2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. 3 Honor the widows who are truly widows. 4 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 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 But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive. 7 Give these instructions to the believers, so that they will be above reproach. 8 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 A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, the wife of one man, 10 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 But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry, 12 and thus will incur judgment because they are setting aside their first faith. 13 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.
1 Timothy 5:2–13
Semantically similar passages
Titus 2:2–4
2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, and sound in faith, love, and perseverance. 3 Older women, likewise, are to be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers or addicted to much wine, but teachers of good. 4 In this way they can train the you…
1 Timothy 3:10–12
10 Additionally, they must first be tested. Then, if they are above reproach, let them serve as deacons. 11 In the same way, the women must be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in all things. 12 A deacon must be the husband of but one wife, a good ma…
1 Timothy 2:9–11
9 Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty, and with self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess to worship God. 11 A woman must lear…
Polycarp to the Philippians 4:2–3
2 and then our wives also, to walk in the faith that hath been given unto them and in love and purity, cherishing their own husbands in all truth and loving all men equally in all chastity, and to train their children in the training of the fear of God. (POL) 3 Our wido… (POL)
Titus 1:10–12
10 For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced. For the sake of dishonorable gain, they undermine entire households and teach things they should not. 12 As one of their own prophets has said…
Titus 1:5–7
5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. 6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, having children who are believers and who are not open to accusatio…
1 Corinthians 7:7–9
7 I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. 8 Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. F…
Titus 3:13–15
13 Do your best to equip Zenas the lawyer and Apollos, so that they will have everything they need. 14 And our people must also learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet the pressing needs of others, so that they will not be unfruitful. 15 All who are wi…
Search the collection All books and codes Translations and sources