5:8

In Greek this verse is connected to the previous verse with a particle, de. Here this particle indicates a contrast between Paul’s instructions in 5:7 and the behavior he described in 5:8a. Many English versions leave this connection implicit. But you should express this contrast in the way that is most natural in your language.

5:8a

anyone: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as anyone stresses that both males and females had the responsibility to provide for their relatives.

provide for: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as provide for refers to making sure that people have the basic necessities of life, such as food, water, clothing, and shelter.

his own: This phrase seems to refer to a wider circle of relatives than the term that Paul used in 5:8b, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as “his own household.”

5:8b

his own household: That is, those of his own immediate family. In the context, this term especially refers to a believer’s widowed mother or grandmother. See 5:4a and 5:4c.

5:8c

denied the faith: In this context, the expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as denied the faith refers to a person whose actions contradict what he says that he believes. That is, the person may say he is a believer, but he does not care for his family in the way a believer should.

the faith: That is, the Christian religion or body of Christian teaching. See the note on the faith in 3:9.

5:8d

worse than an unbeliever: Paul included this phrase to remind the believers that even unbelievers normally cared for their widowed relatives. Therefore, people who called themselves believers should care for their widowed relatives. If they did not, they were behaving in a way that was worse than unbelievers.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.