Reproof and Respect 1 UST Do not scold a man who is older than you are. Instead, speak to him as if he were your father. Speak to men who are younger than you are 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 UST Speak to women who are older than you are as if each one were your mother. Speak to women who are younger than you are as if they were your sisters.{ When you do that,} avoid everything that might be improper. BSB BSB: older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
Honoring True Widows (Ruth 1:1–5)
3 UST As for women whose husbands have died, treat them respectfully{ by taking care of them}.{ I am speaking of} women who have no close relatives and whose husbands have died. BSB BSB: Honor the widows who are truly widows.
4 UST However, suppose that women whose husbands have died have children or grandchildren. In that case, those children or grandchildren should, most importantly, practice honoring their own family members{ by taking care of them}.{ In that way,} they will do for their parents and grandparents what their parents and grandparents did for them. That pleases 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 UST Women who have no close relatives and whose husbands have died confidently expect that God{ will help them}. They persistently pray{ to God} all day long. 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 UST On the other hand, some women whose husbands have died do whatever they want to do. These women are like dead people even though they are alive. BSB BSB: But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive.
7 UST Require{ the believers there} to do what I have just written. That way, no one can rightly accuse them of doing anything wrong. BSB BSB: Give these instructions to the believers, so that they will be above reproach.
8 UST Suppose that believers do not take care of their relatives, particularly their close family members. Those people show that they do not really trust in{ Jesus}. They have sinned more than people who never trusted in{ Jesus}. 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 UST When you add a woman whose husband has died to the list{ of women that the group of believers will take care of}, here is what she must be like. She must be at least 60 years old. She must have been sexually faithful to her husband. BSB BSB: A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, faithful to her husband,
10 UST People must say that she does what is right. For example, she might have brought up children. She might have welcomed people from a different place. She might have cleaned the dirty feet of God’ s people. She might have helped people who were suffering. In general, she must have persisted in always doing what is good. 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 UST However, do not add women whose husbands have died and who are still young{ to the list of women that the group of believers will take care of}. These women may choose to do whatever they want instead of doing what the Messiah wants.{ So that they can do whatever they want,} they will desire to marry{ even an unbeliever}. BSB BSB: But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry,
12 UST So, they have ceased to trust in{ Jesus} as they used to do. Therefore, God will punish them. BSB BSB: and thus will incur judgment because they are setting aside their first faith.
13 UST In addition to that, these women may also practice avoiding work. Instead, they may visit one person’ s home after another. In addition to avoiding work, they may also talk too much and interfere with what others are doing. They may talk about things that they should not talk about. 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 UST Because of all that, I recommend that women{ whose husbands have died and} who are still young should marry again. They should have children. They should direct their own families. They should act in such a way that Satan cannot insult any believers. BSB BSB: So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.
15 UST { I have written those things} because some{ women whose husbands have died and who are still young} are already doing what Satan wants{ instead of what God wants}. BSB BSB: For some have already turned aside to follow Satan.
16 UST Suppose that a woman who trusts in{ Jesus} has in her family some women whose husbands have died. She should be the one who helps them. That way, the group of believers will not have to provide for too many women whose husbands have died. Then, the group of believers will be able to help women who have no close relatives and whose husbands have died. 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 UST The leaders who rightly direct{ believers} deserve to have those believers respect them and take care of them. The leaders who work hard to proclaim{ the good news} and instruct others about it particularly deserve that. BSB BSB: Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
18 UST { You know that this is right} because{ Moses wrote} in the Scriptures:“You should not keep an ox from eating the grain when it is helping you separate grain from chaff.” Further,{ Jesus said,}“Workers deserve to have people pay them for their work.” 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 UST When someone claims that a leader has done something wrong, you should only listen if{ at least} two or three people say the same thing about that leader. BSB BSB: Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
20 UST When any leaders have sinned, you should confront them{ with what they have done} in front of everyone. That way, the other leaders will be afraid{ to sin} too. 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 UST God, Jesus the Messiah, and the angels whom God has selected are listening right now{ and agreeing with me} as I command you to do what I have instructed you to do.{ You should do those things} fairly, without favoring one person over another. 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 UST You should not too quickly touch people{ to appoint them as leaders}. When they sin, you should not approve of it. You should avoid what is evil. 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 UST You should not drink only water. Instead, you should have a small amount of wine. It will make your stomach feel better and reduce how often you are sick. BSB BSB: Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
24 UST When some people sin, everyone knows about it before God punishes them. However, when other people sin, everyone knows about it only after{ God punishes them}. 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 UST In the same way, when people do what is right, everyone knows about it. Even when people do not seem to know about it, eventually everyone will know about it. 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.