Letters to the Churches

stedfast is the word, and of all acceptation worthy;

for for this we both labour and are reproached, because we hope on the living God, who is Saviour of all men--especially of those believing.

Charge these things, and teach;

let no one despise thy youth, but a pattern become thou of those believing in word, in behaviour, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity;

till I come, give heed to the reading, to the exhortation, to the teaching;

be not careless of the gift in thee, that was given thee through prophecy, with laying on of the hands of the eldership;

of these things be careful; in these things be, that thy advancement may be manifest in all things;

take heed to thyself, and to the teaching; remain in them, for this thing doing, both thyself thou shalt save, and those hearing thee.

An aged person thou mayest not rebuke, but be entreating as a father; younger persons as brethren;

aged women as mothers, younger ones as sisters--in all purity;

honour widows who are really widows;

and if any widow have children or grandchildren, let them learn first to their own house to show piety, and to give back a recompense to the parents, for this is right and acceptable before God.

And she who is really a widow and desolate, hath hoped upon God, and doth remain in the supplications and in the prayers night and day,

and she who is given to luxury, living--hath died;

and these things charge, that they may be blameless;

and if any one for his own--and especially for those of the household--doth not provide, the faith he hath denied, and than an unbeliever he is worse.

A widow--let her not be enrolled under sixty years of age, having been a wife of one husband,

in good works being testified to: if she brought up children, if she entertained strangers, if saints' feet she washed, if those in tribulation she relieved, if every good work she followed after;

and younger widows be refusing, for when they may revel against the Christ, they wish to marry,

having judgment, because the first faith they did cast away,

and at the same time also, they learn to be idle, going about the houses; and not only idle, but also tattlers and busybodies, speaking the things they ought not;

I wish, therefore, younger ones to marry, to bear children, to be mistress of the house, to give no occasion to the opposer to reviling;

for already certain did turn aside after the Adversary.

If any believing man or believing woman have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the assembly be burdened, that those really widows it may relieve.

The well-leading elders of double honour let them be counted worthy, especially those labouring in word and teaching,