1 Timothy · Berean Standard Bible
1 Timothy 5 Berean Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers,
1 Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brothers;
2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
2 the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity.
3 Honor the widows who are truly widows.
3 Honor widows who are widows indeed.
4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight 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.
5 The widow who is truly in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers.
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.
6 But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive.
6 But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives.
7 Give these instructions to the believers, so that they will be above reproach.
7 Also command these things, that they may be without reproach.
8 If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
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.
9 A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, 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,
10 and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.
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.
11 But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry,
11 But refuse younger widows, for when they have grown wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,
12 and thus will incur judgment because they are setting aside their first faith.
12 having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge.
13 At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention.
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.
14 So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.
14 I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for insulting.
15 For some have already turned aside to follow Satan.
15 For already some have turned away after Satan.
16 If any believing woman has dependent widows, she must assist them and not allow the church to be burdened, so that it can help the widows who are truly in need.
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.
17 Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at 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.
18 For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”
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.”
19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
19 Don’t receive an accusation against an elder except at the word of two or three witnesses.
20 But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.
20 Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear.
21 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to maintain these principles without bias, and to do nothing out of partiality.
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.
22 Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
22 Lay hands hastily on no one. Don’t be a participant in other people’s sins. Keep yourself pure.
23 Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
23 Be no longer a drinker of water only, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.
24 The sins of some men are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment; but the sins of others do not surface until later.
24 Some men’s sins are evident, preceding them to judgment, and some also follow later.
25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even the ones that are inconspicuous cannot remain hidden.
25 In the same way also there are good works that are obvious, and those that are otherwise can’t be hidden.
Cross references (25)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Leviticus 19:32; 1 Peter 5:5–6; Titus 2:2; Galatians 6:1; 1 Peter 5:1
- 2 1 Timothy 4:12; Philippians 4:8; Matthew 12:50; 1 Timothy 5:3; John 19:26–27
- 3 Deuteronomy 27:19; Acts 6:1; Deuteronomy 14:29; Deuteronomy 10:18; 1 Thessalonians 2:6
- 4 Ephesians 6:1–3; John 19:26–27; Matthew 15:4–6; Genesis 47:12; Mark 7:11–13
- 5 1 Timothy 5:3; Luke 2:37; 1 Corinthians 7:32; Luke 18:1; 1 Timothy 5:16
- 6 James 5:5; Revelation 3:1; Revelation 18:7; Luke 15:24; Luke 15:32
- 7 1 Timothy 4:11; Titus 2:15; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 1:13; 1 Timothy 1:3
- 8 Galatians 6:10; 2 Corinthians 12:14; Luke 11:11–13; Isaiah 58:7; Titus 1:16
- 9 1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Timothy 5:11; Luke 2:36–37; 1 Timothy 5:3–4; 1 Corinthians 7:39–40
- 10 1 Timothy 6:18; Titus 3:8; Acts 9:36; Titus 2:7; Titus 3:1
- 11 1 Timothy 5:14; Hosea 13:6; James 5:5; Isaiah 3:16; 1 Corinthians 7:39–40
- 12 Galatians 1:6; James 3:1; 1 Peter 4:17; 1 Corinthians 11:34; Revelation 2:4–5
- 13 Proverbs 20:19; 2 Thessalonians 3:6–11; Proverbs 31:27; Luke 10:7; Acts 20:30
- 14 Titus 2:5; 1 Timothy 6:1; Proverbs 31:27–29; Titus 2:8; 1 Corinthians 7:8–9
- 15 2 Peter 2:2; Jude 4–5; 2 Peter 2:20–22; 1 Timothy 1:20; 1 John 2:19
- 16 1 Timothy 5:3–5; 1 Timothy 5:8
- 17 Hebrews 13:17; Galatians 6:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13; Luke 10:7; Hebrews 13:7
- 18 Deuteronomy 25:4; 1 Corinthians 9:14; 1 Corinthians 9:7–10; Luke 10:7; Matthew 10:10
- 19 Matthew 18:16; Deuteronomy 19:15; 2 Corinthians 13:1; Titus 1:6; Deuteronomy 17:6
- 20 2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Timothy 1:20; Deuteronomy 13:11; Titus 1:13; Acts 5:11
- 21 2 Timothy 4:1; 1 Timothy 6:13; 2 Peter 2:4; 2 Corinthians 5:16; 2 Timothy 2:14
- 22 Ephesians 5:11; 1 Timothy 3:10; 1 Timothy 3:6; 1 Timothy 4:14; Acts 6:6
- 23 Psalm 104:15; Proverbs 31:4–7; 1 Timothy 4:4; 1 Timothy 3:8; 1 Timothy 3:3
- 24 2 Timothy 4:10; Acts 8:18; 2 Peter 2:20–21; Acts 5:1–11; Galatians 5:19–21
- 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).
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)