1 Timothy 5

Honor Widows

1 1Do not sharply rebuke an 2older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to 3the younger men as brothers,
2 the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.
3 Honor widows who are 4widows indeed;
4 but if any widow has children or grandchildren, 5they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is 6acceptable in the sight of God.
5 Now she who is a 7widow indeed and who has been left alone, 8has fixed her hope on God and continues in 9entreaties and prayers night and day.
6 But she who 10gives herself to wanton pleasure is 11dead even while she lives.
7 12Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach.
8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has 13denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 A widow is to be 14put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been 15the wife of one man,
10 having a reputation for 16good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has 17shown hospitality to strangers, if she 18has washed the saints' feet, if she has 19assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.
11 But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel 20sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married,
12 thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge.
13 At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also 21gossips and 22busybodies, talking about 23things not proper to mention.
14 Therefore, I want younger widows to get 24married, bear children, 25keep house, and 26give the enemy no occasion for reproach;
15 for some 27have already turned aside to follow 28Satan.
16 If any woman who is a believer 29has dependent widows, she must 30assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are 31widows indeed.

Concerning Elders

17 32The elders who 33rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who 34work hard at preaching and teaching.
18 For the Scripture says, "35YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING," and "36The laborer is worthy of his wages."
19 Do not receive an accusation against an 37elder except * on the basis of 38two or three witnesses.
20 Those who continue in sin, 39rebuke in the presence of all, 40so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.
21 41I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.
22 42Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share 43responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.
23 No longer drink water exclusively, but 44use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
24 The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins 45follow after.
25 Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and 46those which are otherwise cannot * be concealed.

Cross References 46

  • 1. Leviticus 19:32
  • 2. Titus 2:2
  • 3. Titus 2:6
  • 4. Acts 6:1; Acts 9:39, 41; 1 Timothy 5:5, 16
  • 5. Ephesians 6:2
  • 6. 1 Timothy 2:3
  • 7. Acts 6:1; Acts 9:39, 41; 1 Timothy 5:3, 16
  • 8. 1 Corinthians 7:34; 1 Peter 3:5
  • 9. Luke 2:37; 1 Timothy 2:1; 2 Timothy 1:3
  • 10. James 5:5
  • 11. Luke 15:24; 2 Timothy 3:6; Revelation 3:1
  • 12. 1 Timothy 4:11
  • 13. 2 Timothy 2:12; Titus 1:16; 2 Peter 2:1; Jude 4
  • 14. 1 Timothy 5:16
  • 15. 1 Timothy 3:2
  • 16. Acts 9:36; 1 Timothy 6:18; Titus 2:7; Titus 3:8; 1 Peter 2:12
  • 17. 1 Timothy 3:2
  • 18. Luke 7:44; John 13:14
  • 19. 1 Timothy 5:16
  • 20. Revelation 18:7
  • 21. 3 John 10
  • 22. 2 Thessalonians 3:11
  • 23. Titus 1:11
  • 24. 1 Corinthians 7:9; 1 Timothy 4:3
  • 25. Titus 2:5
  • 26. 1 Timothy 6:1
  • 27. 1 Timothy 1:20
  • 28. Matthew 4:10
  • 29. 1 Timothy 5:4
  • 30. 1 Timothy 5:10
  • 31. 1 Timothy 5:3
  • 32. Acts 11:30; 1 Timothy 4:14; 1 Timothy 5:19
  • 33. Romans 12:8
  • 34. 1 Thessalonians 5:12
  • 35. Deuteronomy 25:4; 1 Corinthians 9:9
  • 36. Leviticus 19:13; Deuteronomy 24:15; Matthew 10:10; Luke 10:7; 1 Corinthians 9:14
  • 37. Acts 11:30; 1 Timothy 4:14; 1 Timothy 5:17
  • 38. Deuteronomy 17:6; Deuteronomy 19:15; Matthew 18:16
  • 39. Galatians 2:14; Ephesians 5:11; 2 Timothy 4:2
  • 40. 2 Corinthians 7:11
  • 41. Luke 9:26; 1 Timothy 6:13; 2 Timothy 2:14; 2 Timothy 4:1
  • 42. 1 Timothy 3:10; 1 Timothy 4:14
  • 43. Ephesians 5:11; 1 Timothy 3:2-7
  • 44. 1 Timothy 3:8
  • 45. Revelation 14:13
  • 46. Proverbs 10:9

Footnotes 7

1 Timothy 5 Commentaries

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