Skip to reading
Atomic Bible
1 Timothy

Chapter 5

Care, Honor, and Impartial Judgment

Paul gives Timothy instructions for dealing with men and women in the church as members of a household marked by respect and purity. He then gives careful directions about widows, family responsibility, support for elders, the handling of accusations, and the need for impartial judgment. The chapter closes with a solemn charge to Timothy to act without favoritism, a brief personal word about his health, and a reminder that both sins and good works eventually come to light.

After chapter 4's charge about Timothy's own life and teaching, this chapter widens the focus to the church's internal relationships and responsibilities. It shows that care, correction, and honor must all be governed by patience, discernment, and impartiality.

4 sections·509 words·~2 min read

Begin reading Zoom into first section
Reader

1 Timothy 5

A continuous BSB reading flow. Turn on the guide when you want authored orientation; leave it off when you simply want the text.

vv. 1-2

Reproof and Respect

Open section

D1o not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. 2Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

vv. 3-16

Honoring True Widows

Open section

H3onor the widows who are truly widows. 4But 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. 5The 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. 6But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive. 7Give these instructions to the believers, so that they will be above reproach. 8If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, faithful to her husband, 10and 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.

11But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry, 12and thus will incur judgment because they are setting aside their first faith. 13At 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. 14So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander. 15For some have already turned aside to follow Satan. 16If 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.

vv. 17-20

Honoring Elders

Open section

E17lders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”

19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 20But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.

vv. 21-25

A Charge to Timothy

Open section

I21 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. 22Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 23Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

24The sins of some men are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment; but the sins of others do not surface until later. 25In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even the ones that are inconspicuous cannot remain hidden.

Section map

Open the closer view when you want it.

Each section keeps the passage focused, adds summaries and cross references, and gives verse-level links.

  1. 01vv. 1-2Reproof and RespectPaul tells Timothy not to rebuke older men harshly, but to appeal to them as fathers, and to treat other men and women inside the church with the fitting regard of siblings and mothers. Even correction must move within the atmosphere of family respect and absolute purity.
  2. 02vv. 3-16Honoring True WidowsPaul distinguishes between widows who are truly alone and those whose families ought to care for them, insisting that family responsibility comes first and that the church's help be directed where the need is real. He describes the prayerful dependence and proven character that mark a widow worthy of enrollment, warns against enrolling younger widows, and ends by saying that believing families should relieve the church where they can so that true need is not neglected.
  3. 03vv. 17-20Honoring EldersPaul says elders who lead well, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching, are worthy of double honor, grounding that claim in Scripture. But he also insists on due process for accusations and on public rebuke when an elder persists in sin, so that the church honors leadership without surrendering holiness.
  4. 04vv. 21-25A Charge to TimothyPaul solemnly charges Timothy before God, Christ Jesus, and the elect angels to keep these principles without partiality. He warns him not to lay hands on anyone hastily or share in others' sins, briefly urges care for his own health, and reminds him that both sins and good works eventually reveal themselves, even when not immediately obvious.
Previous Chapter 4All 6 chapters in 1 TimothyNextChapter 6