Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks
Rules for Living with Others
5 Do not ·speak angrily to [rebuke; speak harshly to] an older man, but ·plead with [exhort; encourage] him as if he were your father. Treat younger men like brothers, 2 older women like mothers, and younger women like sisters. ·Always treat them in a pure way [L …with complete purity].
3 ·Take care of [Provide support for; or Honor; Show respect to; C both honor and financial help are likely in mind] widows who are truly widows. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to ·do their duty to [or practice their piety/godliness toward] their own ·family [household] and to repay their parents or grandparents. [L For] That pleases God. 5 The true widow, who is all alone, puts her hope in God and continues ·to pray night and day for God’s help [L in petitions and prayers night and day]. 6 But the widow who ·uses her life to please herself [lives in luxury; is self-indulgent] is really dead while she is alive. 7 ·Tell [Command; Instruct] the believers to do these things so that ·no one can criticize them [they may be blameless/above reproach]. 8 Whoever does not care for his ·own relatives [L own], especially his own family members, has ·turned against [denied; rejected] the faith and is worse than ·someone who does not believe in God [L an unbeliever].
9 To be on the list of widows [C probably a list of those widows who received regular support from the church], a woman must be at least sixty years old. She must have been ·faithful to her husband [or married only once; or the wife of one husband]. 10 She must be known for her good works—works such as raising her children, ·welcoming strangers [practicing hospitality], washing the feet of ·God’s people [T the saints], helping those in ·trouble [distress; hardship], and ·giving [devoting] her life to do all kinds of good deeds.
11 But do not put younger widows on that list. After they give themselves to Christ, they are pulled away from him by their physical desires, and then they want to marry again. 12 They will be judged for ·not doing what they first promised to do [breaking/despising their first pledge]. 13 Besides that, they learn to ·waste their time [be idle], going from house to house. And they not only ·waste their time [are idlers] but also begin to gossip and ·busy themselves with other people’s lives [become busybodies/meddlers], saying things they should not say. 14 So I want the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their homes. Then ·no enemy will [or the adversary will not; C Satan] have any ·reason [or opportunity] ·to criticize them [or for maligning/slandering (us/them)]. 15 But some have already ·turned [wandered; strayed] away to follow Satan.
16 If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should ·care for [provide support for] them herself. The church should not ·have to care for them [L carry this burden]. Then it will be able to ·take care of [support] those who are truly widows.
17 The elders who lead the church well should receive ·double honor [or both honor and remuneration; C probably includes both respect and financial support; see v. 3], especially those who work hard by ·speaking [preaching] and teaching, 18 because the Scripture says: “When an ox is ·working in the grain [threshing], do not ·cover its mouth to keep it from eating [muzzle it; Deut. 25:4],” and “A worker ·should be given his pay [deserves his wages; T is worthy of his hire; Luke 10:7].”
19 Do not listen to someone who accuses an elder, without two or three witnesses [Deut. 19:15]. 20 ·Reprimand [Rebuke] those who continue sinning. Do this in front of the whole church so that the others will ·have a warning [L fear; or show reverence].
21 Before God and Christ Jesus and the ·chosen [elect] angels, I ·command [solemnly charge] you to ·do [keep; guard] these things without ·taking sides [prejudice] or showing favoritism of any kind.
22 ·Think carefully before you [L Do not quickly/hastily] ·appoint someone to leadership [L lay your hands on anyone; 4:14; C a way of dedicating someone to Christian service], and don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
23 Stop drinking only water, but drink a little wine to help your stomach and your frequent sicknesses.
24 The sins of some people are ·easy to see [obvious; evident] ·even before they are judged [or arriving at the judgment before they do; or preceding them into court; L going before them to judgment], but the sins of others ·are seen only later [arrive later; L follow after]. 25 So also good deeds are ·easy to see [obvious; evident], but even those that are not easily seen cannot stay hidden [C since they will be revealed on judgment day].
