Reproof and Respect 1 UDB Do not speak harshly to a man older than yourself. Instead, encourage him as if he were your father. Do the same to younger men as if they were your brothers. BSB BSB: Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers,
2 UDB Encourage older women as mothers and younger women as if they were your sisters. Act toward them in a way that no one can criticize. BSB BSB: older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
Honoring True Widows (Ruth 1:1–5)
3 UDB Respect the widows if they are true widows. BSB BSB: Honor the widows who are truly widows.
4 UDB But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should honor their mother at home and pay her back for everything she has done for them. If they do this, they will please God. BSB BSB: But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.
5 UDB The widow who has many needs that she cannot meet depends on God. She continues asking him and praying to him at all times that he might meet her needs. BSB BSB: The widow who is truly in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers.
6 UDB But a widow who lives to please herself is dead to the things of God even though she is still alive. BSB BSB: But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive.
7 UDB You should announce these things so that these widows and their families will not do anything wrong. BSB BSB: Give these instructions to the believers, so that they will be above reproach.
8 UDB But anyone who does not try to help his own relatives, especially those who live in his own house, that person rejects what we believe. He is in fact worse than an unbeliever. BSB BSB: If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 UDB Put a woman on the list of those who are helped by the church only if she is at least sixty years old and she had been the wife of only one husband. BSB BSB: A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, faithful to her husband,
10 UDB People must know that she does good deeds. Perhaps she takes care of children, welcomes strangers, helps the believers, or cares for people who are suffering, or she is known for doing many good works. BSB BSB: and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.
11 UDB But do not put younger widows on the widows' list, because they often want to marry again when they change their minds and put married love ahead of Christ. BSB BSB: But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry,
12 UDB When they do this, then they become guilty of going back on their commitment to being widows. BSB BSB: and thus will incur judgment because they are setting aside their first faith.
13 UDB Also, they go from house to house and get into the habit of doing nothing. They also engage in foolish and trivial activities and say things that they should not say. BSB BSB: At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention.
14 UDB So I prefer that younger widows get married, have children, and run their households so that Satan the enemy gets no opportunity to accuse them of doing wrong. BSB BSB: So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.
15 UDB I write these things because some younger widows have already left the way of Christ to follow Satan. BSB BSB: For some have already turned aside to follow Satan.
16 UDB If any believing woman has widows among her relatives, let her help them so those widows will not be a burden to the church. In this way the church will be able to help real widows. BSB BSB: If any believing woman has dependent widows, she must assist them and not allow the church to be burdened, so that it can help the widows who are truly in need.
Honoring Elders 17 UDB Let the believers give double honor to the elders who lead them well, especially to the elders who preach and teach God's word. BSB BSB: Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
18 UDB For the scripture says, "You shall not keep the ox from eating the grain that he is treading out" and "The laborer deserves to get his pay." BSB BSB: For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”
19 UDB Do not listen to anyone who accuses an elder of doing wrong unless two or three people are testifying about the matter. BSB BSB: Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
20 UDB Those who continue to sin—correct them where everyone can see you so that the rest of the people will be afraid to sin. BSB BSB: But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.
A Charge to Timothy 21 UDB God, Jesus Christ, and the chosen angels see me as I solemnly command you to do these things. Be sure that you do not judge anyone before you should. Be sure that you do not favor one person over another when you lead the believers. BSB BSB: I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to maintain these principles without bias, and to do nothing out of partiality.
22 UDB When you want someone to begin to serve the believers, make no decision too quickly so that you do not choose them too soon. And do not be a partner with anyone in sinning. You must keep yourself without fault. BSB BSB: Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
23 UDB No longer drink only water, Timothy. Instead, drink a little wine for your many stomach sicknesses. BSB BSB: Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
24 UDB The sins of some people are clear to everyone, and the church does not need much time to judge them. But the church does not discover some sins until later. BSB BSB: The sins of some men are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment; but the sins of others do not surface until later.
25 UDB In the same way, some good deeds are clear to everybody, but even the other good deeds will become clear at some time in the future. BSB BSB: In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even the ones that are inconspicuous cannot remain hidden.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.