1 Timothy 5

Treatment of Church Members

5Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, ²older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.

Honor True Widows

³Honor widows who are really widows. ⁴But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and ^ato repay their parents; for this is ¹good and acceptable before God. ⁵Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers ^bnight and day. ⁶But she who lives in ²pleasure is dead while she lives. ⁷And these things command, that they may be blameless. ⁸But if anyone does not provide for his own, ^cand especially for those of his household, ^dhe has denied the faith ^eand is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, ¹⁰well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

¹¹But ³refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, ¹²having condemnation because they have cast off their first ⁴faith. ¹³And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. ¹⁴Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. ¹⁵For some have already turned aside after Satan. ¹⁶If any believing ⁵man or woman has widows, let them ⁶relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

Honor the Elders

¹⁷Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. ¹⁸For the Scripture says, ^f“You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, ^g“The laborer is worthy of his wages.” ¹⁹Do not receive an accusation against an elder except ^hfrom two or three witnesses. ²⁰Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

²¹I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the ⁷elect angels that you observe these things without ⁱprejudice, doing nothing with partiality. ²²Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor ^jshare in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.

²³No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent ⁸infirmities.

²⁴Some men’s sins are ^kclearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. ²⁵Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.