1 Timothy 5:16

5:16 If a believing woman ¹  has widows in her family, ²  let her help them. The church should not be burdened, so that it may help the widows who are truly in need. ³ 

1 Timothy 6:1

6:1 Those who are under the yoke as slaves ⁴  must regard their own masters as deserving of full respect. This will prevent ⁵  the name of God and Christian teaching ⁶  from being discredited. ⁷ 

[5:16]  ¹ tc Most witnesses (D Ψ Ï sy) have πιστὸς ἤ (pisto" h) before πιστή (pisth), with the resultant meaning “if a believing man or woman.” But such looks to be a motivated reading, perhaps to bring some parity to the responsibilities of men and women listed here, and as a way of harmonizing with v. 4. Further, most of the earliest and best witnesses (א A C F G P 048 33 81 1175 1739 1881 co) lack the πιστὸς ἤ, strengthening the preference for the shorter reading.

[5:16]  ² tn Grk “has widows.”

[5:16]  ³ tn Grk “the real widows,” “those who are really widows.”

[6:1]  ⁴ tn Traditionally, “servants.” Though δοῦλος (doulos) is normally translated “servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. BDAG notes that “‘servant’ for ‘slave’ is largely confined to Biblical transl. and early American times…in normal usage at the present time the two words are carefully distinguished” (BDAG 260 s.v.). The most accurate translation is “bondservant” (sometimes found in the ASV for δοῦλος), in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force.

[6:1]  ⁵ tn Grk “that the name…may not be slandered” (a continuation of the preceding sentence).

[6:1]  ⁶ tn Grk “the teaching.”

[6:1]  ⁷ tn Or “slandered.”