King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 10 notes
1Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
2The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
When it came to the sisters, all purity had to be added to the conditions.
3Honour widows that are widows indeed.
4But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
5Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
The church is not perfect 👌 and has never been, not even in the times of the Apostles.
Here we see some widows just taking advantage of the church system, meanwhile they had help elsewhere.
6But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
7And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
8But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
9Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,
10Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
So in helping widows, they ought to have contributed to the gospel work one way or another...
So doing same in our churches today is in order.
11But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
12Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
13And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
Ei hehehe... The gossip and busybodiness is everywhere.
14I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
15For some are already turned aside after Satan.
Ei really, like they were now serving Satan actively... Not just lured to sin, but now have given themselves over for Satan to use. LORD have mercy.
16If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
17Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
Amen... The labourer is worthy of his wages.
18For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
19Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
20Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
Public rebuke of sin is also sound doctrine, but of course should be done in wisdom and love.
21I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
22Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.
Purity is expected of the men of God.
So I pray, oh Lord, why do men of God fall and often completely drift from the faith by the time they've been in ministry some years?
23Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.
This instruction was purely for medicinal purposes and nothing else...
It is no excuse for Christians to get drunk.
24Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
25Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise can not be hid.
In essence, they that do evil and are not found out in this life would be in the afterlife.
The same with them that do good.
At the end of the day, we will all be brought to the light.