1Timothy 5

Advice about Widows, Elders, and Slaves

5Never speak harshly to an older man

, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers.G1969G3361G4245G235G3870G5613G3962G3501G5613G802Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.G4245G5613G3384G3501G5613G79G1722G3956G473Take care of

any widow who has no one else to care for her.G5091G5503G5503G36894But 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.G1161G1536G5503G2192G5043G2228G1549G3129G4412G2151G2398G3624G2532G287G591G4269G1063G5124G2076G2570G2532G587G1799G23165Now 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.G1161G5503G3689G2532G3443G1679G1909G2316G2532G4357G1162G2532G4335G3571G2532G22506But the widow who lives only for pleasure is spiritually dead even while she lives.G1161G4684G2348G21987Give these instructions to the church so that no one will be open to criticism.G2532G5023G3853G2443G5600G4238But 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.G1161G1536G4306G3756G2398G2532G3122G3609G720G4102G2532G2076G5501G5719A 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

.G2639G3361G5503G2639G1640G1835G2094G1096G1135G1520G43510She 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

? Has she helped those who are in trouble? Has she always been ready to do good?G3140G1722G2570G2041G1487G5044G1487G3580G1487G3538G40G4228G1487G1884G2346G1487G1872G3956G18G204111The younger widows should not be on the list, because their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Christ and they will want to remarry.G1161G3501G5503G3868G1063G3752G2691G5547G2309G106012Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge.G2192G2917G3754G114G4413G410213And 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.G1161G2532G260G3129G692G4022G3614G1161G3756G3440G692G235G5397G2532G2532G4021G2980G3588G1163G336114So 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.G1014G3767G3501G1060G5041G3616G1325G3367G874G480G5484G305915For I am afraid that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan.G1063G5100G1624G2235G1624G3694G456716If 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.G1536G4103G2228G4103G2192G5503G1884G846G2532G916G3361G1577G916G2443G1884G5503G368917Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well

, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.G515G4245G4291G2573G515G1362G5092G3122G2872G1722G3056G2532G131918For 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!"

G1063G1124G3004G5392G3756G5392G1016G248G2532G2040G514G846G340819Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses.G2596G4245G3858G3361G2724G1508G1622G1909G1417G2228G5140G314420Those who sin should be reprimanded in front of the whole church; this will serve as a strong warning to others.G264G1651G1799G3956G2443G3062G2532G2192G540121I 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.G1263G1799G2316G2532G2962G2424G5547G2532G1588G32G2443G5442G5023G5565G4299G4160G3367G2596G434622Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader

. Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.G2007G5495G5030G2007G3367G3366G2841G245G266G5083G4572G5323Don't drink only water. You ought to drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often.G5202G3371G5202G235G5530G3641G3631G1223G4675G4751G2532G4675G4437G76924Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later.G5100G444G266G1526G4271G4254G1519G2920G1161G2532G5100G187225In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light.G5615G2532G2570G2041G2076G4271G2532G2192G247G3756G1410G2928