1 Timothy 5:16
 
1 Timothy 5:16
(KJV) If 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.
(1611 KJV) If any man or woman that beleeueth haue widowes, let them relieue them, and let not the Church be charged, that it may relieue them that are widowes indeed.
(1587 Geneva Bible) If any faithfull man, or faithfull woman haue widowes, let them minister vnto them, and let not the Church bee charged, that there may bee sufficient for them that are widowes in deede.
(1526 Tyndale) And yf eny man or woman that beleveth have widdowes let the minister vnto them and let not the congregacion be charged: that yt maye have sufficient for them that are widdowes in dede.
 
Counterfeit Versions
(1881 RV) If any woman that believeth hath widows, let her relieve them, and let not the church be burdened; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
(1901 ASV) If any woman that believeth hath widows, let her relieve them, and let not the church be burdened; that it mat relieve them that are widows indeed.
(CSB) If any believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it can help widows in genuine need.
(NIV) If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.
(NASV) If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed.
(THE MESSAGE) Any Christian woman who has widows in her family is responsible for them. They shouldn't be dumped on the church. The church has its hands full already with widows who need help.
(NLT) If a woman who is a believer has relatives who are widows, she must take care of them and not put the responsibility on the church. Then the church can care for the widows who are truly alone.
(ESV) If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.
(CEV) If a woman who is a follower has any widows in her family, she should help them. This will keep the church from having that burden, and then the church can help widows who are really in need.
(NCV) If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should care for them herself. The church should not have to care for them. Then it will be able to take care of those who are truly widows.
(CEB) If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should take care of them and not burden the church so that it can help other widows who are truly needy.
(HCSB) If any believing woman has widows, she should help them, and the church should not be burdened, so that it can help those who are genuinely widows.
(RSV) If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her assist them; let the church not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are real widows.
(NAB-Roman Catholic) If any woman believer has widowed relatives, she must assist them; the church is not to be burdened, so that it will be able to help those who are truly widows.
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) If any believing woman has widows, let her relieve them, and let the congregation not be under the burden. Then it can relieve those who are actually widows.
 
Textus Receptus - Traditional Text
ει τις πιστος η πιστη εχει χηρας επαρκειτω αυταις και μη βαρεισθω η εκκλησια ινα ταις οντως χηραις επαρκεση
 
Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
ει τις πιστη εχει χηρας επαρκειτω αυταις και μη βαρεισθω η εκκλησια ινα ταις οντως χηραις επαρκεση
 
Corrupted Manuscripts
This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:
 
Omit “man”
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century
C 04 - Ephraemi Rescriptus - Fifth century
P 025 - Ninth century
33 (Minuscule) - Ninth Century
048 - Fifth century
 
Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse
 
Includes “man”
D 06 - Paris: Claromontanus - Sixth century
K 018 - Ninth century
L 020 - Ninth century (APG)
Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)
 
Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions
Omit “man or” before “woman”
Lachmann, Karl - 1842
Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
Tregelles, Samuel - 1857
Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871
Westcott and Hort - 1881
Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941
Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition
United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition
 
Affected Teaching
In this verse Paul had summarized his instructions concerning the care of widows. The modern versions have completely removed this responsibility from the men and placed it totally on the women, in fact, the modern versions take the word “them” and changes it into “her”. They take a third person plural word and turn it into a second person singular. The Greek text expressly states both men and women are to partake in the responsibility. When the Lord Jesus Christ was on the cross, He committed the care of His earthly mother Mary to the Apostle John. Jesus had half brothers and sisters but they had probably abandoned Mary and Jesus in fear of the Romans and the Pharisees. If a man loses his father to death thus making his mother a widow, the modern versions absolve him from all responsibility to care for her and this chapter in Timothy is expressing family relationships. The family is to take care of a widow so the church is not burdened. The church was to care for widows who had no family at all but if there was family still living, then they were to care for the widow. The modern versions have ruined the real meaning of this verse too.

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