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1Ti_5:19. The apostle now defines the proper conduct on Timothy’s part towards the presbyters who do not superintend the church καλῶς , but expose themselves to blame, thereby doing hurt to their official influence.
Κατὰ πρεσβυτέρου κατηγορίαν μὴ παραδέχου ] Chrysostom wrongly remarks on πρεσβυτέρου : οὐχὶ τὸ ἀξίωμα , ἀλλὰ τὴν ἡλικίαν . Timothy is not to receive an accusation ( κατηγορια , Luk_6:7; Joh_18:29) in order to decide regarding it, ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ ἐπὶ δύο ἢ τριῶν μαρτύρων . On the pleonasm, ἐκτὸς εἰ μή , see Lobeck, ad Phryn. p. 459; comp. 1Co_14:5; 1Co_15:2. Paul is here referring manifestly to the Mosaic law, Deu_19:15 (LXX.: ἐπὶ στόματος δύο μαρτύρων καὶ ἐπὶ στόματος τριῶν μαρτύρων στήσεται πᾶν ῥῆμα ); comp. Deu_17:6 ( ἐπὶ δυσὶ μάρτυσιν ἢ ἐπὶ τρισὶ μάρτυσι ). It is a question whether he does so in the sense—corresponding with the law—of ordaining that Timothy is only to receive an accusation against a presbyter when supported by the testimony of two or three witnesses (so de Wette,[189] Wiesinger, van Oosterzee, and in general most expositors); or whether here, as in Mat_18:16, there is only a somewhat general reference to the law, and it is merely said that Timothy is to receive the accusation only when brought before him in presence of two or three witnesses[190] (so Hofmann; comp., too, Winer, p. 351 [E. T. p. 469]; Buttmann, p. 289; ἐπὶ μαρτύρων occurs also in the classics in the sense of “before witnesses”). As he is not speaking here of a decision, but only of the reception of an accusation (in order that a decision may be made), and as the construction also is irregular, the second view may be adopted as the more probable one (different in the third edition of this commentary). Reference to the law is made in the N. T. also at Mat_18:16; 2Co_13:1, and Heb_10:28; comp., too, Joh_8:17.
[189] De Wette’s question, whether Timothy was not to observe this precept of justice in the case of accusations against others, is not to the point. Timothy was not appointed judge over all matters of private dispute.
[190] The suitability of such a precept is manifest when we consider the position which Timothy had to take up towards the presbyters; comp. on this Hofmann.