1 Timothy 5

Guidelines for Dealing With Other Christians

1 Never use harsh words when you correct an older man, but talk to him as if he were your father. Talk to younger men as if they were your brothers,

2 older women as if they were your mothers, and younger women as if they were your sisters, while keeping yourself morally pure.
3 Honor widows who have no families.

4 The children or grandchildren of a widow must first learn to respect their own family by repaying their parents. This is pleasing in God’s sight.
5 A widow who has no family has placed her confidence in God by praying and asking for his help night and day.6 But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead although she is still alive.7 Insist on these things so that widows will have good reputations.

8 If anyone doesn’t take care of his own relatives, especially his immediate family, he has denied the Christian faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 Any widow who had only one husband and is at least 60 years old should be put on your list of widows.

10 People should tell about the good things she has done: raising children, being hospitable, taking care of believers’ needs, helping the suffering, or always doing good things.
11 Don’t include younger widows on your list. Whenever their natural desires become stronger than their devotion to Christ, they’ll want to marry.12 They condemn themselves by rejecting the Christian faith, the faith they first accepted.

13 At the same time, they learn to go around from house to house since they have nothing else to do. Not only this, but they also gossip and get involved in other people’s business, saying things they shouldn’t say.
14 So I want younger widows to marry, have children, manage their homes, and not give the enemy any chance to ridicule them.15 Some of them have already turned away to follow Satan.

16 If any woman is a believer and has relatives who are widows, she should help them. In this way the church is not burdened and can help widows who have no families.
17 Give double honor to spiritual leaderst who handle their duties well. This is especially true if they work hard at teaching the word of God.

18 After all, Scripture says, “Never muzzle an ox when it is threshingt grain,” and “The worker deserves his pay.”
19 Don’t pay attention to an accusation against a spiritual leader unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.

20 Reprimand those leaders who sin. Do it in front of everyone so that the other leaders will also be afraid.
21 I solemnly call on you in the sight of God, Christ Jesus, and the chosen angels to be impartial when you follow what I’ve told you. Never play favorites.22 Don’t be in a hurry to place your hands on anyone to ordain him. Don’t participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself morally pure.23 Stop drinking only water. Instead, drink a little wine for your stomach because you are frequently sick.24 The sins of some people are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment. The sins of others follow them there.

25 In the same way, the good things that people do are obvious, and those that aren’t obvious can’t remain hidden.

1 Timothy 5

How to act towards others

1 Don't correct an older man. Encourage him, as you would your own father. Treat younger men as you would your own brother,

2 and treat older women as you would your own mother. Show the same respect to younger women that you would to your sister.
3 Take care of any widow who is really in need. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn to serve God by taking care of her, as she once took care of them. This is what God wants them to do.

5 A widow who is really in need is one who doesn't have any relatives. She has faith in God, and she keeps praying to him night and day, asking for his help.

6 A widow who thinks only about having a good time is already dead, even though she is still alive.
7 Tell all this to everyone, so they will do the right thing.

8 People who don't take care of their relatives, and especially their own families, have given up their faith. They are worse than someone who doesn't have faith in the Lord.
9 For a widow to be put on the list of widows, she must be at least sixty years old, and she must have been faithful in marriage.t

10 She must also be well known for doing all sorts of good things, such as raising children, giving food to strangers, welcoming God's people into her home,t helping people in need, and always making herself useful.
11 Don't put young widows on the list. They may later have a strong desire to get married. Then they will turn away from Christ 12 and become guilty of breaking their promise to him.

13 Besides, they will become lazy and get into the habit of going from house to house. Next, they will start gossiping and become busybodies, talking about things that are none of their business.
14 I would prefer that young widows get married, have children, and look after their families. Then the enemy won't have any reason to say insulting things about us.

15 Look what's already happened to some of the young widows! They have turned away to follow Satan.

16 If a woman who is a follower has any widows in her family, shet should help them. This will keep the church from having that burden, and then the church can help widows who are really in need.

Church leaders

18 It is just as the Scriptures say, “Don't muzzle an ox when you are using it to grind grain.” You also know the saying, “Workers are worth their pay.”t
19 Don't listen to any charge against a church leader, unless at least two or three people bring the same charges.t

20 But if any of the leaders should keep on sinning, they must be corrected in front of the whole group, as a warning to everyone else.

21 In the presence of God and Christ Jesus and their chosen angels, I order you to follow my instructions! Be fair with everyone, and don't have any favourites.

22 Don't be too quick to accept people into the service of the Lordt by placing your hands on them.
Don't sin because others do, but stay close to God.

23 Stop drinking only water. Take a little wine to help your stomach trouble and the other illnesses you always have.
24 Some people get caught in their sins straight away, even before the time of judgment. But other people's sins don't show up until later. 25 It is the same with good deeds. Some are easily seen, but none of them can be hidden.