1 Timothy 5
New Matthew Bible
He teaches Timothy how he should conduct himself in rebuking all degrees of persons, and gives a direction concerning widows.
5 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father; and the younger men as brethren, 2 the older women as mothers, the younger as sisters, with all pureness. 3 Honour widows that are true widows. 4 If any widows have children or grandchildren, let them learn first to take godly responsibility in their own families, and to recompense their elders. For that is good and pleasing before God.
5 She who is a real widow and friendless puts her trust in God, and continues in supplication and prayer night and day. 6 But she who lives in pleasure is dead even while alive. 7 And instruct these things, so that the people may be without fault. 8 But if there be anyone who does not provide for his own, and particularly for those of his household, the same denies the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
9 Let no widow be chosen who is under sixty years old, and let her be such a one as was the wife of one man, 10 and well reported of in good works: if she has raised children, if she has been generous to strangers, if she has washed the feet of the saints, if she has ministered to those who were in adversity, if she was continually given to all manner of good works. 11 The younger widows refuse. For when they have begun to grow wanton, to the dishonour of Christ, then they want to marry, 12 having condemnation because they have broken their first faith. 13 And also they learn to go from house to house idle, yea not only idle, but also gossiping and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
14 I will therefore that the younger women marry and bear children, and guide the house, and give no occasion to the adversary to speak evil. 15 For many of them have already turned back, and are gone after Satan.
16 And if any man or woman who believes has widows, let them minister to them, and do not let the congregation be charged, so that you may have sufficient for those who are widows indeed.
17 The elders who lead well are worthy of double honour, most especially those who labour in the word and teaching. 18 For the scripture says: You shall not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treads out the corn, and: The labourer is worthy of his reward.
19 Against an elder receive no accusation except with two or three witnesses. 20 Those who sin, rebuke openly, so that others may fear.
21 I charge you before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, to observe these things without hasty judgment, and do nothing with partiality. 22 Lay hands quickly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins; keep yourself pure.
23 Drink water no longer, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent ailments.
24 Some people’s sins are open beforehand, and go before to judgment; some people’s sins follow after. 25 Likewise also, good works are manifest beforehand, and those that are otherwise cannot be hid.
1 Timothy 5
New English Translation
Instructions about Specific Groups
5 Do not address an older man harshly[a] but appeal to him as a father. Speak to younger men as brothers,[b] 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters—with complete purity.
3 Honor[c] widows who are truly in need.[d] 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to fulfill their duty[e] toward their own household and so repay their parents what is owed them.[f] For this is what pleases God.[g] 5 But the widow who is truly in need, and completely on her own,[h] has set her hope on God and continues in her pleas and prayers night and day. 6 But the one who lives for pleasure is dead even[i] while she lives. 7 Reinforce[j] these commands,[k] so that they will be beyond reproach. 8 But if someone does not provide for his own,[l] especially his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 No widow should be put on the list[m] unless[n] she is at least sixty years old, was the wife of one husband,[o] 10 and has a reputation for good works: as one who has raised children,[p] practiced hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, helped those in distress—as one who has exhibited all kinds of good works.[q] 11 But do not accept younger widows on the list,[r] because their passions may lead them away from Christ[s] and they will desire to marry, 12 and so incur judgment for breaking their former pledge.[t] 13 And besides that, going around[u] from house to house they learn to be lazy,[v] and they are not only lazy, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things they should not.[w] 14 So I want younger women to marry, raise children, and manage a household, in order to give the adversary no opportunity to vilify us.[x] 15 For some have already wandered away to follow Satan.[y] 16 If a believing woman[z] has widows in her family,[aa] let her help them. The church should not be burdened, so that it may help the widows who are truly in need.[ab]
17 Elders who provide effective leadership[ac] must be counted worthy[ad] of double honor,[ae] especially those who work hard in speaking[af] and teaching. 18 For the scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”[ag] and, “The worker deserves his pay.”[ah] 19 Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it can be confirmed by two or three witnesses.[ai] 20 Those guilty of sin[aj] must be rebuked[ak] before all,[al] as a warning to the rest.[am] 21 Before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, I solemnly charge you to carry out these commands without prejudice or favoritism of any kind.[an] 22 Do not lay hands on anyone[ao] hastily and so identify with the sins of others.[ap] Keep yourself pure. 23 (Stop drinking just water, but use a little wine for your digestion[aq] and your frequent illnesses.)[ar] 24 The sins of some people are obvious, going before them into judgment, but for others, they show up later.[as] 25 Similarly good works are also obvious, and the ones that are not cannot remain hidden.
Footnotes
- 1 Timothy 5:1 tn Or “Do not speak harshly to an older man.”
- 1 Timothy 5:1 tn No verb “speak” is stated in this clause, but it continues the sense of the preceding.
- 1 Timothy 5:3 sn The word honor here carries the double meaning of respect and financial support. This Greek word can imply both senses, and both are intended in this context.
- 1 Timothy 5:3 tn Grk “the real widows,” “those who are really widows.”
- 1 Timothy 5:4 tn Or “to practice their religion.”
