1 Timothy 5:14

Translations

Modern

So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.

Traditional

I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

Literal

Therefore I intend for younger ones to marry, to bear children, to manage their households, to give the one opposing no occasion in favor of reviling.

Latin

Volo ergo juniores nubere, filios procreare, matresfamilias esse, nullam occasionem dare adversario maledicti gratia.

Original

Greek

English

So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.

Notes

1 Timothy 5:14

Paul advises younger widows to marry again and to marry Christians (5:11–12; see also 2:15).
denying the adversary occasion for slander: Their actions were harming their testimony for the good news about Jesus (see 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12; Titus 2:8).

1 Timothy 5:11–15

Younger widows who could still have children needed a different approach. Paul worried that false teachers were leading them into error.

1 Timothy 5:3–16

A widow without wealth or family was alone in a world that did not support her. The Christian community was expected to care for such widows among its members (see Deuteronomy 10:17–19; Isaiah 1:17; compare Acts 6:1–6; James 1:27). Some suggest this passage implies a religious order of widows in the first-century AD church at Ephesus. However, there is no obvious evidence of such an order, only of a ministry to help community members without financial means.

1 Timothy 5:1–6:2

Proper behavior in God's spiritual household involves everyone, including:

the old and young (5:1–2),
widows (5:3–16),
old people (5:17–25), and
slaves (6:1–2a).

Showing respect within the household goes beyond social boundaries.

Theme notes and profiles

Paul (Saul) Concern for the Poor Social Justice

Related verses

Titus 2:5
…to be self-controlled, pure, managers of their households, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be discredited.
1 Timothy 6:1
All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of honor, so that God’s name and our teaching will not be discredited.
Proverbs 31:27–29
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Titus 2:8
…and wholesome speech that is above reproach, so that anyone who opposes us will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us.
1 Corinthians 7:8–9
Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.
1 Timothy 4:3
They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
Proverbs 14:1
Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
Daniel 6:4
Thus the administrators and satraps sought a charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no charge or corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him.
2 Corinthians 11:12
But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things of which they boast.
Genesis 18:9
“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked. “There, in the tent,” he replied.
Romans 14:13
Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.

1 Timothy 5:14

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