He gives him lessons concerning widows, and how he is to behave to his
clergy.
5:1. An ancient man rebuke not, but entreat him as a father: young men,
as brethren:
5:2. Old women, as mothers: young women, as sisters, in all chastity.
5:3. Honour widows that are widows indeed.
5:4. But if any widow have children or grandchildren, let her learn
first to govern her own house and to make a return of duty to her
parents; for this is acceptable before God.
5:5. But she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, let her trust in God
and continue in supplications and prayers night and day.
5:6. For she that liveth in pleasures is dead while she is living.
5:7. And this give in charge, that they may be blameless.
5:8. But if any man have not care of his own and especially of those of
his house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel.
5:9. Let a widow be chosen of no less than threescore years of age, who
hath been the wife of one husband.
5:11. But the younger widows avoid. For when they have grown wanton in
Christ, they will marry:
5:12. Having damnation, because they have made void their first faith.
Their first faith.... Their vow, by which they had engaged themselves to
Christ.
5:13. And withal being idle they learn to go about from house to house:
and are not only idle, but tattlers also and busy bodies, speaking
things which they ought not.
5:14. I will, therefore, that the younger should marry, bear children,
be mistresses of families, give no occasion to the adversary to speak
evil.
5:15. For some are already turned aside after Satan.
5:16. If any of the faithful have widows, let him minister to them, and
let not the church be charged: that there may be sufficient for them
that are widows indeed.
5:17. Let the priests that rule well be esteemed worthy of double
honour: especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
5:18. For the scripture saith: Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that
treadeth out the corn: and, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
5:19. Against a priest receive not an accusation, but under two or three
witnesses.
5:20. Them that sin reprove before all that the rest also may have fear.
5:21. I charge thee, before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels,
that thou observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by
declining to either side.
5:22. Impose not hands lightly upon any man, neither be partaker of
other men's sins. Keep thyself chaste.
5:23. Do not still drink water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's
sake and thy frequent infirmities.
5:24. Some men's sins are manifest, going before to judgment: and some
men they follow after.
5:25. In like manner also good deeds are manifest: and they that are
otherwise cannot be hid.