1 Timothy 5:4
 
1 Timothy 5:4
(KJV) But 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.
(1611 KJV) But if any widow haue children or nephewes, let them learne first to shew pietie at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
(1568 Bishops Bible) But yf any wydowe haue chyldren or nephewes, let them learne first to rule their owne houses godly, and to recompence also their elder kynsefolkes: for that is good and acceptable before God.
(1526 Tyndale) Yf eny wyddowe have chyldren or neves let them learne fyrst to rule their awne houses godly and to recompence their elders. For that is good and acceptable before God.
 
Counterfeit Versions
(1881 RV) But if any widow hath children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family, and to requite their parents: for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
(1901 ASV) But if any widow hath children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family, and to requite their parents: for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
(AMP) But if a widow has children or grandchildren, see to it that these are first made to understand that it is their religious duty [to defray their natural obligation to those] at home, and make return to their parents or grandparents [for all their care by contributing to their maintenance], for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
(CEB) But if a particular widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to respect their own family and repay their parents, because this pleases God.
(CEV) But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn to serve God by taking care of her, as she once took care of them. This is what God wants them to do.
(CSB) But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn to practice godliness toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God.
(Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition RC) But if any widow have children, or grandchildren, let her learn first to govern her own house, and to make a return of duty to her parents: for this is acceptable before God.
(ERV) But if a widow has children or grandchildren, the first thing they need to learn is this: to show their devotion to God by taking care of their own family. They will be repaying their parents, and this pleases God.
(ESV) But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.
(GNB) But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn first to carry out their religious duties toward their own family and in this way repay their parents and grandparents, because that is what pleases God.
(HCSB) But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must learn to practice godliness toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God.
(THE MESSAGE) If a widow has family members to take care of her, let them learn that religion begins at their own doorstep and that they should pay back with gratitude some of what they have received. This pleases God immensely.
(NASV) but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
(NCV) But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to do their duty to their own family and to repay their parents or grandparents. That pleases God.
(NIRV) But suppose a widow has children or grandchildren. They should first learn to put their faith into practice. They should care for their own family. In that way they will pay back their parents and grandparents. That pleases God.
(NIV) But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.
(NLV) If a woman whose husband has died has children or grandchildren, they are the ones to care for her. In that way, they can pay back to their parents the kindness that has been shown to them. God is pleased when this is done.
(NLT) But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God.
(RSV) If a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn their religious duty to their own family and make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
(NAB-Roman Catholic) But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let these first learn to perform their religious duty to their own family and to make recompense to their parents, for this is pleasing to God.
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let these learn first to practice godly devotion in their own household and to keep paying a due compensation to their parents and grandparents, for this is acceptable in God’s sight
 
Textus Receptus - Traditional Text
ει δε τις χηρα τεκνα η εκγονα εχει μανθανετωσαν πρωτον τον ιδιον οικον ευσεβειν και αμοιβας αποδιδοναι τοις προγονοις τουτο γαρ εστιν καλον και αποδεκτον ενωπιον του θεου
 
Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
ει δε τις χηρα τεκνα η εκγονα εχει μανθανετωσαν πρωτον τον ιδιον οικον ευσεβειν και αμοιβας αποδιδοναι τοις προγονοις τουτο γαρ εστιν αποδεκτον ενωπιον του θεου
 
Corrupted Manuscripts
This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:
Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century
C 04 - Ephraemi Rescriptus - Fifth century
D 06 - Paris: Claromontanus - Sixth century
K 018 - Ninth century
L 020 - Ninth century
P 025 - Ninth century
 
Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse
Stephanus (1550 A.D.)
 
Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions
Omit “good and” before “acceptable”
Greisbach, Johann - 1805
Lachmann, Karl - 1842
Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
Tregelles, Samuel - 1857
Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871
Wordsworth, Christopher - 1856 revised in 1870
Westcott and Hort - 1881
Weiss, Bernhard - 1894
Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941
Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition
Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition
United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition
Von Soden, Freiherr - 1902
Hodges and Farstad - Majority Text 1982 as corrected in 1985
 
Affected Teaching
Not only does God see requiting ones parents as an acceptable practice, He also condones it by calling it “good.” The word “good may be understood as a “beautiful or worthy thing.” There should have been no reason for this to be left out of the modern versions since it shows God giving approval for children helping out their parents in time of need. If there is one thing the family needs, it is encouragement to do the right thing.

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