- 1 Timothy 5:4 tn Or “and so make some repayment to their parents”; Grk “and to give back recompense to their parents.”
- 1 Timothy 5:4 tn Grk “for this is pleasing in the sight of God.”
- 1 Timothy 5:5 tn Or “left all alone.”
- 1 Timothy 5:6 tn For “is dead even” the Greek text reads “has died.”
- 1 Timothy 5:7 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- 1 Timothy 5:7 tn Grk “and command these things.”
- 1 Timothy 5:8 tn That is, “his own relatives.”
- 1 Timothy 5:9 sn This list was an official enrollment, apparently with a formal pledge to continue as a widow and serve the Lord in that way (cf. v. 12). It was either (1) the list of “true widows” who were given support by the church or (2) a smaller group of older women among the supported widows who were qualified for special service (perhaps to orphans, other widows, the sick, etc.). Most commentators understand it to be the former, since a special group is not indicated clearly. See G. W. Knight, Pastoral Epistles, 222-23 for discussion.
- 1 Timothy 5:9 tn Grk “let a widow be enrolled if she has reached not less than sixty years.”
- 1 Timothy 5:9 tn Or “a woman married only once,” “was devoted solely to her husband” (see the note on “wife” in 1 Tim 3:2; also 1 Tim 3:12; Titus 1:6).
- 1 Timothy 5:10 tn Grk “if she raised children.” The phrase “if she raised children” begins a series of conditional clauses running to the end of the verse. These provide specific examples of her good works (v. 10a).
- 1 Timothy 5:10 tn Grk “followed after every good work.”
- 1 Timothy 5:11 tn Grk “refuse younger widows.”
- 1 Timothy 5:11 tn With a single verb and object, this clause means “pursue sensuous desires in opposition to Christ.”
- 1 Timothy 5:12 tn Grk “incurring judgment because they reject their first faith.”sn The pledge refers most likely to a vow not to remarry undertaken when a widow is put on the list (cf. 1 Tim 5:9).
- 1 Timothy 5:13 tn L&N 15.23 suggests the meaning, “to move about from place to place, with significant changes in direction—‘to travel about, to wander about.’”
- 1 Timothy 5:13 tn Or “idle.” The whole clause (“going around from house to house, they learn to be lazy”) reverses the order of the Greek. The present participle περιερχόμεναι (perierchomenai) may be taken as temporal (“while going around”), instrumental (“by going around”) or result (“with the result that they go around”).
- 1 Timothy 5:13 tn Grk “saying the things that are unnecessary.” Or perhaps “talking about things that are none of their business.”
- 1 Timothy 5:14 tn Grk “for the sake of reviling.”
- 1 Timothy 5:15 tn Grk “wandered away after Satan.”
- 1 Timothy 5:16 tc Most witnesses (D Ψ 1175 1241 1505 M al sy) have πιστὸς ἤ (pistos ē) before πιστή (pistē), with the resultant meaning “if a believing man or woman.” But such looks to be a motivated reading, perhaps to bring some parity to the responsibilities of men and women listed here, and as a way of harmonizing with v. 4. Further, most of the earlier and better witnesses (א A C F G P 048 33 81 1739 1881 co) lack the πιστὸς ἤ, strengthening the preference for the shorter reading.
- 1 Timothy 5:16 tn Grk “has widows.”
- 1 Timothy 5:16 tn Grk “the real widows,” “those who are really widows.”
- 1 Timothy 5:17 tn Grk “who lead well.”
- 1 Timothy 5:17 tn Or “deserving.”
- 1 Timothy 5:17 tn Like the similar use of “honor” in v. 3, this phrase denotes both respect and remuneration: “honor plus honorarium.”
- 1 Timothy 5:17 tn Or “in preaching”; Grk “in word.”
- 1 Timothy 5:18 sn A quotation from Deut 25:4.
- 1 Timothy 5:18 sn A quotation from Luke 10:7.
- 1 Timothy 5:19 sn An allusion to Deut 17:6; 19:15.
- 1 Timothy 5:20 sn As a continuation of v. 19, this refers to elders who sin, not to sinning believers more generally.
- 1 Timothy 5:20 tn Or “censured.” The Greek word implies exposing someone’s sin in order to bring correction.
- 1 Timothy 5:20 tn “Before all” probably refers to the whole congregation, not just all the elders; “the rest” is more likely to denote the remaining elders.
- 1 Timothy 5:20 tn Grk “that the rest may have fear.”
- 1 Timothy 5:21 tn Grk “doing nothing according to partiality.”
- 1 Timothy 5:22 tn In context “laying hands on anyone” refers to ordination or official installation of someone as an elder.
- 1 Timothy 5:22 tn Grk “and do not share in the sins of others.”
- 1 Timothy 5:23 tn Grk “for the sake of your stomach.”
- 1 Timothy 5:23 sn This verse gives parenthetical advice to Timothy, to clarify what it means to keep pure (5:22c). Verse 24 resumes the instructions about elders.
- 1 Timothy 5:24 tn Grk “they [the sins] follow after others.”
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.