Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
1 Timothy 5
Treat the Community as Family
Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but appeal to him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with complete purity.
Honor Widows Who Are Truly Widows
Honor widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to practice godliness toward their own household and repay their parents and grandparents, because this is acceptable before God. The woman who is truly a widow and left alone has placed her hope in God and continues in petitions and prayers night and day. But the one who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. Command these things so that they may be above accusation. But if anyone does not provide for their own, especially members of their household, they have denied the faith and are worse than an unbeliever.
The Widows’ List
Let a widow be enrolled only if she is at least sixty years old, faithful to one husband, well attested for good works: if she raised children, showed hospitality, washed the feet of the holy ones, helped those in distress, and devoted herself to every good work. But refuse to enroll younger widows, because when their desires draw them away from Christ, they want to marry, and so incur judgment because they have abandoned their earlier commitment. At the same time they learn to be idle, going from house to house—and not only idle but gossips and busybodies, saying things they should not. Therefore I want younger widows to marry, have children, manage a household, and give the opponent no opportunity for slander. For some have already turned aside after Satan. If any believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them so the church is not burdened and can help those who are truly widows.
Elders and Accountability
Let elders who lead well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in word and teaching. For Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is threshing,” and, “The worker deserves wages.” Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. Those who persist in sin, rebuke in front of everyone so that the rest may have fear. I solemnly charge you before God, Christ Jesus, and the chosen angels to keep these instructions without prejudgment, doing nothing from partiality. Do not lay hands on anyone hastily or share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. No longer drink only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. The sins of some people are obvious, going ahead of them into judgment, but the sins of others follow later. In the same way good works are obvious, and even those that are otherwise cannot remain hidden.