently expect that God [will help them]. So night and day they pray, earnestly asking [DOU] [God that he will help them and others].
Now she who is a widow indeed, and desolate, has fixed her hope on God, and devotes herself to supplications and prayers, day and night.
6 But widows who just want to have a lot of pleasure are [spiritually] [MET] dead, although they are [physically] alive.
But she who lives in wantonness is dead even while she still lives.
7 And tell [the congregation] that [the children or grandchildren should do] these things in order that [no one] can (criticize the believers/say that the believers are doing anything that is wrong).
Keep admonishing them regarding these things, so that they may be irreproachable.
8 If anyone does not take care of those who live in his own house, and especially if he does not take care of his own family, he has (denied/quit believing) what we believe and [we should consider that] he is worse than a person who does not believe [in Christ].
But if any one fails to provide for his own, and especially for his kindred, he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel.
9 [You have a list of] widows [who will do work for the congregation and receive money]. Put women’s names on the list [only if] they are more than 60 years old, and if they were faithful to their husbands.
A widow, to be placed upon the list, must be not less than sixty years old, and one who has been the wife of but one husband.
10 [Put women’s names on that list only] if it is known that they have wholeheartedly done every kind of good deed, if they have helped [children] who were afflicted/suffering, if they have (brought up/cared for) their children [properly/well], if they have welcomed and cared for guests, and if they have humbly served [MTY] other believers.
She must be well reputed for good works, as one who has brought up a family, received strangers with hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, relieved the distressed, and diligently followed every good work.
11 As for younger widows, do not put their names on that list, because they [promise to do work for the congregation, but instead of doing that, they usually] want to marry [again] (OR, marry an unbeliever) when they have a strong desire to get married.
But exclude from the list the younger widows; for where they have become wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,
12 If that happens, they may become guilty of not having done what they had promised [to do for the congregation] (OR, promised [Christ that they would do].)
and incur condemnation because they have broken their first troth.
13 In addition, they [generally] become lazy. Specifically, as they [just] go about from house to house, they also begin (to gossip/to talk about people) and to meddle in other people’s affairs, saying what they should not say.
Moreover, they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and are not only idlers, but gossips also, and busybodies, repeating things they ought not.
14 So I advise that [instead of putting the names of younger widows on the list, they] marry again, that they bear/have children, that they manage their homes [well], and that they do nothing for which an enemy can say bad things about [them].
It is my wish, then, that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule their houses, and give no occasion to our adversary for railing.
15 [I say this] because some [younger widows] have stopped [obeying Christ] in order to obey Satan.
For already some widows have gone astray after Satan.
16 If any woman who believes [in Christ] has widows [in her household/family], she should take care of them. The congregation should not be burdened by having {She should not depend on the congregation} to take care of their [needs]. The congregation should take care of the widows who truly [have no one to care for them].
Any believing woman, who has widowed relatives, ought to relieve them and not let the church be burdened with them; so that the church may relieve the really destitute widows.
17 [Each congregation] should pay well the elders who lead [well. They should] greatly honor them, especially those who preach and those who teach.
Let the elders who fill their offices well, be held worthy of twofold honor; especially those who have the task of preaching and teaching.
18 [Long ago Moses] wrote in the Scriptures, “While an ox is threshing [grain], you must not tie its mouth [so that it cannot eat the grain],” and [Jesus said], “[People] should pay those who work [for their benefit].” [So we know that congregations should support their leaders].
For the Scripture says, You must not muzzle an ox when he is treading out the grain, and The worker is worth his wages.
19 When some person accuses an elder [about doing wrong], accept what he says only if there are [at least] two or three persons who (testify/say [that]) [they saw him do that wrong].
Do not receive an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
20 But as for any [elder] who repeatedly sins, rebuke him before the whole congregation, in order that the rest [of the elders] will be afraid [to sin].
Rebuke offenders publicly, so that others also may take warning.
21 I solemnly tell you that [as you keep in mind that] God and Christ Jesus and the holy angels know everything that you do, obey these commands [about elders]! [As you consider what others say about an elder doing wrong], do not easily/quickly decide that what they say is true. And treat them all equally.
I charge you solemnly in the presence of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ and of the elect angels, that you observe these things without prejudice against any man, and do nothing out of partiality.
22 Do not be in a hurry to put your hands on a man ([to set him apart/to appoint him]) [as an elder. Wait until you have examined him to see how he conducts his life], because [God will consider] that you are responsible if [you approve] a person who sins, saying that he should [become an elder]. Keep your life pure in every way.
Never ordain any one hastily, nor take part in the wrong-doing of others. Keep yourself pure.
23 [And Timothy], no longer drink [only] water, but instead, drink a little wine [also], because [that may help to cure] your stomach’s frequent illnesses.
Do not continue to drink nothing but water, but take a little wine for your stomach’s sake, and your frequent attacks of illness.
24 [I tell you not] ([to set apart/appoint]) [elders hastily, without seeing how they conduct their lives, because] some people [sin secretly], so that it is not known what they have done until after someone examines them (OR, before God judges them). But some people sin openly, so that people know what they have done before anyone examines them.
Some men’s sins are notorious, and lead them straight on the way to condemnation; but others’ sins follow them up.
25 Similarly, although [some people] do good things openly, with the result that people know what they have done, some people [do good things secretly], yet the good things that they have done cannot remain secret either.
So also noble deeds are conspicuous, and even if otherwise, they cannot be kept hidden.
