THE FIRST EPISTLE
OF
PAUL THE APOSTLE
TO
TIMOTHY
1 Timothy 5 ©
1 The apostle shows how admonitions must be given to old and young. 3 Commands that all true widows should be honored. 4 But that children and children’s children should maintain their widows and progenitors themselves. 9 Afterwards describes the age, and other qualifications of the widows who are suitable for the service of the congregation. 11 But will have the young widows passed by herein. 14 And that they should marry. 17 Afterwards he comes to elders, and shows what honor is due to them. 19 Also that no accusations shall be received against them without witnesses. 21 Charges him before God and the holy angels, to deal herein without partiality. 23 Also will not have him drink water any longer. 24 And concludes with a description whereby those elders may be known.
REBUKE1 not ana2elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
3Honour widows that are widows 4indeed.
But if any widow have 5children or nephews,b let 6them learn first to shew piety 7at home, andc8to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
Nowd she that is a widow indeed, and 9desolate, 10trustethe in God, and 11continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
But she that liveth in pleasure is 12dead while she liveth.
And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
Butf13if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath 14denied the faith, and is worse than an 15infidel.
Let not a widow be 16taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife 17of one man,
Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, ifg she have lodged strangers, ifh she have washed the saints’ 18feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have 19diligently followed every good work.
But the younger widows 20refuse: for when they have begun to wax 21wanton 22against Christ, they will marry;
23Having damnation, because they have cast off 24their first faith.
And 25withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlersi also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
26I will therefore that the younger women marry,j bear children, guide the house, give none occasion 27to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
For 28some are already 29turned aside after Satan.
If any man or woman that believeth have 30widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve 31them 32that are widows indeed.
Letk the elders that rule well be counted worthy of 33double honour, 34especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle 35thel ox that treadeth out the corn. And, 36Them labourer is worthy of his reward.
Against an elder 37receive not an accusation, but beforen two or three witnesses.
38Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
Io charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe 39these things 40withoutp preferring one before another, doing nothing by 41partiality.
Layq hands 42suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of 43other men’s sins: keep thyself 44pure.
Drink no longer 45water, but use a little wine forr thy stomach’s sake and thine often 46infirmities.
Some men's sins are open 47beforehand,s going before 48to judgment; and some men they 49follow after.
Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they 50that are otherwise cannot be hid.