1Correct an older man in a way that shows respect. Make an appeal to him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as if they were your brothers.2Treat older women as if they were your mothers. Treat younger women as if they were your sisters. Be completely pure in the way you treat them.3Take care of the widows who really need help.4But suppose a widow has children or grandchildren. They should first learn to put their faith into practice. They should care for their own family. In that way they will pay back their parents and grandparents. That pleases God.5A widow who really needs help and is left all alone puts her hope in God. Night and day she keeps on praying. Night and day she asks God for help.6But a widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still living.7Give these instructions to the people. Then no one can be blamed.8Everyone should provide for their own relatives. Most of all, everyone should take care of their own family. If they don’t, they have left the faith. They are worse than someone who doesn’t believe.9No widow should be put on the list of widows unless she is more than 60 years old. She must also have been faithful to her husband.10She must be well known for the good things she does. That includes bringing up children. It includes inviting guests into her home. It includes washing the feet of the Lord’s people. It includes helping those who are in trouble. A widow should spend her time doing all kinds of good things.11Don’t put younger widows on that kind of list. They might want pleasure more than they want Christ. Then they would want to get married again.12If they do that, they will be judged. They have broken their first promise.13Besides, they get into the habit of having nothing to do. They go around from house to house. They waste their time. They also bother other people and say things that make no sense. They shouldn’t say those things.14So here is the advice I give to younger widows. Get married. Have children. Take care of your own homes. Don’t give the enemy the chance to tell lies about you.15In fact, some have already turned away to follow Satan.16Suppose a woman is a believer and takes care of widows. She should continue to help them. She shouldn’t let the church pay the expenses. Then the church can help the widows who really need it.17The elders who do the church’s work well are worth twice as much honour. That is true in a special way of elders who preach and teach.18Scripture says, ‘Do not stop an ox from eating while it helps separate the corn from the straw.’ Scripture also says, ‘Workers are worthy of their pay.’ (De 25:4; Lu 10:7)19Don’t believe a charge against an elder unless two or three witnesses bring it.20But those elders who are sinning should be corrected in front of everyone. This will be a warning to the others.21I command you to follow these instructions. I command you in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels. Treat everyone the same. Don’t favour one person over another.22Don’t be too quick to place your hands on others to set them apart to serve God. Don’t take part in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.23Stop drinking only water. If your stomach is upset, drink a little wine. It can also help the other diseases you often have.24The sins of some people are easy to see. They are already being judged. Others will be judged later.25In the same way, good works are easy to see. But even good works that are hard to see can’t stay hidden for ever.
1 Timothy 5
English Standard Version
Instructions for the Church
1Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, (Le 19:32; Tit 2:6)2older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.3Honor widows who are truly widows. (1Ti 5:5; 1Ti 5:16)4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. (Ge 45:9; Mt 15:4; Mr 7:10; Eph 6:1; 1Ti 2:3)5She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, (Lu 2:37; Lu 18:1; 1Ti 5:3; 1Ti 5:16)6but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. (Eze 16:49; Jas 5:5; Re 3:1)7Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. (1Ti 4:11; 1Ti 6:2)8But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (Ga 6:10; 2Ti 3:5; Tit 1:16; 2Pe 2:1; Re 2:13; Re 3:8)9Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband,[1] (1Ti 3:2)10and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. (Ge 18:4; 1Ti 5:9; 1Ti 5:16; 1Ti 6:18)11But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry (Re 18:3; Re 18:7; Re 18:9)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 gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. (2Th 3:11; 1Pe 4:15; 3Jo 1:10)14So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. (1Co 7:9; 1Ti 6:1; Tit 2:5; Tit 2:8)15For some have already strayed after Satan. (1Ti 1:20)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 who are truly widows. (1Ti 5:3; 1Ti 5:5)17Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. (De 21:17; Ro 12:8; 1Co 12:28; 1Th 5:12)18For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” (Le 19:13; De 24:15; De 25:4; Mt 10:10; Lu 10:7; 1Co 9:4; 1Co 9:7; 1Co 9:9)19Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. (De 19:15)20As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. (De 13:11; Tit 1:13; Tit 2:15)21In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. (2Co 5:16; 1Ti 6:13; 2Ti 2:14; 2Ti 4:1)22Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. (Ac 6:6; 1Ti 3:10; 2Jo 1:11)23(No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) (Ps 104:15; 1Ti 3:8)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 even those that are not cannot remain hidden. (Ps 37:6; Pr 10:9)