41 lines
2.8 KiB
Markdown
41 lines
2.8 KiB
Markdown
# Chapter 5
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1. Don't rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,
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2. older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters with all purity.
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The Support of Widows
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3. Support widows who are genuinely in need.
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4. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn to practice godliness toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God.
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5. The widow who is truly in need and left all alone has put her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers;
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6. however, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.
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7. Command this also, so that they will be above reproach.
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8. But if anyone does not provide for his own family, especially for his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
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9. No widow is to be enrolled on the list for support unless she is at least sixty years old, has been the wife of one husband,
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10. and is well known for good works--that is, if she has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the saints' feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to every good work.
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11. But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry
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12. and will therefore receive condemnation because they have renounced their original pledge.
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13. At the same time, they also learn to be idle, going from house to house; they are not only idle, but are also gossips and busybodies, saying things they shouldn't say.
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14. Therefore, I want younger women to marry, have children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us.
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15. For some have already turned away to follow Satan.
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16. If any believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it can help widows in genuine need.
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Honoring the Elders
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17. The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
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18. For the Scripture says: <b class="quote">Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,* and, "The worker is worthy of his wages."*
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19. Don't accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.
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20. Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will be afraid.
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21. I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism.
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22. Don't be too quick to appoint anyone as an elder, and don't share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
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23. Don't continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
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24. Some people's sins are obvious, preceding them to judgment, but the sins of others surface later.
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25. Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden.
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