5:1 | Do not address an older man harshly* but appeal to him as a father. Speak to younger men as brothers,* |
5:2 | older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters – with complete purity. |
5:3 | Honor* widows who are truly in need.* |
5:4 | But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to fulfill their duty* toward their own household and so repay their parents what is owed them.* For this is what pleases God.* |
5:5 | But the widow who is truly in need, and completely on her own,* has set her hope on God and continues in her pleas and prayers night and day. |
5:6 | But the one who lives for pleasure is dead even* while she lives. |
5:7 | Reinforce* these commands,* so that they will be beyond reproach. |
5:8 | But if someone does not provide for his own,* especially his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. |
5:9 | No widow should be put on the list* unless* she is at least sixty years old, was the wife of one husband,* |
5:10 | and has a reputation for good works: as one who has raised children,* practiced hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, helped those in distress – as one who has exhibited all kinds of good works.* |
5:11 | But do not accept younger widows on the list,* because their passions may lead them away from Christ* and they will desire to marry, |
5:12 | and so incur judgment for breaking their former pledge.* |
5:13 | And besides that, going around* from house to house they learn to be lazy,* and they are not only lazy, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things they should not.* |
5:14 | So I want younger women to marry, raise children, and manage a household, in order to give the adversary no opportunity to vilify us.* |
5:15 | For some have already wandered away to follow Satan.* |
5:16 | If a believing woman* has widows in her family,* let her help them. The church should not be burdened, so that it may help the widows who are truly in need.* |
5:17 | Elders who provide effective leadership* must be counted worthy* of double honor,* especially those who work hard in speaking* and teaching. |
5:18 | For the scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”* and, “The worker deserves his pay.”* |
5:19 | Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it can be confirmed by two or three witnesses.* |
5:20 | Those guilty of sin* must be rebuked* before all,* as a warning to the rest.* |
5:21 | Before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, I solemnly charge you to carry out these commands without prejudice or favoritism of any kind.* |
5:22 | Do not lay hands on anyone* hastily and so identify with the sins of others.* Keep yourself pure. |
5:23 | (Stop drinking just water, but use a little wine for your digestion* and your frequent illnesses.)* |
5:24 | The sins of some people are obvious, going before them into judgment, but for others, they show up later.* |
5:25 | Similarly good works are also obvious, and the ones that are not cannot remain hidden. |