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IV. Duties Toward Others

Chapter 5

[a]Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as a father. Treat younger men as brothers,(A) older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters with complete purity.

Rules for Widows. Honor widows who are truly widows.

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Footnotes

  1. 5:1–16 After a few words of general advice based on common sense (1 Tm 5:1–2), the letter takes up, in its several aspects, the subject of widows. The first responsibility for their care belongs to the family circle, not to the Christian community as such (1 Tm 5:3–4, 16). The widow left without the aid of relatives may benefit the community by her prayer, and the community should consider her material sustenance its responsibility (1 Tm 5:5–8). Widows who wish to work directly for the Christian community should not be accepted unless they are well beyond the probability of marriage, i.e., sixty years of age, married only once, and with a reputation for good works (1 Tm 5:9–10). Younger widows are apt to be troublesome and should be encouraged to remarry (1 Tm 5:11–15).