The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy

⭑ Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 5 -

Do not scold an older man. Instead, exhort him as if he were a father. Exhort younger men as if they were brothers.

Exhort older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters in all purity.

Honoring True Widows

(Ruth 1:1–5)

Honor widows, the real widows.

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show honor in their own household. Let them repay their parents, because this is pleasing to God.

But a real widow is left all alone. She puts her confidence in God. She always remains with requests and prayers both night and day.

However, the woman who lives for pleasure is dead, even though she is still alive.

And preach these things so that they may be without reproach.

But if someone does not provide for his own relatives, especially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Let a woman be enrolled as a widow who is not younger than sixty, a wife of one husband.

She must be known for good deeds, whether it is that she has cared for children, or has been hospitable to strangers, or has washed the feet of the believers, or has relieved the afflicted, or has been devoted to every good work.

But as for younger widows, refuse to enroll them in the list. For when they give in to bodily desires against Christ, they want to marry.

In this way they incur guilt because they revoke their first commitment.

They also become accustomed to being idle. They go around from house to house. Not only do they become idle, but they also become gossips and meddlesome. They say things they should not say.

I therefore want younger women to marry, to bear children, to manage the house, in order to give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us of doing evil.

For some have already turned aside after Satan.

If any believing woman has widows, let her help them, so that the church will not be weighed down, so that it might help the real widows.

Honoring Elders

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work with the word and in teaching.

For the scripture says, “You shall not put a muzzle on an ox while it treads the grain,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”

Do not receive an accusation against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses.

Correct sinners before all so that the rest may be afraid.

A Charge to Timothy

I solemnly command you before God and before Christ Jesus and their chosen angels, that you keep these commands without prejudice and that you do nothing out of favoritism.

Place hands hastily on no one. Do not share in the sins of another person. You should keep yourself pure.

You should no longer drink water. Instead, you should take a little wine for the stomach and your frequent sicknesses.

The sins of some people are openly known, and they go before them into judgment. But some sins follow later.

Likewise, some good works are openly known, but even the others cannot be hidden.

Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brothers;

the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity.

Honoring True Widows

(Ruth 1:1–5)

Honor widows who are widows indeed.

But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety toward their own family and to repay their parents, for this is (a) acceptable in the sight of God.

Now she who is a widow indeed and desolate, has her hope set on God and continues in petitions and prayers night and day.

But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives.

Also command these things, that they may be without reproach.

But if anyone doesn’t provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Let no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man,

being approved by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, and if she has diligently followed every good work.

But refuse younger widows, for when they have grown wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,

having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge.

Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.

I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for insulting.

For already some have turned away after Satan.

If any man or woman who believes has widows, let them relieve them, and don’t let the assembly be burdened, that it might relieve those who are widows indeed.

Honoring Elders

Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.

For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain.”(b) And, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” (c)

Don’t receive an accusation against an elder except at the word of two or three witnesses.

Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear.

A Charge to Timothy

I command you in the sight of God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the chosen angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality.

Lay hands hastily on no one. Don’t be a participant in other people’s sins. Keep yourself pure.

Be no longer a drinker of water only, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.

Some men’s sins are evident, preceding them to judgment, and some also follow later.

In the same way also there are good works that are obvious, and those that are otherwise can’t be hidden.

Footnotes

(a)5:4 TR adds “good and”

(b)5:18 ℘ Deuteronomy 25:4