1 Timothy 5
International Standard Version
Treatment of Widows
5 Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him as if he were your father. Treat[a] younger men like brothers, 2 older women like mothers, and younger women like sisters, with absolute purity.
3 Honor widows who have no other family members to care for them.[b] 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to respect their own family by repaying their parents, for this is pleasing in God’s sight. 5 A woman who has no other family members to care for her[c] and who is left all alone has placed her hope in God and devotes herself to petitions and prayers night and day. 6 But the self-indulgent widow[d] is just as good as dead.
7 Continue to give these instructions, so that they may be blameless. 8 If anyone does not take care of his own relatives, especially his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 9 A widow may be put on the widows’[e] list if she is at least sixty years old and has been the wife of one husband.[f] 10 She must be well known for her good actions as a woman who has raised children, welcomed strangers, washed the saints’ feet, helped the suffering, and devoted herself to doing good in every way.
11 But do not include younger widows on your list.[g] For whenever their natural desires cause them to lose their devotion to the Messiah,[h] they want to remarry. 12 They receive condemnation because they have set aside their prior commitment to the Messiah.[i] 13 At the same time, they also learn how to be lazy while going from house to house. Not only this, but they even become gossips and keep busy by interfering in other people’s lives, saying things they should not say.
14 Therefore, I want younger widows to remarry, have children, manage their homes, and not give the enemy any chance to ridicule them. 15 For some widows[j] have already turned away to follow Satan. 16 If any woman[k] is a believer and has relatives who are widows, she should help them. The church should not be burdened, so it can help those widows who have no other family members to care for them.[l]
Elders and Their Duties
17 Elders who handle their duties[m] well should be considered worthy of double compensation,[n] especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox while it is treading out grain,”[o] and, “A worker deserves his pay.”[p] 19 Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported “by two or three witnesses.”[q] 20 As for those who keep on sinning, rebuke them in front of everyone so that the rest will also be afraid. 21 With God as my witness, as well as the Messiah[r] Jesus and the chosen angels, I solemnly call on you to carry out these instructions without prejudice, doing nothing on the basis of partiality. 22 Do not ordain[s] anyone hastily. Do not participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 23 Stop drinking only water, but use a little wine for your stomach because of your frequent illnesses.
24 The sins of some people are obvious, leading them to judgment. The sins[t] of others follow them there. 25 In the same way, good actions are obvious, and those that are not cannot remain hidden.
Footnotes
- 1 Timothy 5:1 The Gk. lacks Treat
- 1 Timothy 5:3 Lit. who are really widows
- 1 Timothy 5:5 Lit. who is really a widow
- 1 Timothy 5:6 Lit. the one
- 1 Timothy 5:9 The Gk. lacks widows’
- 1 Timothy 5:9 Or devoted to her husband; lit. a woman of one man
- 1 Timothy 5:11 The Gk. lacks on your list
- 1 Timothy 5:11 Or Christ
- 1 Timothy 5:12 The Gk. lacks to the Messiah
- 1 Timothy 5:15 The Gk. lacks widows
- 1 Timothy 5:16 Other mss. read man or woman
- 1 Timothy 5:16 Lit. who are really widows
- 1 Timothy 5:17 Or who rule
- 1 Timothy 5:17 Or honor
- 1 Timothy 5:18 Cf. Deut 25:4
- 1 Timothy 5:18 Cf. Luke 10:7
- 1 Timothy 5:19 Cf. Deut 17:6; 19:15
- 1 Timothy 5:21 Or Christ
- 1 Timothy 5:22 Lit. lay hands on
- 1 Timothy 5:24 Lit. Those
1 Timothy 5
New King James Version
Treatment of Church Members
5 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.
Honor True Widows
3 Honor widows who are really widows. 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and (A)to repay their parents; for this is [a]good and acceptable before God. 5 Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers (B)night and day. 6 But she who lives in [b]pleasure is dead while she lives. 7 And these things command, that they may be blameless. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, (C)and especially for those of his household, (D)he has denied the faith (E)and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.
11 But [c]refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first [d]faith. 13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 14 Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15 For some have already turned aside after Satan. 16 If any believing [e]man or woman has widows, let them [f]relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.
Honor the Elders
17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the Scripture says, (F)“You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, (G)“The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except (H)from two or three witnesses. 20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.
21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the [g]elect angels that you observe these things without (I)prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. 22 Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor (J)share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.
23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent [h]infirmities.
24 Some men’s sins are (K)clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. 25 Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.
Footnotes
- 1 Timothy 5:4 NU, M omit good and
- 1 Timothy 5:6 indulgence
- 1 Timothy 5:11 Refuse to enroll
- 1 Timothy 5:12 Or solemn promise
- 1 Timothy 5:16 NU omits man or
- 1 Timothy 5:16 give aid to
- 1 Timothy 5:21 chosen
- 1 Timothy 5:23 illnesses
1 Timothy 5
English Standard Version
Instructions for the Church
5 (A)Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, (B)younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.
3 Honor widows (C)who are truly widows. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn (D)to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for (E)this is pleasing in the sight of God. 5 She (F)who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and (G)continues in supplications and prayers night and day, 6 but (H)she who is self-indulgent is (I)dead even while she lives. 7 (J)Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for (K)members of his household, he has (L)denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been (M)the wife of one husband,[a] 10 and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has (N)shown hospitality, (O)has washed the feet of the saints, has (P)cared for the afflicted, and has (Q)devoted herself to every good work. 11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when (R)their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry 12 and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. 13 Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also (S)gossips and (T)busybodies, saying what they should not. 14 So I would have (U)younger widows marry, bear children, (V)manage their households, and (W)give the adversary no occasion for slander. 15 (X)For some have already strayed after Satan. 16 If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those (Y)who are truly widows.
17 Let the elders (Z)who rule well be considered worthy of (AA)double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, (AB)“You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, (AC)“The laborer deserves his wages.” 19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except (AD)on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, (AE)rebuke them in the presence of all, (AF)so that the rest may stand in fear. 21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels (AG)I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, (AH)doing nothing from partiality. 22 (AI)Do not be hasty in the (AJ)laying on of hands, nor (AK)take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. 23 No longer drink only water, but (AL)use a little wine (AM)for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. 24 The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. 25 So also good works are conspicuous, and (AN)even those that are not cannot remain hidden.
Footnotes
- 1 Timothy 5:9 Or a woman of one man
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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