6 All who are ·slaves [L slaves under a yoke] should show full ·respect [honor] to their masters so no one will ·speak against [revile; blaspheme] God’s name and ·our teaching [or Christian doctrine; L the teaching]. 2 The slaves whose masters are believers should not ·show their masters any less respect [disrespect them; or take advantage of them] because they are believers. They should serve their masters even better, because they are helping believers ·they love [or loved by God; L who are beloved].
You must teach and ·preach [encourage/exhort them about] these things.
False Teaching and True Riches
3 Anyone who has a different teaching and does not agree with the ·true teaching [sound/healthy words] of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that ·shows the true way to serve God [promotes piety/godliness]— 4 that person is ·full of pride [arrogant; conceited] and understands nothing, but ·is sick with a love for [has an unhealthy interest in] ·arguing [controversies; debate] and ·fighting about [quarrels over] words. This brings ·jealousy [envy], ·fighting [strife; division], ·speaking against others [slander; blasphemy], evil ·mistrust [suspicions], 5 and constant ·quarrels [bickering; disputes] from those who have ·evil [depraved; corrupted] minds and have ·lost [been deprived of] the truth. They think that ·serving God [godliness; piety] is a way to ·get rich [make a profit].
6 [L But] ·Serving God [Godliness; Piety] does ·make us very rich [bring great profit], ·if we are satisfied with what we have [when accompanied by contentment]. 7 [L For] We brought nothing into the world, so we can take nothing out. 8 But, if we have food and clothes, we will be satisfied with that. 9 Those who want to become rich ·bring temptation to themselves [L fall into temptation] and are caught in a trap. They ·want [desire] many foolish and harmful things that ·ruin and destroy people [L plunge people into ruin and destruction]. 10 [L For] The love of money ·causes [L is the root of] all kinds of evil. Some people have ·left [strayed/wandered from] the faith, because they wanted ·to get more money [L it], ·but they have caused themselves much sorrow [L and have pierced themselves with many pains].
Some Things to Remember
11 But you, man of God, ·run away from [flee] all those things. Instead, chase after [pursue] ·a right relationship with God [righteousness], a godly life [godliness; piety], faith, love, ·patience [perseverance; endurance], and gentleness. 12 ·Fight the good fight [or Run the good race] of faith, grabbing hold of ·the life that continues forever [eternal life]. You were called to have that life when you confessed the good confession before many witnesses [1:18]. 13 ·In the sight of [In the presence of; L Before] God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, I ·give you a command [exhort/encourage/charge you]. Christ Jesus made the good confession when he stood before Pontius Pilate [Matt. 27:11–26; Mark 15:1–15; Luke 23:1–24; John 18:28—19:16]. 14 ·Do what you were commanded to do [Keep/Obey the command] without ·wrong [spot; stain] or blame until our Lord Jesus Christ ·comes again [returns; appears]. 15 God will ·make that happen [L reveal it] at ·the right [the appointed; his own] time. He is the blessed and only ·Ruler [Sovereign], the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords. 16 He is the only One who ·never dies [has immortality]. He lives in light ·so bright no one can go near it [unapproachable]. No one has ever seen God, or can see him. May honor and power belong to God forever. Amen.
17 Command those who are rich ·with things of this world [L in the present age] not to be ·proud [arrogant; haughty]. Tell them to hope in God, not in their uncertain riches. God richly gives us everything to enjoy. 18 Tell ·the rich people [L them] to do good, to be rich in doing good deeds, to be generous and ready to share. 19 By doing that, they will be ·saving [storing up] a treasure for themselves as a strong foundation for the future. Then they will be able to ·have [take hold of] the life that is true life.
20 Timothy, guard what God has ·trusted to [entrusted/deposited with] you. Stay away from foolish, ·useless [irreverent; godless] talk and from the ·arguments [absurdities; contradictions] of what is falsely called “knowledge.” 21 By ·saying they have that “knowledge” [L claiming/professing it], some have ·missed [strayed/lost their way from] the true faith.
Grace be with you.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.