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1 Timothy · Bible in Basic English

1 Timothy 5 Bible in Basic English

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About BBE
  • Scholarly edition
  • OT: Masoretic Hebrew (not verified)
  • NT: Critical text (not verified)
  • Protestant (66 books)
  • Simplified language
  • 1965
  • Public domain

Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings

BBE Bible in Basic English
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
PT1904 Patriarchal Text 1904 (accented, eBible edition)
1 Do not say sharp words to one who has authority in the church, but let your talk be as to a father, and to the younger men as to brothers:
1 Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brothers;
1 Πρεσβυτέρῳ μὴ ἐπιπλήξῃς, ἀλλὰ παρακάλει ὡς πατέρα, νεωτέρους ὡς ἀδελφούς,
2 To the older women as to mothers, to the younger as to sisters, with a clean heart.
2 the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity.
2 πρεσβυτέρας ὡς μητέρας, νεωτέρας ὡς ἀδελφὰς ἐν πάσῃ ἁγνείᾳ.
3 Give honour to widows who are truly widows.
3 Honor widows who are widows indeed.
3 Χήρας τίμα τὰς ὄντως χήρας.
4 But if any widow has children or children's children, let these see that it is right to take care of their family and their fathers and mothers: for this is pleasing in the eyes of God.
4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety toward their own family and to repay their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
4 εἰ δέ τις χήρα τέκνα ἢ ἔκγονα ἔχει, μανθανέτωσαν πρῶτον τὸν ἴδιον οἶκον εὐσεβεῖν καὶ ἀμοιβὰς ἀποδιδόναι τοῖς προγόνοις· τοῦτο γάρ ἐστι καλὸν καὶ ἀπόδεκτον ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ.
5 Now she who is truly a widow and without family puts her hope in God, giving herself to prayer day and night.
5 Now she who is a widow indeed and desolate, has her hope set on God and continues in petitions and prayers night and day.
5 ἡ δὲ ὄντως χήρα καὶ μεμονωμένη ἤλπικεν ἐπὶ τὸν Θεὸν καὶ προσμένει ταῖς δεήσεσι καὶ ταῖς προσευχαῖς νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας·
6 But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she is living.
6 But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives.
6 ἡ δὲ σπαταλῶσα ζῶσα τέθνηκε.
7 Give orders to this effect, so that no evil may be said of anyone.
7 Also command these things, that they may be without reproach.
7 καὶ ταῦτα παράγγελλε, ἵνα ἀνεπίληπτοι ὦσιν.
8 If anyone has no care for his family and those in his house, he is false to the faith, and is worse than one who has no faith.
8 But if anyone doesn’t provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
8 εἰ δέ τις τῶν ἰδίων καὶ μάλιστα τῶν οἰκείων οὐ προνοεῖ, τὴν πίστιν ἤρνηται καὶ ἔστιν ἀπίστου χείρων.
9 Let no woman be numbered among the widows who is under sixty years old, and only if she has been the wife of one man,
9 Let no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man,
9 Χήρα καταλεγέσθω μὴ ἔλαττον ἐτῶν ἑξήκοντα γεγονυῖα, ἑνὸς ἀνδρὸς γυνή,
10 And if witness is given of her good works; if she has had the care of children, if she has been kind to travellers, washing the feet of the saints, helping those who are in trouble, giving herself to good works.
10 being approved by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, and if she has diligently followed every good work.
10 ἐν ἔργοις καλοῖς μαρτυρουμένη, εἰ ἐτεκνοτρόφησεν, εἰ ἐξενοδόχησεν, εἰ ἁγίων πόδας ἔνιψεν, εἰ θλιβομένοις ἐπήρκεσεν, εἰ παντὶ ἔργῳ ἀγαθῷ ἐπηκολούθησε.
11 But to the younger widows say No: for when their love is turned away from Christ, they have a desire to be married;
11 But refuse younger widows, for when they have grown wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,
11 νεωτέρας δὲ χήρας παραιτοῦ· ὅταν γὰρ καταστρηνιάσωσι τοῦ Χριστοῦ, γαμεῖν θέλουσιν,
12 And they are judged because they have been false to their first faith;
12 having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge.
12 ἔχουσαι κρῖμα, ὅτι τὴν πρώτην πίστιν ἠθέτησαν·
13 And they get into the way of doing no work, going about from house to house; and not only doing no work, but talking foolishly, being over-interested in the business of others, saying things which they have no right to say.
