Instructions for the Church
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older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.
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Honor widows 3who are truly widows.
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But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn 4to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for 5this is pleasing in the sight of God.
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She 6who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and 7continues in supplications and prayers night and day,
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10Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach.
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But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for 11members of his household, he has 12denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
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Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been 13the wife of one husband,a
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and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has 14shown hospitality, 15has washed the feet of the saints, has 16cared for the afflicted, and has 17devoted herself to every good work.
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But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when 18their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry
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and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith.
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Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also 19gossips and 20busybodies, saying what they should not.
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So I would have 21younger widows marry, bear children, 22manage their households, and 23give the adversary no occasion for slander.
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24For some have already strayed after Satan.
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If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those 25who are truly widows.
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Let the elders 26who rule well be considered worthy of 27double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
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For the Scripture says, 28"You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain," and, 29"The laborer deserves his wages."
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Do not admit a charge against an elder except 30on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
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As for those who persist in sin, 31rebuke them in the presence of all, 32so that the rest may stand in fear.
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In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels 33I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, 34doing nothing from partiality.
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35Do not be hasty in the 36laying on of hands, nor 37take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.
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(No longer drink only water, but 38use a little wine 39for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.)
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The sins of some men are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later.
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So also good works are conspicuous, and 40even those that are not cannot remain hidden.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)