1 Timothy Chapter 5

Relating to Church People

¹ Don’t reprimand an elder; urge him like a father. Encourage younger men like brothers; ² older women like mothers, and younger women like sisters, in purity.                                                                                                         

1 Tim 5:1-2

³ Honor widows that don’t have anybody to depend on. ⁴ If a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to practice godliness toward their own family and repay parents; that’s acceptable with God.

⁵ A widow that’s by herself has put her hope in God and continues in prayers and thanksgiving day and night. ⁶ But one that lives in self-interest is dead while she’s alive. ⁷ Tell widows to be above criticism.

⁸ If people don’t take care of their own, especially their family, they’ve denied the faith; they’re worse than disbelievers.

1 Tim 5:3-8

Guidelines for Welfare Recipients

⁹ Don’t enroll a widow younger than 60, who was faithful to her husband, ¹⁰ with a reputation for doing good, who have raised children, shown hospitality, washed the saints’ feet, helped people in distress, followed every good deed. ¹¹ Don’t enroll younger widows. While they’re liable to physical interests, they’ll want to remarry, ¹² incurring criticism for setting aside their previous pledge to Christ. ¹³ At the same time, they can get in the habit of not doing anything, going around the neighborhood talking about things they shouldn’t. ¹⁴ So I prefer younger widows to remarry, have children, manage the family—so they don’t give critics a chance to find fault. ¹⁵ Some have already wandered off after Satan.

¹⁶ If a believer^fem has widows, she should take care of them so the church won’t be burdened, and it can help widows that don’t have anybody to take care of them.                                                                                                        

1 Tim 5:9-16

Commandments About Leaders

¹⁷ Consider elders that do their work well to be worthy of double honor, especially the ones that teach. ¹⁸ The scripture says, “Don’t put^sg a muzzle on an ox while it’s threshing” [Deut 25:4], and, “A worker’s worth his wages” [Mt 10:10; Lk 10:7]. ¹

¹⁹ Don’t accept an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.

²⁰ Publicly reprimand people that keep sinning, so the rest will take heed as well.

²¹ In front of God, Christ Jesus, and the elect angels, I solemnly charge you to keep these directives without showing favoritism to anyone.

²² Be careful about laying hands on somebody too soon. Don’t take part in other people’s sins so you’ll keep yourself untainted.

²³ Don’t just drink water; use a little wine for your frequent bouts with an upset stomach.

²⁴ Some people’s sins are obvious as they lead them into condemnation. Other people’s sins become obvious later. ²⁵ It works the same way with good things. The ones that aren’t obvious will become obvious someday.           

1 Tim 5:17-25