1 Timothy 5

5Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, ²older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters with all purity.

THE SUPPORT OF WIDOWS

³Support^D widows^e who are genuinely in need. ⁴But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn to practice godliness toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God. ⁵The widow who is truly in need and left all alone has put her hope in God^f and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers; ⁶however, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.^{g 7}Command this also, so that they will be above reproach. ⁸But if anyone does not provide^h for his own family, especially for his own household, he has denied the faithⁱ and is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹No widow is to be enrolled on the list for support unless she is at least sixty years old, has been the wife of one husband, ¹⁰and is well known for good works^j—that is, if she has brought up children, shown hospitality,^k washed the saints’ feet,^l helped the afflicted,^m and devoted herself to every good work.^{n 11}But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry^{o 12}and will therefore receive condemnation^p because they have renounced their original pledge. ¹³At the same time, they also learn to be idle, going from house to house; they are not only idle, but are also gossips^q and busybodies, saying things they shouldn’t say. ¹⁴Therefore, I want younger women to marry,^r have children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us.^{s 15}For some have already turned away^t to follow Satan. ¹⁶If any^A believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it can help widows in genuine need.

HONORING THE ELDERS

¹⁷The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor,^B especially those who work hard^u at preaching and teaching. ¹⁸For the Scripture says: Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,^Cv and, The worker is worthy of his wages.^w

¹⁹Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.^{x 20}Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will be afraid. ²¹I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe^y these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism. ²²Don’t be too quick to appoint^Dz anyone as an elder, and don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.^{aa 23}Don’t continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. ²⁴Some people’s sins are obvious, preceding them to judgment,^ab but the sins of others surface^E later. ²⁵Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden.