Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

Honor Widows

5 ^(A)Do not sharply rebuke an ^(B)older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, and to ^(C)the younger men as brothers, ² to the older women as mothers, and to the younger women as sisters, in all purity.

³ Honor widows who are actually ^(D)widows; ⁴ but if any widow has children or grandchildren, ^(E)they must first learn to show proper respect for their own family and to give back compensation to their parents; for this is ^(F)acceptable in the sight of God. ⁵ Now she who is actually a ^(G)widow and has been left alone ^(H)has set her hope on God, and she continues in ^(I)requests and prayers night and day. ⁶ But she who ^(J)indulges herself in luxury is ^(K)dead, even while she lives. ^7 [a](L)Give these instructions as well, so that they may be above reproach. ⁸ But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has ^(M)denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹ A widow is to be ^(N)put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been ^(O)the wife of one man, ¹⁰ having a reputation for ^(P)good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has ^(Q)shown hospitality to strangers, if she ^(R)has washed the ^[b]saints’ feet, if she has ^(S)assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work. ¹¹ But refuse to register younger widows, for when they feel ^(T)physical desires alienating them from Christ, they want to get married, ¹² thereby incurring condemnation, because they have ^[c]ignored their previous pledge. ¹³ At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also they become ^(U)gossips and ^(V)busybodies, talking about ^(W)things not proper to mention. ¹⁴ Therefore, I want younger widows to get ^(X)married, have children, ^(Y)manage their households, and ^(Z)give the enemy no opportunity for reproach; ¹⁵ for some ^(AA)have already turned away to follow ^(AB)Satan. ¹⁶ If any woman who is a believer ^(AC)has dependent widows, she must ^(AD)assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are actually ^(AE)widows.

Concerning Elders

^17 (AF)The elders who ^(AG)lead well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who ^(AH)work hard ^[d]at preaching and teaching. ¹⁸ For the Scripture says, “^(AI)You shall not muzzle the ox while it is threshing,” and “^(AJ)The laborer is worthy of his wages.” ¹⁹ Do not accept an accusation against an ^(AK)elder except on the basis of ^(AL)two or three witnesses. ²⁰ Those who continue in sin, ^(AM)rebuke in the presence of all, ^(AN)so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. ^21 (AO)I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality. ^22 (AP)Do not lay hands upon anyone too quickly and ^[e]thereby share ^(AQ)responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself ^[f]free from sin.

²³ Do not go on drinking only water, but ^(AR)use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

²⁴ The sins of some people are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins ^(AS)follow after. ²⁵ Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and ^(AT)those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.

Instructions to Those Who Minister

6 ^(AU)All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor ^(AV)so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be ^[g]spoken against. ² Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are ^(AW)brothers or sisters, but must serve them all the more, because those who ^[h]partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. ^(AX)Teach and ^[i]preach these principles.

³ If anyone ^(AY)advocates a different doctrine and does not ^[j]agree with ^(AZ)sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine ^(BA)conforming to godliness, ⁴ he is ^(BB)conceited and understands nothing; but he ^[k]has a sick craving for ^(BC)controversial questions and ^(BD)disputes about words, from which come envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, ⁵ and constant friction between ^(BE)people of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who ^(BF)suppose that ^[l]godliness is a means of gain. ^6 (BG)But godliness actually is a means of ^(BH)great gain when accompanied by ^(BI)contentment. ⁷ For ^(BJ)we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it, either. ⁸ If we ^(BK)have food and ^[m]covering, with these we shall be content. ^9 (BL)But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and ^(BM)a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For ^(BN)the love of money is a root of all ^[n]sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have ^(BO)wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many ^[o]griefs.

¹¹ But ^(BP)flee from these things, you ^(BQ)man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, ^(BR)faith, ^(BS)love, ^[p]perseverance, and gentleness. ^12 (BT)Fight the good fight of ^(BU)faith; ^(BV)take hold of the eternal life ^(BW)to which you were called, and for which you made the good ^(BX)confession in the presence of ^(BY)many witnesses. ^13 (BZ)I direct you in the presence of God, who ^[q]gives life to all things, and of ^(CA)Christ Jesus, who testified the ^(CB)good confession ^(CC)before Pontius Pilate, ¹⁴ that you keep the commandment without ^[r]fault or reproach until the ^(CD)appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which He will ^[s]bring about at ^(CE)the proper time—He who is ^(CF)the blessed and ^(CG)only Sovereign, ^(CH)the King of ^[t]kings and ^(CI)Lord of ^[u]lords, ^16 (CJ)who alone possesses immortality and ^(CK)dwells in unapproachable light, ^(CL)whom ^[v]no one has seen or can see. ^(CM)To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

¹⁷ Instruct those who are rich in ^(CN)this present world ^(CO)not to be conceited or to ^(CP)set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, ^(CQ)who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. ¹⁸ Instruct them to do good, to be rich in ^(CR)good ^[w]works, ^(CS)to be generous and ready to share, ^19 (CT)storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may ^(CU)take hold of that which is truly life.

^20 (CV)Timothy, protect ^(CW)what has been entrusted to you, avoiding ^(CX)worldly, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”— ²¹ which some have professed and thereby have ^(CY)gone astray ^[x]from ^(CZ)the faith.

^(DA)Grace be with you.