1Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; 2The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. 3Honour widows that are widows indeed. 4But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. 5Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. 6But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. 7And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. 8But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 9Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, 10Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. 11But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; 12Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. 13And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. 14I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15For some are already turned aside after Satan. 16If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. 17Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. 19Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 20Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. 21I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. 22Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure. 23Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities. 24Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. 25Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.
信徒的責任
1不要斥責年長的，要像對待父親一樣勸他們；對待青年男子要情同手足； 2對待年長的婦女要情同母親；對待青年女子要心思純正，視她們如姊妹。
3要敬重和幫助那些真正有需要的寡婦。 4如果寡婦有兒孫，就要叫她們的兒孫在家中學習盡孝道，奉養她們，以報答養育之恩，這是上帝所悅納的。 5真正有需要、無依無靠的寡婦仰賴上帝的幫助，晝夜不住地禱告祈求。 6但貪圖享受的寡婦雖然活著，卻已經死了。 7你當教導眾人這些事，好叫他們無可指責。 8誰不照顧自己的親屬，尤其是不照顧自己的家人，就是違背真道，比不信的人還壞。
9列入名冊的寡婦必須年滿六十歲，在婚姻上從一而終， 10並且在善事上有好名聲，如教養兒女、接待外人、服侍聖徒、救助困苦、竭力做各種善事。
11不要把年輕的寡婦列入名冊，因為當她們情慾衝動，無法持守對基督的委身時，就想再嫁， 12以致違背了起初的誓言而受審判。 13況且，她們不僅懶散成性，四處串門，還說長道短，好管閒事，搬弄是非。 14所以，我建議年輕的寡婦再嫁，生兒育女，料理家務，不要給仇敵毀謗的機會， 15因為有些人已經偏離正道，去追隨撒旦了。 16女信徒的家裡若有寡婦，就應該自己照顧她們，免得加重教會的負擔，這樣教會才能照顧那些真正無依無靠的寡婦。
17那些善於管理教會的長老，尤其是那些辛勤傳道和教導人的，理當得到加倍的尊敬和報酬。 18因為聖經上說：「牛在踩穀時，不可籠住牠的嘴。」又說：「做工的得報酬是應該的。」 19若有人向你控告長老，必須有兩三個證人，否則不要受理。 20那些一直犯罪的人，你要當眾責備他們，以警戒眾人。
21我在上帝和主耶穌基督以及蒙揀選的眾天使面前吩咐你：要遵行這些話，不要有成見，不要偏心； 22為人行按手禮，不要操之過急。不要沾染別人的罪，要潔身自好。
23你的胃不好，經常生病，不要只喝水，要稍微喝一點酒。
24有些人的罪很明顯，自招審判，有些人的罪日後才暴露出來。 25同樣，有些善行很明顯，不明顯的也不會被長久埋沒。
