Advice
About Widows And Elders
Do
not rebuke an older man harshly,
But
exhort him as if he were your father.
Treat
younger men as brothers,
2
Older women as mothers,
And
younger women as sisters, with Absolute Purity.
3
Give proper recognition to those widows
Who
are really in need.
4
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.
5
The widow who is really need and left all alone
Puts
her hope in God for help.
6
But the widow who lives for Pleasure is Dead
Even
while she lives.
7
Give the people these Instructions, too,
So
that no one may be open to Blame.
8
IF ANYONE DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR HIS RELATIVES,
AND
ESPECIALLY FOR HIS IMMEDIATE FAMILY,
HE
HAS DENIED THE FAITH
AND
IS WORSE THAN AN UNBELIEVER.
9
No widow may be put on the list of widows
Unless
she is over sixty,
Has
been Faithful to her husband,
10
And is well known for her Good Deeds,
Such
as bringing up children, showing Hospitality,
Washing
the feet of the Saints,
Helping
those in Trouble
And
Devoting herself to All Kinds of Good Deeds.
11
As for younger widows,
Do
not put them on such a list.
For
when their Sensual Desires
Overcome
their Dedication to Christ,
They
want to marry.
12
THUS THEY BRING JUDGMENT ON THEMSELVES,
BECAUSE
THEY HAVE BROKEN THEIR FIRST PLEDGE.
13
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.
14
So I counsel younger widows to marry,
To
have children, to manage their homes
And
to give the Enemy No Opportunity for Slander.
15
SOME HAVE IN FACT ALREADY TURNED AWAY
TO
FOLLOW SATAN.
16
If any woman who is a Believer
Has
widows in her family,
She
should help them
And
not let the Church be Burdened with them,
So
that the Church can help those widows
Who
are really in need.
17
The Elders who direct the affairs of the Church
Well
worthy of Double Honor,
Especially
those whose work is Preaching and Teaching.
18
For the Scripture says,
'Do
not Muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,'
And
'The Worker deserves his Wages.'
19
Do not entertain an Accusation against an Elder
Unless
it is brought by two or three witnesses.
20
THOSE WHO SIN ARE TO BE REBUKED PUBLICLY,
SO
THAT THE OTHERS MAY TAKE WARNING.
21
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 FAVORITISM.
22
DO NOT BE HASTY IN 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.
24
The Sins of some men are Obvious,
REACHING
THE PLACE OF JUDGEMENT AHEAD OF THEM;
THE
SINS OF OTHERS TRAIL BEHIND THEM.
25
In the same way, Good Deeds are Obvious,
AND
EVEN THOSE THAT ARE NOT CANNOT BE HIDDEN.
(1
Timothy 5)
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