Honor and Care: Elders, Widows, and Community Conduct
1 Timothy 5:1-6:2
1Do not rebuke an elder, but plead with him as a father; treat the younger men as brothers.2Treat the elder women as mothers and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.3Honor widows who are truly widows.4If then anyone has children or descendants, let them first learn to show piety toward their own household and to repay their parents, for this is pleasing before God.5The one who is truly a widow and left alone has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.6She who lives in indulgence is dead even while she lives.7Command these things also, so that they may be without reproach.8If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.9Let a widow be enrolled only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man.10She must be well attested for good works: if she has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, relieved the afflicted, and devoted herself to every good work.11Refuse younger widows, for when they grow wanton against Christ they desire to marry.12Thus they incur condemnation because they have set aside their first pledge of faith.13At the same time they learn to be idle, going about from house to house; and they are not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they ought not.14Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.15For some have already turned aside after Satan.16If any believing woman has widows, let her assist them, and let the church not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are truly widows.17Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and teaching.18For the Scripture says, You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain, and, The laborer deserves his wages.19Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.20As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.21In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.22Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.23No longer drink water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.24The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others follow them.25So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.
Chapter 6
1Let all who are under the yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be blasphemed.2Those who have believing masters must not despise them because they are brothers, but rather serve all the more because those who receive the benefit are faithful and beloved. Teach and urge these things.