Family
Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers,
Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
Widows
Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord's people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds. As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. Thus they bring judgement on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to. So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan. If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.
Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.
Honour widows that are widows indeed.
But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.
But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.
Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.
But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame.
And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband,
Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,
and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord's people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.
Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry.
But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
Thus they bring judgement on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge.
Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.
And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.
I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.
For some are already turned aside after Satan.
If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.
If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
Elders
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker deserves his wages.” Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favouritism. Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgement ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker deserves his wages.”
For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.
Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.
Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favouritism.
I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.
Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.
The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgement ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them.
Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.
Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.