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.(A)

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16 If a believing woman[a] has widows in her family,[b] let her help them. The church should not be burdened, so that it may help the widows who are truly in need.[c]

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 5:16 tc Most witnesses (D Ψ 1175 1241 1505 M al sy) have πιστὸς ἤ (pistos ē) before πιστή (pistē), with the resultant meaning “if a believing man or woman.” But such looks to be a motivated reading, perhaps to bring some parity to the responsibilities of men and women listed here, and as a way of harmonizing with v. 4. Further, most of the earlier and better witnesses (א A C F G P 048 33 81 1739 1881 co) lack the πιστὸς ἤ, strengthening the preference for the shorter reading.
  2. 1 Timothy 5:16 tn Grk “has widows.”
  3. 1 Timothy 5:16 tn Grk “the real widows,” “those who are really widows.”