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1 Timothy 4-5
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
1 Timothy 4-5
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
False Asceticism
4 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later[a] times some will renounce[b] the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,(A) 2 through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. 3 They forbid marriage and abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.(B) 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving,(C) 5 for it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer.
A Good Minister of Jesus Christ
6 If you put these instructions before the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant[c] of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound teaching that you have followed.(D) 7 Have nothing to do with profane and foolish tales. Train yourself in godliness,(E) 8 for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.(F) 9 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and suffer reproach,[d] because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.(G)
11 Command and teach these things.(H) 12 Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.(I) 13 Until I arrive, give attention to the public reading of scripture,[e] to exhorting, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.(J) 15 Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.(K)
Duties toward Believers
5 Do not speak harshly to an older man,[f] but speak to him as to a father, to younger men as brothers,(L) 2 to older women as mothers, to younger women as sisters—with absolute purity.
3 Honor widows who are really widows. 4 If a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn their religious duty to their own family and make some repayment to their parents, for this is pleasing in God’s sight.(M) 5 The real widow, left alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day,(N) 6 but the widow[g] who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.(O) 7 Give these commands as well, so that they may be above reproach.(P) 8 And whoever does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.(Q)
9 Let a widow be put on the list if she is not less than sixty years old and has been married only once;[h] 10 she must be well attested for her good works, as one who has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the saints’ feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to doing good in every way.(R) 11 But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when their sensual desires alienate them from Christ, they want to marry, 12 and so they incur condemnation for having violated their first pledge. 13 Besides that, they learn to be idle, gadding about from house to house, and they are not merely idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not say.(S) 14 So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, and manage their households, so as to give the adversary no occasion to revile us.(T) 15 For some have already turned away to follow Satan. 16 If any believing woman[i] has relatives who are widows, let her assist them; let the church not be burdened, so that it can assist those who are real widows.
17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor,[j] especially those who labor in preaching and teaching,(U) 18 for the scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain” and “The laborer deserves to be paid.”(V) 19 Never accept any accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest also may stand in fear.(W) 21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels, I warn you to keep these instructions without prejudice, doing nothing on the basis of partiality.(X) 22 Do not ordain[k] anyone hastily, and do not participate in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.(Y)
23 No longer drink only water, but take a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
24 The sins of some people are conspicuous and precede them to judgment, while the sins of others follow them there. 25 So also good works are conspicuous, and even when they are not, they cannot remain hidden.
Footnotes
- 4.1 Or the last
- 4.1 Or move away from
- 4.6 Or deacon
- 4.10 Other ancient authorities read struggle
- 4.13 Gk to the reading
- 5.1 Or an elder or a presbyter
- 5.6 Gk she
- 5.9 Gk the wife of one husband
- 5.16 Other ancient authorities read believing man or woman or believing man
- 5.17 Or compensation
- 5.22 Gk Do not lay hands on
1 Timothy 4-5
New International Version
1 Timothy 4-5
New International Version
4 The Spirit(A) clearly says that in later times(B) some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits(C) and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.(D) 3 They forbid people to marry(E) and order them to abstain from certain foods,(F) which God created(G) to be received with thanksgiving(H) by those who believe and who know the truth. 4 For everything God created is good,(I) and nothing is to be rejected(J) if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God(K) and prayer.
6 If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,[a] you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith(L) and of the good teaching that you have followed.(M) 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales;(N) rather, train yourself to be godly.(O) 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things,(P) holding promise for both the present life(Q) and the life to come.(R) 9 This is a trustworthy saying(S) that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God,(T) who is the Savior of all people,(U) and especially of those who believe.
11 Command and teach these things.(V) 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you(W) because you are young, but set an example(X) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith(Y) and in purity. 13 Until I come,(Z) devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture,(AA) to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy(AB) when the body of elders(AC) laid their hands on you.(AD)
15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save(AE) both yourself and your hearers.
Widows, Elders and Slaves
5 Do not rebuke an older man(AF) harshly,(AG) but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men(AH) as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.(AI) 4 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,(AJ) for this is pleasing to God.(AK) 5 The widow who is really in need(AL) and left all alone puts her hope in God(AM) and continues night and day to pray(AN) and to ask God for help. 6 But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.(AO) 7 Give the people these instructions,(AP) so that no one may be open to blame. 8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied(AQ) the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 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,(AR) such as bringing up children, showing hospitality,(AS) washing the feet(AT) of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble(AU) 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(AV) who talk nonsense,(AW) saying things they ought not to. 14 So I counsel younger widows to marry,(AX) to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.(AY) 15 Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.(AZ)
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.(BA)
17 The elders(BB) who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor,(BC) especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”[b](BD) and “The worker deserves his wages.”[c](BE) 19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder(BF) unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.(BG) 20 But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove(BH) before everyone, so that the others may take warning.(BI) 21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus(BJ) 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,(BK) and do not share in the sins of others.(BL) Keep yourself pure.(BM)
23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine(BN) 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 Timothy 4:6 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.
- 1 Timothy 5:18 Deut. 25:4
- 1 Timothy 5:18 Luke 10:7
1 Timothy 4-5
King James Version
1 Timothy 4-5
King James Version
4 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
11 These things command and teach.
12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
5 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.
4 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.
5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
7 And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
8 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.
9 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.
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
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