1 Timothy 5
Revised Geneva Translation
5 Do not rebuke an elder, but encourage him as a father, and the younger men as brothers;
2 the elder women as mothers, the younger as sisters, with all pureness.
3 Honor widows which are truly widows.
4 But if any widow has children or nephews, let them learn first to show godliness toward their own house, and to repay their family. For that is an honorable thing, and acceptable before God.
5 And she who is a true widow, and left alone, trusts in God, and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.
6 But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.
7 Therefore, warn them of these things, so that they may be blameless.
8 If there is anyone who does not look out for his own, and namely for those of his household, he denies the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 Do not let a widow under 60 years old be registered; who has been the wife of one husband
10 and has a reputation for good works (whether she has nourished her children, taken in strangers, washed the saints’ feet, ministered to those who were in adversity, and if she has constantly pursued every good work).
11 But refuse the younger widows. For when their desires begin to draw them away from Christ, they will marry,
12 having damnation because they have broken their first faith.
13 And also, being idle, they learn to go about from house to house. Indeed, not only are they idle, but also gossips and busybodies, speaking things which are not necessary.
14 Therefore, I desire that the younger women marry, and bear children, and govern the house, and give no opportunity for the adversary to speak evil.
15 For some have already turned back after Satan.
16 If any faithful man or faithful woman has widows, let them minister to them, and do not let the Church be charged, so that there may be enough for those who are true widows.
17 Let the elders who rule well have double the honor, especially those who labor in the Word and doctrine.
18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treads out the corn,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
19 Receive no accusation against an elder unless by two or three witnesses.
20 Rebuke those who sin openly, so that the rest may also fear.
21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels to observe these things, without preferring one to another. And do nothing with partiality.
22 Do not quickly lay hands on anyone or share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
23 Drink water no longer. But use a little wine for your stomach’s sake, and your frequent infirmities.
24 Some men’s sins are evident, preceding them to judgment. But some follow afterward.
25 Likewise, good works are also evident beforehand. And those which are otherwise cannot be hidden.
1 Timothy 5
King James Version
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.
1 Timothy 5
J.B. Phillips New Testament
5 1-2 Don’t reprimand a senior member of your church, appeal to him as a father. Treat the young men as brothers, and the older women as mothers. Treat the younger women as sisters, and no more.
How to deal with widows in your church
3-4 You should treat with great consideration widows who are really alone in the world. But remember that if a widow has children or grandchildren it is primarily their duty to show the genuineness of their religion in their own homes by repaying their parents for what has been done for them, and God readily accepts such service.
5-7 But the widow who is really alone and desolate can only hope in God, and she will pray to him day and night. The widow who plunges into all the pleasure that the world can give her is killing her own soul. You should therefore make the following rules for the widows to avoid abuses:
8 1. You should make it clear that for a man to refuse to look after his own relations, especially those actually living in his house, is a denial of the faith he professes. He is far worse than a man who makes no profession.
9-10 2. Widows for your church list should be at least sixty years of age, should have had only one husband and have a well-founded reputation for having lived a good life. Some such questions as these should be asked:—has she brought up her children well, has she been hospitable to strangers, has she been willing to serve fellow-Christians in menial ways, has she relieved those in distress, has she, in a word conscientiously done all the good she can?
11-13 3. Don’t put the younger widows on your list. My experience is that when their natural desires grow stronger than their spiritual devotion to Christ they want to marry again, thus proving themselves unfaithful to their first loyalty. Moreover, they get into habits of slackness by being so much in and out of other people’s houses. In fact they easily become worse than lazy, and degenerate into gossips and busybodies with dangerous tongues.
14-15 4. My advice is that younger widows should, normally, marry again, bear children and run their own households. They should certainly not be the means of lowering the reputation of the church, although some, alas, have already played into the enemy’s hands.
16 5. As a general rule it should be taken for granted that any Christian, man or woman, who has a widow in the family should do everything possible for her, and not allow her to become the church’s responsibility. The church will then be free to look after those widows who are alone in the world.
You and your elders
17-20 Elders with a gift of leadership should be considered worthy of respect, and of adequate salary, particularly if they work hard at their preaching and teaching. Remember the scriptural principle: ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads the grain’, and ‘The labourer is worthy of his wages’. Take no notice of charges brought against an elder unless they can be substantiated by proper witnesses. If sin is actually proved, then the offenders should be publicly rebuked as a salutary warning to others.
21 Timothy, I solemnly charge you in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the holy angels to follow these orders with the strictest impartiality and to have no favourites.
22 Never be in a hurry to ordain a man, or you may be making yourself responsible for his sins. Be careful that your own life is pure.
23 By the way, I should advise you to drink wine in moderation, instead of water. It will do your stomach good and help you to get over your frequent spells of illness.
24-25 Remember that some men’s sins are obvious, and are equally obviously bringing them to judgment. The sins of other men are not apparent, but are dogging them, nevertheless, under the surface. Similarly some virtues are plain to see, while others, though not at all conspicuous, will eventually make themselves felt.
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