Caring for Elder Men and Women

¹Don’t rebuke an elder man, but exhort him as a father. Treat younger men as brothers,

²the elder women as mothers, the younger women as sisters, in all purity.

³You are to honor widows who are truly widows.

⁴But 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.

⁵Now the widow who is in need and desolate, has put her hope on God and continues in petitions and prayers night and day.

⁶However, the one who lives for luxury is dead even while she lives.

⁷Also prescribe these things, so that they may be above reproach.

⁸But anyone who doesn’t provide for their own, especially their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹A widow should not be listed if she is less than sixty years old, having been a one-man woman,

¹⁰being approved by excellent works, such as if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the feet of saints, if she has relieved the afflicted, and if she has diligently followed every good work.

¹¹But refuse younger widows, for when they have sensual desires that draw them away from Christ, they want to marry,

¹²thus bringing condemnation, because they have rejected their previous pledge.

¹³Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things that are not proper.

¹⁴Therefore I want younger widows to marry, bear children, keep the household, and give the adversary no occasion for reproach.

¹⁵For some have already turned away to follow Satan.

¹⁶If any believing woman has widows, she should continue helping them, and not burden the church, so that it may help other widows in need.

Additional Instruction on Elders

¹⁷Elders who manage effectively should be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard in preaching and teaching.

¹⁸For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain.” And, “The worker is worthy of their wages.”[#Deuteronomy 25:4; #Luke 10:7; Leviticus 19:13]

¹⁹Don’t take up an accusation against an elder except at the word of two or three witnesses.

²⁰Those who sin, reprove in the sight of everyone, so that the others may have fear.

²¹I solemnly charge you in the sight of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the chosen angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism.

²²Do not lay hands upon anyone hastily, and do not participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

²³Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

²⁴The sins of some humans are obvious, going ahead of them in judgment; for others, it follows later.

²⁵In the same way, there are excellent works that are obvious, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.