Letters to the Churches

A faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.

For therefore we labour and are reviled, because we hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of the faithful.

These things command and teach:

Let no man despise thy youth: but be thou an example of the faithful, in word, in conversation, in charity, in faith, in chastity.

Till I come, attend unto reading, to exhortation and to doctrine.

Neglect not the grace that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with imposition of the hands of the priesthood.

Meditate upon these things, be wholly in these things: that thy profiting may be manifest to all.

Take heed to thyself and to doctrine: be earnest in them. For in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.

An ancient man rebuke not, but entreat him as a father: young men, as brethren:

Old women, as mothers: young women, as sisters, in all chastity.

Honour widows that are widows indeed.

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.

But she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, let her trust in God and continue in supplications and prayers night and day.

For she that liveth in pleasures is dead while she is living.

And this give in charge, that they may be blameless.

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.

Let a widow be chosen of no less than threescore years of age, who hath been the wife of one husband.

Having testimony for her good works, if she have brought up children, if she have received to harbour, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have ministered to them that suffer tribulation, if she have diligently followed every good work.

But the younger widows avoid. For when they have grown wanton in Christ, they will marry:

Having damnation, because they have made void their first faith.

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.

I will, therefore, that the younger should marry, bear children, be mistresses of families, give no occasion to the adversary to speak evil.

For some are already turned aside after Satan.

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.

Let the priests that rule well be esteemed worthy of double honour: especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.