Inspire: 1 Timothy through Revelation - Flipbook - Page 12
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Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken
over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. 15 Give your
complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that
everyone will see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on how you live and on
your teaching.
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Stay true to what is right
for the sake of your own salvation
The younger widows should not be on the list, because their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Christ and they will want to remarry.
12 Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge. 13 And if they
are on the list, they will learn to be lazy and will spend their time gossiping
from house to house, meddling in other people’s business and talking about
things they shouldn’t.
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So I advise these younger widows
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to marry again, have children,
and the salvation
of those who hear you.
Advice about Widows, Elders, and Slaves
Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you
would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own
brothers. 2 Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger
women with all purity as you would your own sisters.
3 Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her. 4 But if she has
children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at
home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that
pleases God.
5 Now a true widow, a woman who is truly alone in this world, has placed
her hope in God.
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She prays night and day,
asking God for his help.
But the widow who lives only for pleasure is spiritually dead even while she
lives. 7 Give these instructions to the church so that no one will be open to
criticism.
8 But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own
household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.
9 A widow who is put on the list for support must be a woman who is at least
sixty years old and was faithful to her husband.
and take care of their own homes.
Then the enemy will not be able to say anything against them. 15 For I am afraid
that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan.
16 If a woman who is a believer has relatives who are widows, she must take
care of them and not put the responsibility on the church. Then the church
can care for the widows who are truly alone.
17 Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially
those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says,
“You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.”
And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!”
19 Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is confirmed by
two or three witnesses. 20 Those who sin should be reprimanded in front of
the whole church; this will serve as a strong warning to others.
I solemnly command you
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in the presence of
God and Christ Jesus
and the highest angels
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She must be well respected
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by everyone
because of the good she has done.
Has she brought up her children well? Has she been kind to strangers and
served other believers humbly? Has she helped those who are in trouble? Has
she always been ready to do good?
to obey these instructions
without taking sides or showing favoritism to anyone.
22 Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader. Do not share in the
sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
23 Don’t drink only water. You ought to drink a little wine for the sake of your
stomach because you are sick so often.
24 Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain
judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later.
25 In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good
deeds done in secret will someday come to light.
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All slaves should show full respect for their masters so they will not bring
shame on the name of God and his teaching. 2 If the masters are believers,
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