5 1 Having set down a manner how to rebuke all degrees. 5 He entreateth of widows, who then were chosen for the service of the Church: 17 Then he cometh to Elders, 23 and speaketh somewhat touching the health of the body.
1 Rebuke [a]not an elder, but exhort him as a father, and the younger men as brethren,
2 The elder women as mothers, the younger as sisters, with all pureness.
3 [b][c]Honor widows, which are widows indeed.
4 [d]But if any widow have children or nephews let them learn first to show godliness [e]toward their own house, and [f]to recompense their kindred: [g]for that is an honest thing, and acceptable before God.
5 [h]And she that is a widow indeed and left alone, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
6 [i]But she that liveth in pleasure, is dead, while she liveth.
7 These things therefore warn them of, that they may be blameless.
8 If there be any that provideth not for his own, and namely for them of his household, he denieth the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
9 [j]Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, that hath been the wife of [k]one husband.
10 And well reported of for good works: if she have nourished her children, if she have lodged the strangers, if she have [l]washed the Saints’ feet, if she have ministered unto them which were in adversity, if she were continually given unto every good work.
11 [m]But [n]refuse the younger widows: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry.
12 Having damnation, because they have broken the first faith.
13 [o]And likewise also being idle they learn to go about from house to house: yea they are not only idle, but also prattlers and busybodies, speaking things which are not comely.
14 [p]I will therefore that the younger women marry, and bear children, and govern the house, and give none occasion to the adversary to speak evil.
15 For certain are already turned back after Satan.
16 [q]If any faithful man or faithful woman have widows, let them minister unto them, and let not the Church be charged, that there may be sufficient for them that are widows indeed.
17 ¶ [r]The Elders that rule well, let them be had in [s]double honor, [t]specially they which labor in the word and doctrine.
18 For the Scripture saith, (A)Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn: and, (B)The laborer is worthy of his wages.
19 [u]Against an Elder receive none accusation, but under two or three witnesses.
20 [v]Them that sin, rebuke openly, that the rest also may fear.
21 ¶ (C)[w]I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect Angels, that thou observe these things, without preferring one to another, and do nothing partially.
22 [x]Lay hands [y]suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins; keep thyself pure.
23 [z]Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake, and thine often infirmities.
24 [aa]Some men’s sins are open before hand, and go before unto judgment: but some men’s follow after.
25 [ab]Likewise also the good works are manifest before hand, and they that are otherwise, cannot be hid.
Footnotes
- 1 Timothy 5:1 Of keeping measure in private reprehensions according to the degrees of ages and kinds.
- 1 Timothy 5:3 The Apostle giveth these rules touching the care of widows.
- 1 Timothy 5:3 Have care of those widows which have need of help.
- 1 Timothy 5:4 Widows’ children and nephews must take care for their parents, according to their ability.
- 1 Timothy 5:4 The first reason, because that, that which they bestow upon theirs, they bestow it upon themselves.
- 1 Timothy 5:4 Another, because nature itself teacheth us to recompense our parents.
- 1 Timothy 5:4 The third: because this dutifulness pleaseth God.
- 1 Timothy 5:5 The second rule: Let the church have care of such as are widows indeed, that is to say, such as are poor and destitute of help of their own friends, and live godly and religiously.
- 1 Timothy 5:6 The third rule: Let widows that live in pleasure, and neglect the care of their own family, be holden and accompted as fallers away from God and his religion, and worse than very infidels.
- 1 Timothy 5:9 The fourth rule: Let none under threescore years old, be taken into the number of widows, to serve the Congregations or Churches, and such as are free from all reproach of unchastity, and are well reported of for their diligence, charity, and integrity.
- 1 Timothy 5:9 That hath had no more husbands, but one at one time.
- 1 Timothy 5:10 This is spoken in respect of the manner of those countries.
- 1 Timothy 5:11 The first reason why younger widows are not to be admitted to this ministry, to wit, because for the lightness of their age, they will at length shake off the burden that Christ hath laid upon them, and think rather upon marrying again: and so will forsake the ministry whereunto they had bound themselves.
- 1 Timothy 5:11 Take them not into the college of widows.
- 1 Timothy 5:13 Another reason: because they are for the most part prattlers and busybodies, and gadders up and down, neglecting their charge and duty.
- 1 Timothy 5:14 The fifth rule: Let younger widows marry and govern their houses godly.
- 1 Timothy 5:16 The sixth rule: Let the faithful help their widows at their own charges as much as they can, and let not the Congregation be burdened with these expenses.
- 1 Timothy 5:17 Now he giveth rules, and showeth how he ought to behave himself with the Elders, that is to say, with the Pastors and such as have the governance in the discipline of the Church, which is president of their company. The first rule: Let the Church or Congregation see unto this especially, as God himself hath commanded, that the Elders that do their duty well, be honestly maintained.
- 1 Timothy 5:17 We must be more careful for them, than for the rest.
- 1 Timothy 5:17 There were two kinds of Elders, the one attended upon the government only, and looked to the manners of the Congregation; the other did beside that, attend upon preaching and prayers, to and for the Congregation.
- 1 Timothy 5:19 The second rule: Let no accusation be admitted against an Elder, but under two or three witnesses.
- 1 Timothy 5:20 The third rule: Let the Elders so convicted be rebuked openly, that they may be an example to others.
- 1 Timothy 5:21 The fourth rule: Let sincerity be used without any prejudice or respect of persons in Ecclesiastical proceedings, (especially against the Elders) because God himself is there present, and the Lord Jesus Christ with a multitude of Angels.
- 1 Timothy 5:22 The [fifth] rule: Let the minister lay hands suddenly on no man. Let him not be faulty herein either by favoring any man’s folly, or perverse affection: If ought be done otherwise than well of his fellows, let him keep his conscience pure.
- 1 Timothy 5:22 As much as in thee lieth do not rashly admit any whatsoever, to any Ecclesiastical function.
- 1 Timothy 5:23 The sixth rule: Let the Elders have indifferent consideration of their health, in the manner of their diet.
- 1 Timothy 5:24 Because hypocrites sometimes creep into the ministry although there be never so great diligence used, the Apostle willeth the Pastors not to be troubled therefore, or slack any whit of their diligence in trying and examining, because the Lord hath appointed a time to discover the faults of such men, and it is our parts to take heed that we offend not therein.
- 1 Timothy 5:25 Another comfort belonging to them, which sometimes are slandered and misreported of.