1 Timothy 4:6–5:16

A GOOD SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST

6 If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faithaq and the good teaching that you have followed.ar 7 But have nothing to do with pointless and silly myths.as Rather, train yourself in godliness.at 8 For the training of the body has limited benefit,au but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.av 9 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance.aw 10 For this reason we labor and strive,B because we have put our hope in the living God,ax who is the Savioray of all people,az especially of those who believe.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MINISTRY

11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech,ba in conduct,bb in love,C,bc in faith, and in purity.bd 13 Until I come,be give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching. 14 Don’t neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy,a with the laying on of handsb by the council of elders. 15 Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for in doing this you will savec both yourself and your hearers.d

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

THE SUPPORT OF WIDOWS

3 SupportD widowse who are genuinely in need. 4 But 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. 5 The widow who is truly in need and left all alone has put her hope in Godf and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers; 6 however, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.g 7 Command this also, so that they will be above reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provideh for his own family, especially for his own household, he has denied the faithi and is worse than an unbeliever.

9 No 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, 10 and is well known for good worksj—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 marryo 12 and will therefore receive condemnationp because they have renounced their original pledge. 13 At the same time, they also learn to be idle, going from house to house; they are not only idle, but are also gossipsq and busybodies, saying things they shouldn’t say. 14 Therefore, 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 awayt to follow Satan. 16 If anyA 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.