1 Timothy 5 | Liberation and Inclusion Translation

¹ Don’t berate an older man^a but encourage him as a father—the same with younger men^b as brothers, ² older women^c as mothers, and younger women as sisters—with complete sacredness.^d

³ Support widows^e who really are bereft.^f ⁴ However, if someone widowed has children or descendants, the children^g should first learn to treat their own household with respect^h and to give back in reciprocity to their elder family members since this is pleasing from God’s perspective. ⁵ However, the one who is really widowed and left completely alone has placed her hope in God and keeps on with her requests and her prayers night and day. ⁶ The widowⁱ who lives luxuriously has died though she is still alive. ⁷ Spread these ideas so that people will be guiltless. ⁸ However, if someone does not even take care of a member of their own household, then they have refused faithfulness and are worse than faithless.

⁹ A widow should be appointed^j to an official position^k if she is at least 60 years old, is a one-man woman, ¹⁰ and is known for admirable actions—for example, if she raised children, if she welcomed foreigners,^l if she washed the feet of those who are designated for sacred purposes, if she came to the aid of^m those being oppressed, if she closely followed every selfless action.ⁿ

¹¹ Decline to appoint younger^o widowed women because when they feel compelled toward luxury^p rather than^q Christ, they could want to marry, ¹² inviting judgment because they set aside the first commitment.^r ¹³ At the same time, they also learn to be inactive, going around house to house, and not only inactive^s but also oblivious,^t wasting time,^u and talking about inappropriate things.^v ¹⁴ Therefore, I wish for younger women to marry, have children, and manage a household, so as not to give someone in opposition^w opportunity to criticize^x because of it. ¹⁵ Already, some were turned away, following in the Adversary’s^y footsteps. ¹⁶ If a faithful woman has widows with her, she should come to their aid^z, and the assembly should not overburden itself,^aa so that it can come to the aid of^bb those who are truly bereft.^cc

¹⁷ The elders^dd who have led^ee you honorably should be eligible for dual support,^ff especially those who labor with conversation^gg and teaching. ¹⁸ You see, the scripture says, “Don’t muzzle an ox while it is treading the grain,”^hh and “The laborer is worth their payment.”ⁱⁱ ¹⁹ Do not affirm an accusation against an elder except based on two or three witnesses. ²⁰ However, expose^jj the elders^kk who do deviate in front of everyone so that the rest will be warned. ²¹ I swear in front of God and Christ Jesus and the chosen messengers that you would observe these things without there being any prejudice or anyone doing anything based on bias.^ll ²² Don’t lay hands on^mm anyone hastily, but also don’t be complicitⁿⁿ in other people’s deviations. Keep yourself genuine. ²³ (Don’t drink water anymore,^oo but instead use a little wine for your stomach and your recurring^pp illnesses) ²⁴ Some people’s deviations are obvious, leading to a decisive response,^qq but for some, they catch up with them later. ²⁵ Similarly, honorable actions are also obvious, and ones that aren’t obvious can’t stay hidden.

Footnotes

a Or ‘elder.’ This is the masculine or general form of presbuteros.
b The words ‘younger men’ are the adjective form (neos) of the same root for ‘youth’ in 1 Timothy 4:12.
c Or ‘elder.’ Feminine form: presbuteras.
d Traditionally, ‘purity.’ hagneia is designation for sacred purposes.
e Literally an adjective meaning ‘bereaved.’ In this section it refers to women bereaved of family/husband and left alone.
f This is the same word translated as ‘widows’ earlier in the sentence.
g Literally, ‘they’ referring back to ‘children or descendants’.
h This is eusebeia, often translated ‘godliness,’ but it includes respectfulness toward family members.
i Literally, an adjective referring to the condition of being ‘bereaved.’
j Traditionally, ‘put on the list.’ The word involves being written down/enrolled.
k ‘To an official position’ is added for clarity; some read this as enrollment for care, but context suggests recognized service/leadership.
l Traditionally, ‘shown hospitality.’
m Or ‘protected’ or ‘provided for’.
n Traditionally, ‘good.’ This word means beneficial/benevolent/kind/generous.
o This is the same word for ‘younger women’ in 1 Timothy 5:2.
p katastreniao means being strongly drawn toward living in luxury.
q No words appear between ‘feel compelled toward luxury’ and ‘Christ.’ The genitive requires supplied English; separation is possible but not certain.
r Or ‘faithfulness’.
s Traditionally, ‘lazy’.
t Traditionally, ‘gossips’.
u Traditionally, ‘busybodies’.
v Traditionally, ‘saying what they should not say’.
w Traditionally, ‘adversary,’ but here it is any human opponent (not a Satan-title).
x Traditionally, ‘revile us’ / ‘slander us’.
y This is Satanas as adversary/prosecutor/opponent; not necessarily a proper-name archnemesis concept.
z Or ‘protect’ or ‘provide for’ or ‘help’.
aa ‘Itself’ clarifies a reflexive sense: the assembly harming itself by overextending, not the widows being “a burden.”
bb Or ‘protect’ or ‘provide for’.
cc Same term as ‘widows’ earlier; literally “bereaved/bereft.”
dd Traditionally, ‘elders.’ It can be a role-title, but it is also the same word as ‘older man’ in 1 Timothy 5:1 and can be mixed-gender.
ee Or stands as a leader/champion; takes responsibility for others (standing at the front of a procession).
ff This is time, which can mean honor (valued treatment) and reward/compensation; “dual support” reflects both senses.
gg Or ‘speaking,’ with a sense of discussion rather than monologue.
hh Quotation of Deuteronomy 25:4.
ii Quotation of Luke 10:7.
jj Reference to Deuteronomy 19:15; a general safeguard against condemning the innocent.
kk Literally, ‘those.’ ‘Elders’ added for clarity.
ll This is not a command; it functions as a promise to Timothy that there won’t be retaliation for holding leaders accountable.
mm Refers to taking people into custody/administering punishment; warns against impulsive action against the innocent.
nn Being complicit is turning a blind eye to harm, even when the person is a leader.
oo Many translations add ‘just/only’ though it is not explicit in Greek; the sense may be implied but is uncertain.
pp Or ‘frequent.’
qq Traditionally, ‘judgment.’