1 Timothy 5

1 Do not [lest you offend] rebuke [scold or reprove] an older man [elder, respected leader], but appeal [exhort or plead] to him as [in the manner of] to a father [paternal figure, mentor]. Treat [regard, consider] younger men [new, youthful ones] as [like, in the same way as] brothers [fellow believers, companions], word study 2 older women [with maternal care] as mothers, and younger women [in their youth] as sisters, with absolute [all, every aspect of] purity [chastity, moral cleanliness]. word study 3 Honor [show respect and value] the widows [who have lost their husbands] who are truly [really] widows [indeed, that are widows in deed]. word study 4 But if a widow [a woman who has lost her husband] has children [born to parents] or grandchildren [descendants], they must first [in time or importance] learn [to understand through experience] to show godliness [to worship and respect God] to their own family [private or personal household] and repay [to give back or reward] their parents [ancestors or forefathers], for this [a specific action] is pleasing [acceptable] in the sight of God [the one true deity]. word study 5 The widow [a woman without a husband] who is truly [really, actually] in need and left [desolate, without family] all alone puts her hope [trust, confidence] in God [the one true deity, Creator] and continues [remains, persists] night [the time of darkness] and day [a 24-hour period, a period of light] in her petitions [prayers, requests] and prayers [conversations with God, worship]. word study 6 But she who lives [gives herself to, indulges in] for pleasure [luxury, excess] is dead [spiritually, has died to God] even while she is still alive [physically, has life]. word study 7 Give [command, order, charge] these instructions [things, teachings, commands] to the believers [faithful, Christians, the church], so that [in order that, to the end that] they will be [exist, live] above [completely, utterly] reproach [blame, criticism, fault] [blameless, irreproachable, without fault]. word study 8 If anyone [does not take care of] does not provide for his own [family and relatives], and especially [those who live in] his own household [those of his house], he has [completely] denied [rejected, turned away from] the faith [trust and confidence in God] and is worse than [more evil than, inferior to] an unbeliever [one who does not have faith, an infidel]. word study 9 A widow [a woman who has lost her husband] should be enrolled [registered, taken into the number] if she is at least sixty [three score] years old [a period of time], the wife [a married woman] of one [a single] man [a husband], word study 10 and well known [widely recognized, having a good reputation] for good deeds [noble works, acts of kindness] such as bringing up [raising, nurturing] children, entertaining [showing hospitality to, lodging] strangers, washing [cleansing, purifying] the feet of the saints [holy ones, set apart believers], imparting [providing, ministering] relief to the afflicted [those who are suffering, oppressed], and devoting [dedicating, committing] herself to every [all, each] good work [noble act, righteous deed]. word study 11 But refuse [to accept] to enroll younger [new, recently created] widows [women who have lost their husband]. For when their passions [desires, selfish cravings] draw them away from Christ [the Anointed, the Messiah], they will want [desire, have a strong inclination] to marry [to wed, to become one with someone], word study 12 and thus will incur [having, be subject to] judgment [condemnation, damnation] because they are setting aside [rejecting, casting off] their first [initial, foremost] faith [trust, confidence in God]. word study 13 At the same time [together, simultaneously] they will also learn [come to understand, gain knowledge] to be idle [lazy, inactive, without employment], going from house to house [visiting, roaming] and being not only idle [without work, unoccupied], but also gossips [tattlers, speaking excessively] and busybodies [meddlesome, nosy], discussing [speaking, talking about] things they should not mention [ought not to say, are not necessary to speak]. word study 14 So I advise [desire, plan] the younger [new, youthful] widows to marry [wed, become a wife], have children [bear, give birth to], and manage [rule, guide] their households [homes, families], denying [giving no occasion to] the adversary [opponent, enemy] occasion [opportunity, chance] for slander [reviling, speaking evil]. word study 15 For [as a reason, to explain] some [certain ones, a few] have already [at this point in time] turned aside [to wander away, stray] to follow [after, behind] Satan [the adversary, accuser]. word study 16 If any believing [faithful, trusting in God] woman has dependent [needy, requiring support] widows, she must assist [relieve, provide for] them and not allow the church [assembly, community of believers] to be burdened [weighed down, oppressed], so that it can help [support, care for] the widows who are truly [really, actually] in need. word study 17 Elders [spiritual leaders, older respected men] who lead [rule, preside over] effectively [well, with moral integrity] are worthy [deserving, deemed fit] of double [twofold, increased] honor [respect, esteem], especially [mostly, in a higher degree] those who work hard [labor, toil] at preaching [proclaiming, teaching publicly] and teaching [instruction, doctrine]. word study 18 For the Scripture [holy writings, God’s Word] says, “Do not muzzle [restrain, silence] an ox [a working animal, like a cow] while it is treading out [threshing, crushing] the grain,” and, “The worker [laborer, servant] is worthy [deserving, suitable] of his wages [payment, reward].” word study 19 Do not [under any circumstances, lest] entertain [welcome, receive with delight] an accusation [formal complaint, charge] against an elder [respected leader], except [outside of, unless] on the testimony [at the mouth, based on the word] of two [a pair] or [as an alternative] three [a small group] witnesses [those who testify to what they have seen]. word study 20 But those who persist [continue, remain] in sin [missing the mark, falling short] should be rebuked [censured, reproved] in front of [before, in the presence of] everyone [all, every person], so that the others [the remaining ones, those who are left] will stand in fear [have alarm, be terrified] of sin [transgressing God’s law, disobedience]. word study 21 I solemnly charge [testify fully, give a solemn warning] you before God [the one true deity, Creator of all] and Christ Jesus [the Messiah, God’s anointed] and the elect [chosen, select] angels to maintain [keep, guard, observe] these principles [instructions, commands] without [separately from, apart from] bias [prejudice, preconceived opinion], and to do [make, perform] nothing out of [according to, based on] partiality [favoritism, unfair bias]. word study 22 Do not be too quick [hasty, sudden] in the laying on of hands [to appoint, to ordain] and thereby share [participate, have fellowship] in the sins [wrongdoings, transgressions] of others [another’s, someone else’s]. Keep yourself [your own life, your own actions] pure [clean, innocent, modest]. word study 23 Stop drinking only water [no longer just water, do not still drink water] and use [employ, take] a little [small amount, few] wine [a beverage made from grapes] instead, because of [due to, on account of] your stomach [internal organ for digestion, gullet] and your frequent [often, many times] ailments [weaknesses, infirmities, sicknesses]. word study 24 The sins [transgressions, missing the mark] of some men [certain individuals] are obvious [evident, clearly seen], going ahead [preceding, leading before] of them to judgment [divine verdict]; but the sins [offenses] of others do not surface [are not evident, follow after] until later [at a later time, after examination]. word study 25 In the same way [likewise, similarly], good [beautiful, noble] deeds [works, actions] are obvious [evident, clearly seen], and even the ones that are inconspicuous [not clearly seen, hidden] cannot [are not able to] remain [be] hidden [concealed, secret]. word study