5:7a

5:7 begins with the Greek connector kai that is often translated as “and” or “also.” Here, it probably means that Timothy should give these instructions “in addition to” the other instructions that Paul wanted Timothy to give to the believers.

Give these instructions to the believers: In the Greek text Paul did not say to whom Timothy was to give the instructions. The Berean Standard Bible has used the believers as the implicit object. There are two possibilities:

(1) Timothy was to give the instructions to the believers in general.

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), New Living Translation (2004 Revision), Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, Revised English Bible)

(2) Timothy was to give the instructions to the widows.

(New Jerusalem Bible, Good News Translation)

Most English translations follow the Greek text and do not include an object. Therefore they are ambiguous. See the Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, God’s Word, and NET Bible.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because in this context Paul was talking about the way that believers should help widows. Therefore it was more likely that he meant the instructions to be for the whole group of believers.

these instructions: The expression these instructions refers to Paul’s instructions about the widows in the preceding verses.

5:7b

so that they will be above reproach: This means, “so that other people will have no reason to criticize them.”

There are two ways to interpret the pronoun “they” in this context:

(1) It refers to the believers.

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), New Century Version, Contemporary English Version)

(2) It refers to the widows.

(New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, God’s Word, probably also Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). In 5:7a Paul told Timothy to command the believers to care for widows. Therefore, when Paul mentioned they here he was probably referring generally to believers and saying that no believer should be open to blame.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.