1 Timothy 4:6–5:16

6  Laying these things before the brethren, thou wilt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished with the words of the faith and of the good teaching which thou hast fully followed up. 7  But profane and old wives’ fables avoid, but exercise thyself unto piety; 8  for bodily exercise is profitable for a little, but piety is profitable for everything, having promise of life, of the present one, and of that to come. 9  The word is faithful and worthy of all acceptation; 10  for, for this we labour and suffer reproach, because we hope in a living God, who is preserver of all men, specially of those that believe. 11  Enjoin and teach these things. 12  Let no one despise thy youth, but be a model of the believers, in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13  Till I come, give thyself to reading, to exhortation, to teaching. 14  Be not negligent of the gift that is in thee, which has been given to thee through prophecy, with imposition of the hands of the elderhood. 15  Occupy thyself with these things; be wholly in them, that thy progress may be manifest to all. 16  Give heed to thyself and to the teaching; continue in them; for, doing this, thou shalt save both thyself and those that hear thee.

Chapter 5

1  Rebuke not an elder sharply, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brethren, 2  elder women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.

3  Honour widows who are really widows; 4  but if any widow have children or descendants, let them learn first to be pious as regards their own house, and to render a return on their side to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God. 5  Now she who is a widow indeed, and is left alone, has put her hope in God, and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. 6  But she that lives in habits of self-indulgence is dead while living. 7  And these things enjoin, that they may be irreproachable. 8  But if any one does not provide for his own, and specially for those of his house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than the unbeliever. 9  Let a widow be put upon the list, being of not less than sixty years, having been wife of one man, 10  borne witness to in good works, if she have brought up children, if she have exercised hospitality, if she have washed saints’ feet, if she have imparted relief to the distressed, if she have diligently followed every good work. 11  But younger widows decline; for when they grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12  being guilty, because they have cast off their first faith. 13  And, at the same time, they learn also to be idle, going about to people’s houses; and not only idle, but also gossipers and meddlers, speaking things not becoming. 14  I will therefore that the younger marry, bear children, rule the house, give no occasion to the adversary in respect of reproach. 15  For already some have turned aside after Satan. 16  If any believing man or woman have widows, let them impart relief to them, and let not the assembly be charged, that it may impart relief to those that are widows indeed.