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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - 1 Timothy 5:17 - 5:22
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1Ti_5:17-22
17The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing," and "The laborer is worthy of his wages." 19Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. 20Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. 21I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality. 22Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.
1Ti_5:17 "elders" The term "elder" (presbuteros) was an OT designation of leadership, while the term "overseer" (episkopos, cf. 1Ti_3:1) was a Greek city-state designation of leadership. These two terms are used synonymously in the NT (cf. Act_20:17; Act_20:28 and 1Pe_5:1-2, where elder is used of pastors and also Tit_1:5; Tit_1:7, where elder and overseer are used of the same leader).
The NT cannot be used to establish a divine church polity. It records all three developed forms.
1. episcopalian (James as authoritative leader)
2. presbyterian (a group of elders reviewed)
3. congregational (the congregations voted)
The plural here and in Act_20:17 and Tit_1:5 could possibly point toward house churches. The early church did not have separate buildings until the third century. No one home was large enough to accommodate all the believers, therefore, different Christian homes around the larger cities opened their doors for the regular meetings of the Christian community. This approach also protected the church from being arrested all at once.
Exactly how the leadership of a city with several house churches was organized is unclear. As the church grew, organization was needed. The form of that organization is not as crucial as the godliness of the leaders.
▣ "worthy of double honor" This is a present passive imperative. It can refer to salary (cf. Gal_6:6) or to esteem (cf. 1Th_5:12-13). The following context of 1Ti_5:18 suggests salary.
▣ "especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching" Elders are always mentioned in the plural in the NT, which seems to imply several local house churches in the larger cities like Ephesus (cf. Act_20:17 ff). Pastors were to be able to teach as well as preach (cf. 1Ti_3:2; 2Ti_2:24; Eph_4:11).
Some leaders have one spiritual gift and others another. Leaders must focus on their giftedness and allow other gifted Christians to pick up the slack. Some believers are wonderfully gifted for leadership, often in several ways. Those who function in several areas need to be rewarded for their efforts and protected by the church in their areas of ineffectiveness. We as the body of Christ rejoice in the giftedness of our members, but we also need to remember that we desperately need one another (cf. 1Co_12:7)!
1Ti_5:18 "For the Scripture says" This is a quote from Deu_25:4. It is also quoted in 1Co_9:6-7; 1Co_9:14. The uniqueness of 1Ti_5:18 is that the OT is quoted on the same standing as a NT quote that we find codified in Luk_10:7 ("the laborer is worthy of his wages"). This shows Paul's view not only of the inspiration of the OT, but of the equality of the emerging NT (also note how Peter does this same thing to Paul's writings, cf. 2Pe_3:15-16).
Paul's affirming the concept of a paid leadership is very interesting.
1. Following his Jewish heritage, he did not usually take money from those he taught (Philippi and Thessalonika were the exceptions).
2. This very issue had been used by false teachers to attack Paul (as in Corinth cf. 2Co_11:7-9; 2Co_12:13).
3. There is probably some connection with this brief statement and the teaching of the false teachers, but exactly what is not stated.
1Ti_5:19 "Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses" This is a present middle imperative with the negative particle, which usually means "stop an act in process." This reflects the turmoil and accusations caused by the false teachers.
The concept itself is from the writings of Moses (cf. Num_35:30; Deu_17:6; Deu_19:15).
1Ti_5:20 "those who continue in sin" Notice the present active participle. In context this refers to leaders who continue to sin (cf. 1Co_3:10-15). This is not necessarily a one-time act. Paul addresses the proper procedures for dealing with sinning believers in Rom_16:17-18; 1 Corinthians 5; Gal_6:1-5; 1Th_5:14; 2Th_3:6-15; 1Ti_1:20; 1Ti_5:19-20; and Tit_3:10-11.
▣ "rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning" This seems to speak of public (i.e., before the other elders or before the entire church) disciplinary actions (cf. Gal_2:14; Jas_5:16) which some elders took against others who had
1. overstepped their authority
2. promoted false teaching
3. engaged in other inappropriate actions
"Rebuke" is a common term in the Pastoral Letters (cf. 2Ti_4:2; Tit_1:9; Tit_1:13; Tit_2:15).
The "rest" may refer to
1. the other house churches
2. the other local elders
3. other believers
1Ti_5:21 "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels" This strong oath is found several times in the Pastoral Letters (cf. 1Ti_5:21; 1Ti_6:13; 2Ti_4:1; and in a related sense in 2Ti_2:14). Paul was serious about the authority and origin of his teachings.
▣ "His chosen angels" It is somewhat surprising that "chosen angels" are mentioned instead of the Holy Spirit. This is used in the sense of
1. those who minister to God's chosen people and who are present with them (cf. Psa_138:1; 1Co_4:9; Mat_18:10; Luk_9:26; and Heb_1:14)
2. those special angels near God's throne who are uniquely associated with His presence (in rabbinical literature, the seven angels of the presence)
This phrase is in direct contrast to Satan (cf. 1Ti_5:15).
▣ "to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality" Timothy is to have no favorites nor hold any grudges! The term "maintain" is the Greek word for "guard." As God guards us (cf. 2Th_3:2; Jud_1:24) and our inheritance (cf. 1Pe_1:4-5), we are to guard His truth! We must also guard ourselves against false teaching (cf. 2Ti_4:15; 2Pe_3:17; 1Jn_5:21).
Notice the covenant reciprocity: God keeps/guards us; believers must keep/guard His truth and themselves! It is possible that this charge to Timothy is related to the favoritism and partiality shown by the false teachers claiming to be an elite group or to have special knowledge or special freedoms.
1Ti_5:22 "Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily" This verse has three more present active imperatives. It has been interpreted in two ways: (1) to refer to ordination (cf. 1Ti_3:10; 1Ti_4:14) or (2) to refer to accepting and reinstating a repentant elder who has been publically reproved (cf. 1Ti_5:20). Number 2 seems to fit the context of 1Ti_5:24-25 and the historical context of false teachers best. See hyperlink at 1Ti_4:14.
▣ "share responsibility for the sins of others" This may refer to (1) ordaining too quickly (cf. 1Ti_3:6) or (2) restoring elders to leadership too quickly. Remember the context is the activities of the false teachers infiltrating the churches. Our actions can be interpreted by some as affirmation or approval of the errors of others (cf. 2Jn_1:11).
▣ "keep yourself free from sin" This is literally "keep yourself pure" (present active imperative, cf. 1Ti_4:12; 1Ti_5:2). Sin is
1. an attitude
2. an act
3. an association