13 Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.
13 ἅμα δὲ καὶ ἀργαὶ μανθάνουσι περιερχόμεναι τὰς οἰκίας, οὐ μόνον δὲ ἀργαί, ἀλλὰ καὶ φλύαροι καὶ περίεργοι, λαλοῦσαι τὰ μὴ δέοντα.
14 So it is my desire that the younger widows may be married and have children, controlling their families, and giving the Evil One no chance to say anything against them,
14 I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for insulting.
14 βούλομαι οὖν νεωτέρας γαμεῖν, τεκνογονεῖν, οἰκοδεσποτεῖν, μηδεμίαν ἀφορμὴν διδόναι τῷ ἀντικειμένῳ λοιδορίας χάριν.
15 For even now some are turned away to Satan.
15 For already some have turned away after Satan.
15 ἤδη γάρ τινες ἐξετράπησαν ὀπίσω τοῦ σατανᾶ.
16 If any woman of the faith has relations who are widows, let her give them help, so that the care of them does not come on the church, and so it may give help to those who are truly widowed.
16 If any man or woman who believes has widows, let them relieve them, and don’t let the assembly be burdened, that it might relieve those who are widows indeed.
16 εἴ τις πιστὸς ἢ πιστὴ ἔχει χήρας, ἐπαρκείτω αὐταῖς, καὶ μὴ βαρείσθω ἡ ἐκκλησία, ἵνα ταῖς ὄντως χήραις ἐπαρκέσῃ.
17 Let rulers whose rule is good be honoured twice over, specially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.
17 Οἱ καλῶς προεστῶτες πρεσβύτεροι διπλῆς τιμῆς ἀξιούσθωσαν, μάλιστα οἱ κοπιῶντες ἐν λόγῳ καὶ διδασκαλίᾳ·
18 For the Writings say, It is not right to keep the ox from taking the grain when he is crushing it. And, The worker has a right to his reward.
18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain.” And, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
18 λέγει γὰρ ἡ γραφή· βοῦν ἀλοῶντα οὐ φιμώσεις· καί· ἄξιος ὁ ἐργάτης τοῦ μισθοῦ αὐτοῦ.
19 Do not take as true any statement made against one in authority, but only if two or three give witness to it.
19 Don’t receive an accusation against an elder except at the word of two or three witnesses.
19 κατὰ πρεσβυτέρου κατηγορίαν μὴ παραδέχου, ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ ἐπὶ δύο ἢ τριῶν μαρτύρων.
20 Say sharp words to sinners when all are present, so that the rest may be in fear.
20 Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear.
20 τοὺς ἁμαρτάνοντας ἐνώπιον πάντων ἔλεγχε, ἵνα καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ φόβον ἔχωσι.
21 I give you orders before God and Christ Jesus and the angels of God's selection, to keep these orders without giving thought to one side more than another.
21 I command you in the sight of God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the chosen angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality.
21 διαμαρτύρομαι ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν ἀγγέλων, ἵνα ταῦτα φυλάξῃς, χωρὶς προκρίματος μηδὲν ποιῶν κατὰ πρόσκλησιν.
22 Do not put hands on any man without thought, and have no part in other men's sins: keep yourself clean.
22 Lay hands hastily on no one. Don’t be a participant in other people’s sins. Keep yourself pure.
22 χεῖρας ταχέως μηδενὶ ἐπιτίθει, μηδὲ κοινώνει ἁμαρτίαις ἀλλοτρίαις· σεαυτὸν ἁγνὸν τήρει.
23 Do not take only water as your drink, but take a little wine for the good of your stomach, and because you are frequently ill.
23 Be no longer a drinker of water only, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.
23 Μηκέτι ὑδροπότει, ἀλλ᾽ οἴνῳ ὀλίγῳ χρῶ διὰ τὸν στόμαχόν σου καὶ τὰς πυκνάς σου ἀσθενείας.
24 The sins of some men are clearly seen, going before them to be judged; but with others, their sins go after them.
24 Some men’s sins are evident, preceding them to judgment, and some also follow later.
24 Τινῶν ἀνθρώπων αἱ ἁμαρτίαι πρόδηλοί εἰσι, προάγουσαι εἰς κρίσιν, τισὶ δὲ καὶ ἐπακολουθοῦσιν·
25 In the same way, there are good works which are clearly seen; and those which are not so, may not be kept secret.
25 In the same way also there are good works that are obvious, and those that are otherwise can’t be hidden.
25 ὡσαύτως καὶ τὰ καλὰ ἔργα πρόδηλά ἐστι, καὶ τὰ ἄλλως ἔχοντα κρυβῆναι οὐ δύνανται.
Cross references (25)

Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.

