1 Timothy 5

Instructions for the Church

1 aDo not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, byounger men as brothers, 2older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.

3Honor widows cwho are truly widows. 4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn dto show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for ethis is pleasing in the sight of God. 5She fwho is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and gcontinues in supplications and prayers night and day, 6but hshe who is self-indulgent is idead even while she lives. 7 jCommand these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. 8But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for kmembers of his household, he has ldenied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been mthe wife of one husband,
Or a woman of one man
10and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has oshown hospitality, phas washed the feet of the saints, has qcared for the afflicted, and has rdevoted herself to every good work. 11But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when stheir passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry 12and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. 13Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also tgossips and ubusybodies, saying what they should not. 14So I would have vyounger widows marry, bear children, wmanage their households, and xgive the adversary no occasion for slander. 15 yFor some have already strayed after Satan. 16If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those zwho are truly widows.

17Let the elders aawho rule well be considered worthy of abdouble honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18For the Scripture says, ac“You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, ad“The laborer deserves his wages.” 19Do not admit a charge against an elder except aeon the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20As for those who persist in sin, afrebuke them in the presence of all, agso that the rest may stand in fear. 21In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels ahI charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, aidoing nothing from partiality. 22 ajDo not be hasty in the aklaying on of hands, nor altake part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. 23(No longer drink only water, but amuse a little wine anfor the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) 24The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. 25So also good works are conspicuous, and aoeven those that are not cannot remain hidden.

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