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1 Corinthians 4

Amplified Bible, 2015 (AMP)

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¹ for it is sanctified [set apart, dedicated to God] by means of the word of God and prayer.

² If you point out these instructions to the[1] brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished [through study] on the words of the faith and of the good [Christian] doctrine which you have closely followed.

³ But have nothing to do with irreverent folklore and silly myths. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness [keeping yourself spiritually fit].

⁴ For physical training is of some value, but godliness (spiritual training) is of value in everything and in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.

⁵ This is a faithful and trustworthy saying worthy of full acceptance and approval.

⁶ It is for this that we labor and strive [often called to account], because we have fixed our [confident] hope on the living God, who is the[2] Savior of all people, especially of those who believe [in Him, recognize Him as the Son of God, and accept Him as Savior and Lord].

⁷ Keep commanding and teaching these things.

⁸ Let no one look down on [you because of] your youth, but be an example and set a pattern for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in [moral] purity.

⁹ Until I come, devote yourself to public reading [of Scripture], to preaching and to teaching [the sound doctrine of God's word].

¹⁰ Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, [that special endowment] which was intentionally bestowed on you [by the Holy Spirit] through prophetic utterance when the[3] elders laid their hands on you [at your ordination].

¹¹ Practice and work hard on these things; be absorbed in them [completely occupied in your ministry], so that your progress will be evident to all.

¹² Pay close attention to yourself [concentrate on your personal development] and to your teaching; persevere in these things [hold to them], for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

¹³ Do not sharply reprimand an older man, but appeal to him as [you would to] a father, to younger men as brothers,

¹⁴ to older women as mothers, to younger women as sisters, in all purity [being careful to maintain appropriate relationships].

¹⁵ Honor and help those widows who are truly widowed [alone, and without support].

¹⁶ But if a widow has children or grandchildren [who are adults], see to it that these first learn to show great respect to their own family [as their religious duty and natural obligation], and to compensate their parents or grandparents [for their upbringing]; for this is acceptable and pleasing in the sight of God.

¹⁷ Now a woman who is really a widow and has been left [entirely] alone [without adequate income] trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.

¹⁸ Whereas she who lives for pleasure and self-indulgence is spiritually dead even while she still lives.

¹⁹ Keep instructing [the people to do] these things as well, so that they may be blameless and beyond reproach.

²⁰ If anyone fails to provide for his own, and especially for those of his own family, he has denied the faith [by disregarding its precepts] and is worse than an unbeliever [who fulfills his obligation in these matters].

²¹ A widow is to be put on the list [to receive regular assistance] only if she is over sixty years of age, [having been] the wife of one man,

#	AMP
1	for it is sanctified [set apart, dedicated to God] by means of the word of God and prayer.
2	If you point out these instructions to the[1] brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished [through study] on the words of the faith and of the good [Christian] doctrine which you have closely followed.
3	But have nothing to do with irreverent folklore and silly myths. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness [keeping yourself spiritually fit].
4	For physical training is of some value, but godliness (spiritual training) is of value in everything and in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.
5	This is a faithful and trustworthy saying worthy of full acceptance and approval.
6	It is for this that we labor and strive [often called to account], because we have fixed our [confident] hope on the living God, who is the[2] Savior of all people, especially of those who believe [in Him, recognize Him as the Son of God, and accept Him as Savior and Lord].
7	Keep commanding and teaching these things.
8	Let no one look down on [you because of] your youth, but be an example and set a pattern for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in [moral] purity.
9	Until I come, devote yourself to public reading [of Scripture], to preaching and to teaching [the sound doctrine of God's word].
10	Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, [that special endowment] which was intentionally bestowed on you [by the Holy Spirit] through prophetic utterance when the[3] elders laid their hands on you [at your ordination].
11	Practice and work hard on these things; be absorbed in them [completely occupied in your ministry], so that your progress will be evident to all.
12	Pay close attention to yourself [concentrate on your personal development] and to your teaching; persevere in these things [hold to them], for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
13	Do not sharply reprimand an older man, but appeal to him as [you would to] a father, to younger men as brothers,
14	to older women as mothers, to younger women as sisters, in all purity [being careful to maintain appropriate relationships].
15	Honor and help those widows who are truly widowed [alone, and without support].
16	But if a widow has children or grandchildren [who are adults], see to it that these first learn to show great respect to their own family [as their religious duty and natural obligation], and to compensate their parents or grandparents [for their upbringing]; for this is acceptable and pleasing in the sight of God.
17	Now a woman who is really a widow and has been left [entirely] alone [without adequate income] trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.
18	Whereas she who lives for pleasure and self-indulgence is spiritually dead even while she still lives.
19	Keep instructing [the people to do] these things as well, so that they may be blameless and beyond reproach.
20	If anyone fails to provide for his own, and especially for those of his own family, he has denied the faith [by disregarding its precepts] and is worse than an unbeliever [who fulfills his obligation in these matters].
21	A widow is to be put on the list [to receive regular assistance] only if she is over sixty years of age, [having been] the wife of one man,

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