1 Timothy 5
1 An ancient man rebuke not, but entreat him as a father: young 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 Old women, as mothers: young women, as sisters, in all chastity.
the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters – with all purity.
3 Honour widows, that are widows indeed.
Show consideration for widows – I mean those who are really widowed.
4 But if any widow have children, or grandchildren, let her learn first to govern her own house, and to make a return of duty to her parents: for this is 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 But she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, let her trust in God, and continue in supplications and prayers 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 For she that liveth in pleasures, is dead while she is living.
But the life of a widow who is devoted to pleasure is a living death.
7 And this give in charge, that they may be blameless.
Those are the points you should teach, so that there may be no call for your censure.
8 But if any man have not care of his own, and especially of those of his house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
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 a widow be chosen of no less than threescore years of age, who hath been 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 Having testimony for her good works, if she have brought up children, if she have received to harbour, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have ministered to them that suffer tribulation, if she have diligently followed 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 the younger widows avoid. For when they have grown wanton in Christ, they will 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 Having damnation, because they have made void their first faith.
and so they bring condemnation on themselves for having broken their previous promise.
13 And withal being idle they learn to go about from house to house: and are not only idle, but tattlers also, and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
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 younger should marry, bear children, be mistresses of families, give no occasion to the adversary to speak evil.
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 are already turned aside after Satan.
There are some who have already left us, to follow Satan.
16 If any of the faithful have widows, let him minister to them, and let not the church be charged: that there may be sufficient for them that are widows indeed.
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 Let the priests that rule well, be esteemed worthy of double honour: especially they who labour in the word 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 saith: Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn: and, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
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 a priest receive not an accusation, but under 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 sin reprove before all: that the rest also may have fear.
but rebuke offenders publicly, so that others may take warning.
21 I charge thee before God, and Christ Jesus, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by declining to either side.
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 Impose not hands lightly upon any man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins. Keep thyself chaste.
Never ordain anyone hastily, and take no part in the wrongdoing of others. Keep your life pure.
23 Do not still drink water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake, and thy frequent 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 men’s sins are manifest, going before to judgment: and some men they follow after.
There are some people whose sins are conspicuous and lead on to judgment, while there are others whose sins dog their steps.
25 In like manner also good deeds are manifest: and they that are otherwise, cannot be hid.
In the same way noble deeds become conspicuous, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.
