1 Timothy 5 - 6
Honor Widows
5aDo not sharply rebuke an bolder man, but rather plead with him as a father, to cthe younger men as brothers, 2the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.
3Honor widows who are awidows indeed, 4but if any widow has children or grandchildren, athey must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to 1make some return to their parents; for this is bacceptable in the sight of God. 5Now she who is a awidow indeed and who has been left alone, bhas fixed her hope on God and continues in cpetitions and prayers night and day. 6But she who alives in self-indulgence is bdead even while she lives. 7aAnd command these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. 8But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has adenied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9A widow is to be aput on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been bthe wife of one man, 10having a reputation for agood works; if she has brought up children, if she has bshown hospitality to strangers, if she chas washed the 1saints’ feet, if she has dassisted those in affliction, if she has devoted herself to every good work. 11But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel asensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, 12thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous 1pledge. 13And at the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house. And not merely idle, but also agossips and bbusybodies, talking about cthings not proper to mention. 14Therefore, I want younger widows to get amarried, bear children, bkeep house, and cgive the enemy no opportunity for reviling, 15for some ahave already turned aside after bSatan. 16If any believing woman ahas widows, she must bassist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are cwidows indeed.
Honoring the Elders
17aThe elders who blead well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who clabor 1at preaching the word and teaching. 18For the Scripture says, “aYou shall not muzzle the ox while it is threshing,” and “bThe laborer is worthy of his wages.” 19Do not receive an accusation against an aelder except on the basis of btwo or three witnesses. 20Those who continue in sin, areprove in the presence of all, bso that the rest also will be fearful. 21aI 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. 22aDo not lay hands upon anyone hastily and 1thereby share bresponsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself pure.
23No longer drink water only, but ause a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
24The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins afollow after. 25So also good works are quite evident, and athose which are otherwise cannot be concealed.
Instructions to Those Who Serve
6aAll who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so bthat the name of God and our doctrine will not be 1slandered. 2But those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are abrothers, but must serve them all the more, because those who 1partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. bTeach and exhort these things.
3If anyone ateaches a different doctrine and does not 1agree with bsound words—those of our Lord Jesus Christ—and with the doctrine cconforming to godliness, 4he is aconceited, understanding nothing but 1having a morbid interest in bcontroversial questions and cdisputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, slander, evil suspicions, 5and constant friction between amen of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who bsuppose that 1godliness is a means of gain. 6aBut godliness actually is a means of bgreat gain, when accompanied by ccontentment. 7For awe have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8And if we ahave food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9aBut those who want to get rich fall into temptation and ba snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For athe love of money is a root of all 1sorts of evils, and some by aspiring to it have bwandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
11But you, O aman of God, bflee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, cfaith, dlove, 1perseverance, gentleness. 12aFight the good fight of bfaith. cTake hold of the eternal life dto which you were called, and you made the good econfession in the presence of fmany witnesses. 13aI charge you in the presence of God, who 1gives life to all things, and of bChrist Jesus, who testified the cgood confession dbefore Pontius Pilate, 14that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the aappearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which He will 1bring about at athe proper time—He who is bthe blessed and conly Sovereign, dthe King of 2kings and eLord of 3lords, 16awho alone has immortality and bdwells in unapproachable light, cwhom no man has seen or can see. dTo Him be honor and eternal might! Amen.
17Command those who are rich in athis present age bnot to be haughty or to cset their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, dwho richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18Command them to do good, to be rich in agood 1works, bto be generous and ready to share, 19astoring up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may btake hold of that which is life indeed.