Compassionate Service: 1 Timothy5:1-22

  1 Timothy 5:1-22 (King James Version)

                                                   

 1 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;

 2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

 3Honour widows that are widows indeed.

 4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

 5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

 6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

 7 And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.

 8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

 9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man.

 10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

 11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;

 12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

 13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

 14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

 15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.

 16 If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

 17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

 18 For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

 19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

 20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

 21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

 22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.

Prepare for Leadership - Leadership Priorities

1 Timothy 4 (Amplified Bible)

1 Timothy 4

 ¹BUT THE [Holy] Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach,

 

    ²Through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared (cauterized),

    ³Who forbid people to marry and [teach them] to abstain from [certain kinds of] foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and have [an increasingly clear] knowledge of the truth.

    ⁴For everything God has created is good, and nothing is to be thrown away or refused if it is received with thanksgiving.

    ⁵For it is hallowed and consecrated by the Word of God and by prayer.

    ⁶If you lay all these instructions before the brethren, you will be a worthy steward and a good minister of Christ Jesus, ever nourishing your own self on the truths of the faith and of the good [Christian] instruction which you have closely followed.

    ⁷But refuse and avoid irreverent legends (profane and impure and godless fictions, mere grandmothers' tales) and silly myths, and express your disapproval of them. Train yourself toward godliness (piety), [keeping yourself spiritually fit].

    ⁸For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come.

    ⁹This saying is reliable and worthy of complete acceptance by everybody.

    ¹⁰With a view to this we toil and strive, [yes and] ^[a]suffer reproach, because we have [fixed our] hope on the living God, Who is the Savior (Preserver, Maintainer, Deliverer) of all men, especially of those who believe (trust in, rely on, and adhere to Him).

    ¹¹Continue to command these things and to teach them.

    ¹²Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth, but be an example (pattern) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.

    ¹³Till I come, devote yourself to [public and private] reading, to exhortation (preaching and personal appeals), and to teaching and instilling doctrine.

    ¹⁴Do not neglect the gift which is in you, [that special inward endowment] which was directly imparted to you [by the Holy Spirit] by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you [at your ordination].

    ¹⁵Practice and cultivate and meditate upon these duties; throw yourself wholly into them [as your ministry], so that your progress may be evident to everybody.

    ¹⁶Look well to yourself [to your own personality] and to [your] teaching; persevere in these things [hold to them], for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

   

Footnotes:

1. 1 Timothy 4:10 Some manuscripts so read.