1 Timothy 5 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
~AD 62-64, between Paul's two Roman imprisonments
Location
Written to Ephesus in the Roman province of Asia, a large commercial city on the Aegean coast
Audience
Timothy and the Ephesian house churches under his oversight
Situation
Paul gives practical rules for how the church should treat different groups: older and younger men and women, widows in genuine need, and elders who lead well. He sets an age and character test for widows the church supports financially, and requires two or three witnesses before any accusation against an elder is heard.
Key Background
In the Roman world a woman without a husband, father, or adult son had almost no legal standing and no income, so a widow with no family was among the most exposed people in the city. The early church ran what amounted to a permanent relief fund, and Paul is trying to keep it from being drained by women who had relatives able to support them. His rule about witnesses comes straight from Jewish law in Deuteronomy, which required more than one witness before a charge could stand, a protection against a leader being destroyed by one person's word.
Don't come down hard on an Instead, to him like he's your father. Treat younger men like brothers,
older women like mothers, and younger women like sisters — with for
Give to who are truly on their own.
But if a widow has children or grandchildren, those family members need to learn that to starts at home — by to their parents and grandparents. This is what pleases
Now, a widow who is truly on own — with no one left — has all in God and continues for night and day.
But a widow who for is already even while she's still breathing.
Make sure people know these things, so no one can at them.
If doesn't take care of their own family — especially the people living under their roof — they've the and are actually than who in the first place.
A widow can be put on the if she's at least sixty years old and was to
She should be known for doing good, raising children well, the of helping in trouble, and devoting herself to every kind of good work.
But don't put younger widows on the list. When their them from The they'll want to get married again,
and then they'll be for breaking their
On top of that, they pick up the habit of going from house to house doing nothing. And it's not just idleness — they become and talking about things they shouldn't.
So here's what I want: younger widows should get married again, have children, their and give the zero ammunition to use against us.
Some have already wandered off to follow the
If any believing woman has widows in her family, she should take care of them herself so the isn't burdened. That way the community's resources can go to widows who truly have no one.
who do their job well deserve the — especially those who work hard at teaching and the
The says, "Don't muzzle an ox while it's working the grain," and "A worker deserves their pay."
Don't accept an accusation against a leader unless or can it up.
But those leaders who — call them out in of so the rest will take it seriously.
I'm you — in the presence of God, of The Jesus, and of the — to follow these instructions without or toward anyone.
Don't be too quick to on anyone to affirm them as leaders, and don't get dragged into other
(By the way — stop drinking only water. Use a for your stomach, since you get sick so often.)
Some people's are obvious — they arrive at before the person does. But for others, their only show up later.
It works the same way with — some of it is obvious right away, and even what isn't can't stay hidden forever.