The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 5 -

Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers,

older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

Honoring True Widows

(Ruth 1:1–5)

Honor the widows who are truly widows.

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.

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.

But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive.

Give these instructions to the believers, so that they will be above reproach.

If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, the wife of one man,

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.

But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry,

and thus will incur judgment because they are setting aside their first faith.

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.

So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.

For some have already turned aside to follow Satan.

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.

Honoring Elders

Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”(a) and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”(b)

Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.

A Charge to Timothy

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.

Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

The sins of some men are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment; but the sins of others do not surface until later.

In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even the ones that are inconspicuous cannot remain hidden.

Footnotes

(a)5:18 Deuteronomy 25:4

(b)5:18 Luke 10:7; see also Leviticus 19:13 and Deuteronomy 24:14–15.

Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brothers;

the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity.

Honoring True Widows

(Ruth 1:1–5)

Honor widows who are widows indeed.

But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety toward their own family and to repay their parents, for this is (a) acceptable in the sight of God.

Now she who is a widow indeed and desolate, has her hope set on God and continues in petitions and prayers night and day.

But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives.

Also command these things, that they may be without reproach.

But if anyone doesn’t provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Let no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man,

being approved by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, and if she has diligently followed every good work.

But refuse younger widows, for when they have grown wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,

having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge.

Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.

I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for insulting.

For already some have turned away after Satan.

If any man or woman who believes has widows, let them relieve them, and don’t let the assembly be burdened, that it might relieve those who are widows indeed.

Honoring Elders

Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.

For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain.”(b) And, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” (c)

Don’t receive an accusation against an elder except at the word of two or three witnesses.

Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear.

A Charge to Timothy

I command you in the sight of God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the chosen angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality.

Lay hands hastily on no one. Don’t be a participant in other people’s sins. Keep yourself pure.

Be no longer a drinker of water only, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.

Some men’s sins are evident, preceding them to judgment, and some also follow later.

In the same way also there are good works that are obvious, and those that are otherwise can’t be hidden.

Footnotes

(a)5:4 TR adds “good and”

(b)5:18 ℘ Deuteronomy 25:4