1 Timothy 5

Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brothers; 2the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity. 

3Honour widows who are widows indeed. 4But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family, and to repay their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God1. 5Now she who is a widow indeed, and desolate, has her hope set on God, and continues in petitions and prayers night and day. 6But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives. 7Also command these things, that they may be without reproach. 8But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. 

9Let no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, 10being approved by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, and if she has diligently followed every good work.

11But refuse younger widows, for when they have grown wanton against AL-MASIH2, they desire to marry; 12having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge. 13Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 14I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for reviling. 15For already some have turned aside after Shaitan3. 16If any man or woman who believes has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the congregation be burdened; that it might relieve those who are widows indeed.

17Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in the word and in teaching. 18For Al-Kitab4 says, 

“You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” 5 

And, 

“The labourer is worthy of his wages.” 6

19Do not receive an accusation against an elder, except at the word of two or three witnesses. 20Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear. 21I charge you in the sight of God, and AL-MASIH ‘ISA7, and the chosen angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality. 22Lay hands hastily on no one, neither be a participant in other men’s sins. Keep yourself pure. 

23Be no longer a drinker of water only, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.

24Some men’s sins are evident, preceding them to judgment, and some also follow later. 25In the same way also there are good works that are obvious, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.

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  1. 5:4 God, English translation of theos. It is the Greek equivalent of elohim and eloah (Hebrew) which are related to allah (Arabic) and alaha (Syriac), all of which translate as “God,” and refer to the one true God. ↩︎
  2. 5:11 AL-MASIH – an Arabic title equivalent to the Messiah (Hebrew) or Christ (Greek), all of which mean the Anointed One, that is, God’s Chosen One. In ancient times, divinely-appointed kings, priests and prophets were anointed with oil to signify their appointment to office. All of them point ahead to God’s ultimate Anointed One, the Messiah, AL-MASIH.  Al-Kitab unanimously points to ‘ISA Ibn Maryam as the only person worthy to bear the title AL-MASIH. He is the one whom God sent into this world to save people from sin, and to usher in God’s Kingdom at his Second Coming. ↩︎
  3. 5:15 Shaitan, is derived from the Hebrew Satan, which means “adversary” or “accuser.” ↩︎
  4. 5:18 Al-Kitab, is an Arabic-derived term for “the Scriptures.” It is related to the Aramaic ketab and Hebrew terms ketab, miktab, and ktb. The same meaning of “the Scriptures” is expressed in Greek by graphe. In this verse, Al-Kitab refers to the Hebrew scriptures, including the Taurat, the Zabur, and the writings of the Prophets. ↩︎
  5. 5:18 Quoting the Taurat, Deuteronomy 25:4 which says: “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” ↩︎
  6. 5:18 Quoting the words of ‘ISA AL-MASIH in the Injil, Luke 10:7 as the Word of God, which says: “Remain in that same house, eating and drinking the things they give, for the labourer is worthy of his wages.” ↩︎
  7. 5:21 ‘ISA – The names ‘ISA (Arabic), ISHO (Syriac) and JESUS (Greek, IESOUS) are all derived from the Hebrew name YEHOSHUA, which means “YAHWEH saves.” (YAHWEH is God’s personal name revealed to Prophet Musa in the Taurat, Exodus 3:15 – God said moreover to Musa, “You shall tell Bani-Israel this, ‘YAHWEH, the God of your fathers, the God of Ibrahim, the God of Ishaq, and the God of Yaqub, has sent me to you.’ This is my Name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered to all generations.”) ↩︎