1 Timothy 5
New Testament for Everyone
Human families and God’s family
5 Don’t rebuke a senior man in the church, but exhort him as you might do with your father—or, in the case of younger ones, with your brothers. 2 Treat the older women as mothers, and the younger ones as sisters, with all purity.
3 Pay respect to widows who really are widows. 4 If a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to respect their own family and to make some repayment to those who brought them up. This, you see, pleases God. 5 A real widow is one who, left by herself, has set her hope on God, and continues in prayer and supplication night and day; 6 but a self-indulgent woman is dead even while she’s alive. 7 Give these commands so that they may be beyond blame. 8 If anyone doesn’t take care of their own relatives, especially their own household, they have denied the faith; they are worse than unbelievers.
Widows
9 Let a woman be registered as a widow if she is at least sixty years old, the wife of one husband, 10 with a reputation for good works, having brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the feet of God’s people, helped those who were suffering, and been steadfast in doing good wherever she can. 11 Refuse to register younger widows. When their desires become strong against the Messiah, you see, they will want to marry, 12 and they will receive condemnation because they have abandoned their earlier faith. 13 In addition, they learn the habit of idleness, going around from one house to another, not only wasting their time but gossiping and meddling, saying things they shouldn’t.
14 So this is my wish: the younger ones should marry, have children, run their households and give the enemy no opportunity to slander us 15 (some, you see, have already gone off after the satan!) 16 If any believing woman has relatives who are widowed, let her help them, so that the church won’t be burdened. That way, it can help widows who really are widows.
Elders
17 Elders who are good leaders ought to be paid double, particularly those who work hard in speaking and teaching. 18 The Bible says, you see, “Don’t muzzle an ox when it’s threshing,” and “the worker deserves his pay.”
19 Don’t accept an accusation against an elder, unless it is supported “by two or three witnesses.” 20 When people persist in sin, rebuke them openly, so that the rest may be afraid.
21 Before God, Messiah Jesus and the chosen angels, I give you solemn warning to keep these commands without discrimination. Never act out of favoritism. 22 Don’t be too quick to lay hands on anyone; don’t share in other people’s sins. Keep yourself pure.
23 You should stop confining yourself to drinking water. Use wine (in moderation!). That will be good for your digestion, and for the physical problems you often have.
24 Some people’s sins are obvious, and walk ahead of them into the courtroom. Other people’s follow them there. 25 In the same way, good works are obvious; but, even when they aren’t, they can’t stay hidden forever.
1 Timothy 5
Contemporary English Version
How To Act toward Others
5 Don't correct an older man. Encourage him, as you would your own father. Treat younger men as you would your own brother, 2 and treat older women as you would your own mother. Show the same respect to younger women that you would to your sister.
3 Take care of any widow who is really in need. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn to serve God by taking care of her, as she once took care of them. This is what God wants them to do. 5 (A) A widow who is really in need is one who doesn't have any relatives. She has faith in God, and she keeps praying to him night and day, asking for his help.
6 A widow who thinks only about having a good time is already dead, even though she is still alive.
7 Tell all this to everyone, so they will do the right thing. 8 People who don't take care of their relatives, and especially their own families, have given up their faith. They are worse than someone who doesn't have faith in the Lord.
9 For a widow to be put on the list of widows, she must be at least 60 years old, and she must have been faithful in marriage.[a] 10 She must also be well-known for doing all sorts of good things, such as raising children, giving food to strangers, welcoming God's people into her home,[b] helping people in need, and always making herself useful.
11 Don't put young widows on the list. They may later have a strong desire to get married. Then they will turn away from Christ 12 and become guilty of breaking their promise to him. 13 Besides, they will become lazy and get into the habit of going from house to house. Next, they will start gossiping and become busybodies, talking about things that are none of their business.
14 I would prefer that young widows get married, have children, and look after their families. Then the enemy won't have any reason to say insulting things about us. 15 Look what's already happened to some of the young widows! They have turned away to follow Satan.
16 If a woman who is a follower has any widows in her family, she[c] should help them. This will keep the church from having that burden, and then the church can help widows who are really in need.
Church Leaders
17 Church leaders[d] who do their job well deserve to be paid[e] twice as much, especially if they work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 (B) It is just as the Scriptures say, “Don't muzzle an ox when you are using it to grind grain.” You also know the saying, “Workers are worth their pay.”
19 (C) Don't listen to any charge against a church leader, unless at least two or three people bring the same charges. 20 But if any of the leaders should keep on sinning, they must be corrected in front of the whole group, as a warning to everyone else.
21 In the presence of God and Christ Jesus and their chosen angels, I order you to follow my instructions! Be fair with everyone, and don't have any favorites.
22 Don't be too quick to accept people into the service of the Lord[f] by placing your hands on them.
Don't sin because others do, but stay close to God.
23 Stop drinking only water. Take a little wine to help your stomach trouble and the other illnesses you often have.
24 Some people get caught in their sins almost at once, even before the time of judgment. But other people's sins don't show up until later. 25 It is the same with good deeds. Some are easily seen, but none of them can be hidden.
Footnotes
- 5.9 been faithful in marriage: Or “been the wife of only one husband.”
- 5.10 welcoming God's people into her home: The Greek text has “washing the feet of God's people.” In New Testament times most people either went barefoot or wore sandals, and a host would often wash the feet of special guests.
- 5.16 woman … she: Some manuscripts have “man or woman … that person.”
- 5.17 church leaders: Or “elders” or “presbyters.”
- 5.17 paid: Or “honored” or “respected.”
- 5.22 to accept people into the service of the Lord: Or “to forgive people.”
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.
Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.
