however, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.

But if anyone does not provide for his own, that is his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

Command this also, so they won’t be blamed.

No widow should be placed on the official support list unless she is at least 60 years old, has been the wife of one husband,

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.

But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry

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.

For some have already turned away to follow Satan.

Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will also be afraid.

Therefore, I want younger women to marry, have children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us.

and will therefore receive condemnation because they have renounced their original pledge.

If any believing woman has widows in her family, she should help them, and the church should not be burdened, so that it can help those who are genuinely widows.

Support widows who are genuinely widows.

Don’t be too quick to appoint anyone as an elder, and don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism.

older women as mothers, and with all propriety, the younger women as sisters.

The real widow, left all alone, has put her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers;

But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must learn to practice godliness toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God.

Some people’s sins are obvious, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others surface later.

Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden.

Don’t continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,

For the Scripture says:

Do not muzzle an ox
while it is treading out the grain, and,
the worker is worthy of his wages.

Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.