Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

Honor Widows

5 ^(A)Do not sharply rebuke an ^(B)older man, but rather plead with him as a father, to ^(C)the younger men as brothers, ² the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.

³ Honor widows who are ^(D)widows indeed, ⁴ but if any widow has children or grandchildren, ^(E)they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to ^[a]make some return to their parents; for this is ^(F)acceptable in the sight of God. ⁵ Now she who is a ^(G)widow indeed and who has been left alone, ^(H)has fixed her hope on God and continues in ^(I)petitions and prayers night and day. ⁶ But she who ^(J)lives in self-indulgence is ^(K)dead even while she lives. ^7 (L)And command these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. ⁸ But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has ^(M)denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹ A widow is to be ^(N)put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been ^(O)the wife of one man, ¹⁰ having a reputation for ^(P)good works; if she has brought up children, if she has ^(Q)shown hospitality to strangers, if she ^(R)has washed the ^[b]saints’ feet, if she has ^(S)assisted those in affliction, if she has devoted herself to every good work. ¹¹ But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel ^(T)sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, ¹² thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous ^[c]pledge. ¹³ And at the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house. And not merely idle, but also ^(U)gossips and ^(V)busybodies, talking about ^(W)things not proper to mention. ¹⁴ Therefore, I want younger widows to get ^(X)married, bear children, ^(Y)keep house, and ^(Z)give the enemy no opportunity for reviling, ¹⁵ for some ^(AA)have already turned aside after ^(AB)Satan. ¹⁶ If any believing woman ^(AC)has widows, she must ^(AD)assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are ^(AE)widows indeed.

Honoring the Elders

^17 (AF)The elders who ^(AG)lead well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who ^(AH)labor ^[d]at preaching the word and teaching. ¹⁸ For the Scripture says, “^(AI)You shall not muzzle the ox while it is threshing,” and “^(AJ)The laborer is worthy of his wages.” ¹⁹ Do not receive an accusation against an ^(AK)elder except on the basis of ^(AL)two or three witnesses. ²⁰ Those who continue in sin, ^(AM)reprove in the presence of all, ^(AN)so that the rest also will be fearful. ^21 (AO)I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His elect angels, to observe these instructions without bias, doing nothing in partiality. ^22 (AP)Do not lay hands upon anyone hastily and ^[e]thereby share ^(AQ)responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

²³ No longer drink water only, but ^(AR)use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

²⁴ The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins ^(AS)follow after. ²⁵ So also good works are quite evident, and ^(AT)those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.

Instructions to Those Who Serve

6 ^(AU)All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so ^(AV)that the name of God and our doctrine will not be ^[f]slandered. ² But those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are ^(AW)brothers, but must serve them all the more, because those who ^[g]partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. ^(AX)Teach and exhort these things.

³ If anyone ^(AY)teaches a different doctrine and does not ^[h]agree with ^(AZ)sound words—those of our Lord Jesus Christ—and with the doctrine ^(BA)conforming to godliness, ⁴ he is ^(BB)conceited, understanding nothing but ^[i]having a morbid interest in ^(BC)controversial questions and ^(BD)disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, slander, evil suspicions, ⁵ and constant friction between ^(BE)men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who ^(BF)suppose that ^[j]godliness is a means of gain. ^6 (BG)But godliness actually is a means of ^(BH)great gain, when accompanied by ^(BI)contentment. ⁷ For ^(BJ)we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. ⁸ And if we ^(BK)have food and covering, with these we shall be content. ^9 (BL)But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and ^(BM)a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For ^(BN)the love of money is a root of all ^[k]sorts of evils, and some by aspiring to it have ^(BO)wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

¹¹ But you, O ^(BP)man of God, ^(BQ)flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, ^(BR)faith, ^(BS)love, ^[l]perseverance, gentleness. ^12 (BT)Fight the good fight of ^(BU)faith. ^(BV)Take hold of the eternal life ^(BW)to which you were called, and you made the good ^(BX)confession in the presence of ^(BY)many witnesses. ^13 (BZ)I charge you in the presence of God, who ^[m]gives life to all things, and of ^(CA)Christ Jesus, who testified the ^(CB)good confession ^(CC)before Pontius Pilate, ¹⁴ that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the ^(CD)appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which He will ^[n]bring about at ^(CE)the proper time—He who is ^(CF)the blessed and ^(CG)only Sovereign, ^(CH)the King of ^[o]kings and ^(CI)Lord of ^[p]lords, ^16 (CJ)who alone has immortality and ^(CK)dwells in unapproachable light, ^(CL)whom no man has seen or can see. ^(CM)To Him be honor and eternal might! Amen.

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in ^(CN)this present age ^(CO)not to be haughty or to ^(CP)set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, ^(CQ)who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. ¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in ^(CR)good ^[q]works, ^(CS)to be generous and ready to share, ^19 (CT)storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may ^(CU)take hold of that which is life indeed.

²⁰ O ^(CV)Timothy, guard ^(CW)what has been entrusted to you, turning aside from ^(CX)godless and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called knowledge— ²¹ which some, while professing, have ^(CY)gone astray ^[r]from ^(CZ)the faith.

^(DA)Grace be with ^[s]you.