to requite their (living) forebears

πρόγονος, ον (Hom. et al.) ‘born early’ or ‘before’ (Mel., HE 4, 26, 7) in our lit. only subst. in the pl. οἱ πρόγονοι (Pind.+; ins, pap, LXX; EpArist 19; Philo; Jos., Ant. 12, 150, C. Ap. 2, 157; Just.; Mel.; Ath. 30, 2, R. 16 p. 68, 9) parents, forebears, ancestors: ἀμοιβὰς ἀποδιδόναι τοῖς προγόνοις to requite their (living) forebears (i.e. parents/grandparents etc.) 1 Ti 5:4. ἀπὸ προγόνων from my ancestors = as my ancestors did (OGI 485, 3; 529, 1; IMagnMai 163, 2; 164, 3) 2 Ti 1:3.—B. 119. DELG s.v. γίγνομαι B p. 223. M-M.