Lesson sequence
1 Timothy 5: Reproof and Respect
1 Timothy 5:1–2; 1 Timothy 5:3–16; 1 Timothy 5:17–20; 1 Timothy 5:21–25
These two verses give direct guidance for how to address four groups: older men, younger men, older women and younger women. The wording uses family comparisons to shape a respectful and pure way of speaking and relating. This lesson also brings together Honoring True Widows, Honoring Elders, A Charge to Timothy.
Before you teach
In 1 Timothy 5:1-2, the book title shows a letter setting, and these verses present short instructions rather than a story. The passage names four groups and explains how each should be approached, with clear stress on respectful appeal and purity.
Describe the central teaching of 1 Timothy 5: Reproof and Respect, using two details from the reading. This passage teaches that people should be approached with family-like respect, and younger women with all purity. Believers are to honour widows carefully, with family members relieving their own relatives and the assembly supporting those who are truly left alone. Church elders are to be honoured for faithful work, yet they are also to be held accountable with fairness and seriousness. This passage instructs Timothy to act without partiality, keep himself pure, and remember that both sin and good works may become clear over time.
Your lesson sequence
Use the teaching outline below for each session, with these reading and activity choices.
Reproof and Respect
1 Timothy 5:1–2
This passage teaches that people should be approached with family-like respect, and younger women with all purity.
Try together: Use the evidence sheet for 1 Timothy 5:1–2. Record key details, compare the opening and closing of this reading, and prepare a short explanation with a supporting Bible reference for each point.
Honoring True Widows
1 Timothy 5:3–16
Believers are to honour widows carefully, with family members relieving their own relatives and the assembly supporting those who are truly left alone.
Try together: Use the evidence sheet for 1 Timothy 5:3–16. Record key details, compare the opening and closing of this reading, and prepare a short explanation with a supporting Bible reference for each point.
Honoring Elders
1 Timothy 5:17–20
Church elders are to be honoured for faithful work, yet they are also to be held accountable with fairness and seriousness.
Try together: Use the evidence sheet for 1 Timothy 5:17–20. Record key details, compare the opening and closing of this reading, and prepare a short explanation with a supporting Bible reference for each point.
A Charge to Timothy
1 Timothy 5:21–25
This passage instructs Timothy to act without partiality, keep himself pure, and remember that both sin and good works may become clear over time.
Try together: Use the evidence sheet for 1 Timothy 5:21–25. Record key details, compare the opening and closing of this reading, and prepare a short explanation with a supporting Bible reference for each point.
Welcome: 1 Timothy 5: Reproof and Respect
4 minIntroduce “Reproof and Respect”, “Honoring True Widows”, “Honoring Elders”, “A Charge to Timothy” and locate 1 Timothy 5:1–2; 1 Timothy 5:3–16; 1 Timothy 5:17–20; 1 Timothy 5:21–25. This passage teaches that people should be approached with family-like respect, and younger women with all purity. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for. Choose the reading for today’s session from the sequence above.
1 Timothy 5:1, 1 Timothy 5:2
Read and explain the passage
8 minReproof and Respect (1 Timothy 5:1–2): Verse 1 begins with a contrast: “Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father.” The instruction does not simply say to stay silent. It changes the manner of address. “Exhort” means urging or appealing, and “as a father” shows that honour should shape the way an older man is approached.
Honoring True Widows (1 Timothy 5:3–16): The passage opens by saying, “Honor widows who are widows indeed.” It then adds an important distinction. If a widow has children or grandchildren, they are to show piety toward their own family and repay their parents. The text says this family care is acceptable in the sight of God.
Honoring Elders (1 Timothy 5:17–20): The passage begins by saying elders who "rule well" are worthy of "double honor". In this setting, honour includes real recognition, because the next verse speaks about wages. Special notice is given to elders who work hard in "the word and in teaching", showing that teaching ministry matters greatly.