  1. 1 Leviticus 19:32; 1 Peter 5:5–6; Titus 2:2; Galatians 6:1; 1 Peter 5:1
  2. 2 1 Timothy 4:12; Philippians 4:8; Matthew 12:50; 1 Timothy 5:3; John 19:26–27
  3. 3 Deuteronomy 27:19; Acts 6:1; Deuteronomy 14:29; Deuteronomy 10:18; 1 Thessalonians 2:6
  4. 4 Ephesians 6:1–3; John 19:26–27; Matthew 15:4–6; Genesis 47:12; Mark 7:11–13
  5. 5 1 Timothy 5:3; Luke 2:37; 1 Corinthians 7:32; Luke 18:1; 1 Timothy 5:16
  6. 6 James 5:5; Revelation 3:1; Revelation 18:7; Luke 15:24; Luke 15:32
  7. 7 1 Timothy 4:11; Titus 2:15; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 1:13; 1 Timothy 1:3
  8. 8 Galatians 6:10; 2 Corinthians 12:14; Luke 11:11–13; Isaiah 58:7; Titus 1:16
  9. 9 1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Timothy 5:11; Luke 2:36–37; 1 Timothy 5:3–4; 1 Corinthians 7:39–40
  10. 10 1 Timothy 6:18; Titus 3:8; Acts 9:36; Titus 2:7; Titus 3:1
  11. 11 1 Timothy 5:14; Hosea 13:6; James 5:5; Isaiah 3:16; 1 Corinthians 7:39–40
  12. 12 Galatians 1:6; James 3:1; 1 Peter 4:17; 1 Corinthians 11:34; Revelation 2:4–5
  13. 13 Proverbs 20:19; 2 Thessalonians 3:6–11; Proverbs 31:27; Luke 10:7; Acts 20:30
  14. 14 Titus 2:5; 1 Timothy 6:1; Proverbs 31:27–29; Titus 2:8; 1 Corinthians 7:8–9
  15. 15 2 Peter 2:2; Jude 4–5; 2 Peter 2:20–22; 1 Timothy 1:20; 1 John 2:19
  16. 16 1 Timothy 5:3–5; 1 Timothy 5:8
  17. 17 Hebrews 13:17; Galatians 6:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13; Luke 10:7; Hebrews 13:7
  18. 18 Deuteronomy 25:4; 1 Corinthians 9:14; 1 Corinthians 9:7–10; Luke 10:7; Matthew 10:10
  19. 19 Matthew 18:16; Deuteronomy 19:15; 2 Corinthians 13:1; Titus 1:6; Deuteronomy 17:6
  20. 20 2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Timothy 1:20; Deuteronomy 13:11; Titus 1:13; Acts 5:11
  21. 21 2 Timothy 4:1; 1 Timothy 6:13; 2 Peter 2:4; 2 Corinthians 5:16; 2 Timothy 2:14
  22. 22 Ephesians 5:11; 1 Timothy 3:10; 1 Timothy 3:6; 1 Timothy 4:14; Acts 6:6
  23. 23 Psalm 104:15; Proverbs 31:4–7; 1 Timothy 4:4; 1 Timothy 3:8; 1 Timothy 3:3
  24. 24 2 Timothy 4:10; Acts 8:18; 2 Peter 2:20–21; Acts 5:1–11; Galatians 5:19–21
  25. 25 Proverbs 10:9; Luke 11:33; Psalm 37:5–6; Matthew 6:3–6; Matthew 5:16

Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences

What the Fathers said

Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).

How these were chosen

“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).

  1. Commentary 5:8 John Chrysostom, Homilies on First Timothy (Homily XIV)

    Many consider that their own virtue is sufficient for their salvation, and if they duly regulate their own life, that nothing further is wanting to save them.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 13 (1889)

  2. Quotes verse 5:4 Augustine of Hippo, Confessions (Book IX, Chapters IX–X)

    For she had "been the wife of one man," had requited her parents, had guided her house piously, was "well-reported of for good works," had "brought up children," as often travailing in birth of them as she saw them swerving from Thee.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)

  3. Quotes verse 5:5 John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew (Homily XXXI)

    Hear even Paul pronouncing this widowhood blessed, and saying, "Now she that is a widow indeed and desolate, trusteth in the Lord." Because such an one will appear more approved, evincing as she doth greater patience.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)

  4. Quotes verse 5:23 Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures (Lecture IV)

    Despise not therefore them that eat, and because of the weakness of their bodies partake of food: nor yet blame these who use a little wine for their stomach's sake and their often infirmities: and neither condemn the men as sinners, nor abhor the flesh as strange food; for the Apostle knows some of this sort, when he says: …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)

  5. Quotes verse 5:21 Basil of Caesarea, On the Holy Spirit (Chapters XI–XIII)

    The apostle, for instance, in his charge to Timothy, associates the angels with them in the words, "I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels." We are not for alienating the angels from the rest of creation, and yet, it is argued, we do not allow of their being reckoned with the Father and …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)