Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and with all propriety, the younger women as sisters.

The Support of Widows

Support[a] widows(A) who are genuinely widows. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must learn to practice godliness toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God. The real widow, left all alone, has put her hope in God(B) and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers; however, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.(C) Command this also, so they won’t be blamed. But if anyone does not provide(D) for his own, that is his own household, he has denied the faith(E) and is worse than an unbeliever.

No widow should be placed on the official support list[b] unless she is at least 60 years old, has been the wife of one husband, 10 and is well known for good works(F)—that is, if she has brought up children, shown hospitality,(G) washed the saints’ feet,(H) helped the afflicted,(I) and devoted herself to every good work.(J) 11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry(K) 12 and will therefore receive condemnation(L) because they have renounced their original pledge. 13 At the same time, they also learn to be idle, going from house to house; they are not only idle, but are also gossips(M) and busybodies, saying things they shouldn’t say. 14 Therefore, I want younger women to marry,(N) have children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us.(O) 15 For some have already turned away(P) to follow Satan. 16 If any[c] believing woman has widows in her family, she should help them, and the church should not be burdened, so that it can help those who are genuinely widows.

Honoring the Elders

17 The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium,[d] especially those who work hard(Q) at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says:

Do not muzzle an ox
while it is treading out the grain,(R)[e] and,
the worker is worthy of his wages.(S)

19 Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.(T) 20 Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will also be afraid. 21 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe(U) these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism. 22 Don’t be too quick to appoint[f](V) anyone as an elder, and don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.(W) 23 Don’t continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. 24 Some people’s sins are obvious, going before them to judgment,(X) but the sins of others surface[g] later. 25 Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 5:3 Lit Honor
  2. 1 Timothy 5:9 Lit be enrolled
  3. 1 Timothy 5:16 Other mss add believing man or
  4. 1 Timothy 5:17 Or of respect and remuneration; lit of double honor
  5. 1 Timothy 5:18 Dt 25:4
  6. 1 Timothy 5:22 Lit to lay hands on = to ordain
  7. 1 Timothy 5:24 Lit follow

Widows, Elders and Slaves

Do not rebuke an older man(A) harshly,(B) but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men(C) as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.(D) But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents,(E) for this is pleasing to God.(F) The widow who is really in need(G) and left all alone puts her hope in God(H) and continues night and day to pray(I) and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.(J) Give the people these instructions,(K) so that no one may be open to blame. Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied(L) the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, 10 and is well known for her good deeds,(M) such as bringing up children, showing hospitality,(N) washing the feet(O) of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble(P) and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.

11 As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. 12 Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. 13 Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies(Q) who talk nonsense,(R) saying things they ought not to. 14 So I counsel younger widows to marry,(S) to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.(T) 15 Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.(U)

16 If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.(V)

17 The elders(W) who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor,(X) especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”[a](Y) and “The worker deserves his wages.”[b](Z) 19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder(AA) unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.(AB) 20 But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove(AC) before everyone, so that the others may take warning.(AD) 21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus(AE) and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.

22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands,(AF) and do not share in the sins of others.(AG) Keep yourself pure.(AH)

23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine(AI) because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

24 The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. 25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 5:18 Deut. 25:4
  2. 1 Timothy 5:18 Luke 10:7

Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;

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

Honour widows that are widows indeed.

But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.

But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man.

10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;

12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.

16 If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

18 For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.

23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.

24 Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.

25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.