New Living Translation

Darby Bible Translation

Advice about Widows, Elders, and Slaves

Never speak harshly to an older man,a but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers.

1

Guidelines for Reproof

Rebuke not an elder sharply, but exhort [him] as a father, younger [men] as brethren,

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Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.

2

elder women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.

3

Take care ofb any widow who has no one else to care for her.

3

Honoring Widows

Honour widows who are really widows;

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But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God.

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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.

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Now a true widow, a woman who is truly alone in this world, has placed her hope in God. She prays night and day, asking God for his help.

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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.

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But the widow who lives only for pleasure is spiritually dead even while she lives.

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But she that lives in habits of self-indulgence is dead [while] living.

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Give these instructions to the church so that no one will be open to criticism.

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And these things enjoin, that they may be irreproachable.

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But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.

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.

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A widow who is put on the list for support must be a woman who is at least sixty years old and was faithful to her husband.c

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Let a widow be put upon the list, being of not less than sixty years, [having been] wife of one man,

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She must be well respected by everyone because of the good she has done. Has she brought up her children well? Has she been kind to strangers and served other believers humbly?d Has she helped those who are in trouble? Has she always been ready to do good?

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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.

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The younger widows should not be on the list, because their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Christ and they will want to remarry.

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But younger widows decline; for when they grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,

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Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge.

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being guilty, because they have cast off their first faith.

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And if they are on the list, they will learn to be lazy and will spend their time gossiping from house to house, meddling in other people’s business and talking about things they shouldn’t.

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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.

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So I advise these younger widows to marry again, have children, and take care of their own homes. Then the enemy will not be able to say anything against them.

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I will therefore that the younger marry, bear children, rule the house, give no occasion to the adversary in respect of reproach.

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For I am afraid that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan.

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For already some have turned aside after Satan.

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If a woman who is a believer has relatives who are widows, she must take care of them and not put the responsibility on the church. Then the church can care for the widows who are truly alone.

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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.

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Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well,e especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.

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Honoring Elders

Let the elders who take the lead [among the saints] well be esteemed worthy of double honour, specially those labouring in word and teaching;

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For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!”f

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for the scripture says, Thou shalt not muzzle an ox that treadeth out corn, and, The workman [is] worthy of his hire.

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Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses.

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Against an elder receive not an accusation unless where there are two or three witnesses.

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Those who sin should be reprimanded in front of the whole church; this will serve as a strong warning to others.

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Those that sin convict before all, that the rest also may have fear.

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I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the highest angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing favoritism to anyone.

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A Charge to Timothy

I testify before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, that thou keep these things without prejudice, doing nothing by favour.

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Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader.g Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

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Lay hands quickly on no man, nor partake in others' sins. Keep thyself pure.

23

Don’t drink only water. You ought to drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often.

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Drink no longer only water, but use a little wine on account of thy stomach and thy frequent illnesses.

24

Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later.

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Of some men the sins are manifest beforehand, going before to judgment, and some also they follow after.

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In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light.

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In like manner good works also are manifest beforehand, and those that are otherwise cannot be hid.

Parallel

New Living Translation

Darby Bible Translation

1 Timothy 5

1 Timothy 5