A Charge to Timothy (1 Timothy 5:21–25): Timothy is commanded in the sight of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the chosen angels. That gives the instruction great weight. He is to observe these things without prejudice and do nothing by partiality. The verse focuses on fairness, warning against decisions shaped by favour or bias.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Reproof and Respect”, “Honoring True Widows”, “Honoring Elders”, “A Charge to Timothy”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
1 Timothy 5:1, 1 Timothy 5:3, 1 Timothy 5:4, 1 Timothy 5:17, 1 Timothy 5:18, 1 Timothy 5:21
Discuss the details and their meaning
6 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “What action replaces rebuking an older man in verse 1?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. This passage instructs Timothy to act without partiality, keep himself pure, and remember that both sin and good works may become clear over time. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
1 Timothy 5:1, 1 Timothy 5:19, 1 Timothy 5:20, 1 Timothy 5:21
Make and respond: Message and response chart
9 minWork on “1 Timothy 5: Reproof and Respect: Message and response chart”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Reproof and Respect”, “Honoring True Widows”, “Honoring Elders”, “A Charge to Timothy” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
1 Timothy 5:1, 1 Timothy 5:13, 1 Timothy 5:25
Closing: return to A Charge to Timothy
3 minRevisit 1 Timothy 5:21–25. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about A Charge to Timothy and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
1 Timothy 5:21, 1 Timothy 5:23, 1 Timothy 5:25
Questions to explore
What action replaces rebuking an older man in verse 1?
Notice the contrast in 1 Timothy 5:1 between “Don’t rebuke” and the instruction that follows, along with the family comparison.
1 Timothy 5:1
What two safeguards appear in verses 19 and 20 when an elder is accused of wrong?
One safeguard concerns witnesses before an accusation is received, and the other concerns what happens when sin is established.
1 Timothy 5:19, 1 Timothy 5:20
Why does the command in verse 21 sound so serious?
Notice who is named as witnessing the charge and how that gives weight to the instruction about prejudice and partiality.
1 Timothy 5:21
Make, think or respond
1 Timothy 5: Reproof and Respect: Message and response chart
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- coloured pencils or crayons
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “Instruction or encouragement”, “Reason given”, “Verse reference”.
- Read 1 Timothy 5:1–2; 1 Timothy 5:3–16; 1 Timothy 5:17–20; 1 Timothy 5:21–25. Use “Reproof and Respect”, “Honoring True Widows”, “Honoring Elders”, “A Charge to Timothy” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Talk through your notes with an adult. Add a word, drawing or short quotation that helps you remember each part.
- Choose one instruction or encouragement and write a practical response, explaining its connection with the reading.
The finished sheet keeps the details of 1 Timothy 5: Reproof and Respect connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, read the selected verses aloud, prepare the three panels and let them respond with drawings or a few words. Use Reproof and Respect as the retelling prompt.
- For older children, add verse references to the response sheet and explain a connection between Reproof and Respect and the final part of the reading.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read 1 Timothy 5:1–2; 1 Timothy 5:3–16; 1 Timothy 5:17–20; 1 Timothy 5:21–25. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
1 Timothy 5
1 Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brothers;
2 the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity.
3 Honor widows who are widows indeed.
4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety toward their own family and to repay their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
5 Now she who is a widow indeed and desolate, has her hope set on God and continues in petitions and prayers night and day.
6 But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives.
7 Also command these things, that they may be without reproach.
8 But if anyone doesn’t provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 Let no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man,
10 being approved by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, and if she has diligently followed every good work.
11 But refuse younger widows, for when they have grown wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,
12 having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge.
13 Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.
14 I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for insulting.
15 For already some have turned away after Satan.
16 If any man or woman who believes has widows, let them relieve them, and don’t let the assembly be burdened, that it might relieve those who are widows indeed.
17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.
18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain.” And, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
19 Don’t receive an accusation against an elder except at the word of two or three witnesses.
20 Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear.
21 I command you in the sight of God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the chosen angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality.
22 Lay hands hastily on no one. Don’t be a participant in other people’s sins. Keep yourself pure.
23 Be no longer a drinker of water only, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.
24 Some men’s sins are evident, preceding them to judgment, and some also follow later.
25 In the same way also there are good works that are obvious, and those that are otherwise can’t be hidden.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.