1Rebuke not an Elder, but exhort him as a father, and the yonger men as brethren,
2The elder women as mothers, the yonger as sisters, with all purenesse.
3Honour widowes, which are widowes in deede.
4But if any widowe haue children or nephewes, let them learne first to shewe godlinesse towarde their owne house, and to recompense their kinred: for that is an honest thing and acceptable before God.
5And shee that is a widowe in deede and left alone, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and praiers night and day.
6But shee that liueth in pleasure, is dead, while shee liueth.
7These things therefore warne them of, that they may be blamelesse.
8If there bee any that prouideth not for his owne, and namely for them of his housholde, hee denieth the faith, and is worse then an infidell.
9Let not a widow be taken into the number vnder three score yeere olde, that hath beene the wife of one husband,
10And well reported of for good woorkes: if shee haue nourished her children, if shee haue lodged the strangers, if shee haue washed the Saintes feete, if shee haue ministred vnto them which were in aduersitie, if shee were continually giuen vnto euery good woorke.
11But refuse the yonger widowes: for when they haue begun to waxe wanton against Christ, they will marrie,
12Hauing damnation, because they haue broken the first faith.
13And likewise also being idle they learne to goe about from house to house: yea, they are not onely ydle, but also pratlers and busibodies, speaking things which are not comely.
14I will therefore that the yonger women marie, and beare children, and gouerne the house, and giue none occasion to the aduersary to speake euill.
15For certaine are alreadie turned backe after Satan.
16If any faithfull man, or faithfull woman haue widowes, let them minister vnto them, and let not the Church bee charged, that there may bee sufficient for them that are widowes in deede.
17The Elders that rule well, let them be had in double honour, specially they which labour in the worde and doctrine,
18For the Scripture sayeth, Thou shalt not mousell the mouth of the oxe that treadeth out the corne: and, The labourer is worthie of his wages.
19Against an Elder receiue none accusation, but vnder two or three witnesses.
20Them that sinne, rebuke openly, that the rest also may feare.
21I charge thee before God and the Lord Iesus Christ, and the elect Angels, that thou obserue these thinges without preferring one to an other, and doe nothing partially.
22Lay handes suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other mens sinnes: keepe thy selfe pure.
23Drinke no longer water, but vse a litle wine for thy stomakes sake, and thine often infirmities.
24Some mens sinnes are open before hand, and goe before vnto iudgement: but some mens folowe after.
25Likewise also the good woorkes are manifest before hande, and they that are otherwise, cannot be hid.