New Testament · Letters

1 Timothy chapter 5

Don’t come down hard on an . Instead, to him like he’s your father. Treat younger men like brothers,older women like mothers, and younger women like sisters — with .Give to who are truly on their own.But if a widow has children or grandchildren, those family members need to learn that starts at home — by to their parents and grandparents. This is what pleases God.Now, a widow who is truly on her own — with no one left — has in God and continues night and day.But a widow who is already , even while she’s still breathing.Make sure people know these things, so no one can .If someone doesn’t take care of their own family — especially the people living under their roof — they’ve and are actually in the first place.A widow can be put on the if she’s at least sixty years old and was .She should be known for doing good, raising children well, , of , helping people in trouble, and devoting herself to every kind of good work.But don’t put younger widows on the list. When their , they’ll want to get married again,and then they’ll be for breaking their .On top of that, they pick up the habit of going from house to house doing nothing. And it’s not just idleness — they become and , talking about things they shouldn’t.So here’s what I want: younger widows should get married again, have children, , and give zero ammunition to use against us.Some have already wandered off to follow .If any believing woman has widows in her family, she should take care of them herself so isn’t burdened. That way the community’s resources can go to widows who truly have no one. who do their job well deserve — especially those who work hard at teaching and . says, “Don’t muzzle an ox while it’s working the grain,” and “A worker deserves their pay.”Don’t accept an accusation against a leader unless .But those leaders who — , so the rest will take it seriously.I’m — in the presence of God, of Jesus, and of the — to follow these instructions without or toward anyone.Don’t be too quick to anyone to affirm them as leaders, and don’t get dragged into . .(By the way — stop drinking only water. Use for your stomach, since you get sick so often.)Some people’s are obvious — they arrive at before the person does. But for others, their failures only show up later.It works the same way with — some of it is obvious right away, and even what isn’t can’t stay hidden forever.