Survey
of the Letters of Paul: 1 Timothy 5:17
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially
they who labour in the word and doctrine.
It is to be noted what kind of elders are to be
especially honoured and rewarded. It is those who
toil in preaching and teaching. The elder whose
service consisted only in words and discussion and
argument is not in question here. Those whom the
Church really honoured were the ones who worked to
edify and build it up by preaching the truth and by
educating the young and the new converts in the
Christian way.
(2) It was Jewish law that no one should be
condemned on the evidence of a single witness: ‘A
single witness shall not suffice to convict a person
of any crime or wrongdoing in connection with any
offence that may be committed. Only on the evidence
of two or three witnesses shall a charge be
sustained’ (Deuteronomy 19:15). The Mishnah, the
codified Rabbinic law, in describing the process of
trial, says: ‘The second witness was likewise
brought in and examined. If the testimony of the two
was found to agree, the case for the defence was
opened.’ If a charge was supported by the evidence
of only one witness, it was held that there was no
case to answer.
Quoted verse:
Deuteronomy 19:15 but I will read verses 15 through 21. These scriptures
are linked clearly to the instructions in Matthew 18 or the "offending brother
resolution instructions." The God-given concepts are equal.
Deuteronomy 19:15-21
15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin,
in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of
three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
16 If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which
is wrong;
17 Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the
LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;
18 And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness
be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother:
so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.
20 And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no
more any such evil among you.
21 And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth
for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
In later times, church regulations laid it down that
the two witnesses must be Christian [Spirit-holding
firstfruits], for it would
have been easy for a malicious non-Christian to make
up a false charge against a Christian elder in order
to discredit him, and through him to discredit the
Church. In the early days, the Church authorities
did not hesitate to apply discipline; and Theodore
of Mopseuestia, one of the early fathers who lived
in the late fourth and early fifth centuries, points
out how necessary this regulation was, because the
elders were always liable to be disliked and were
especially open to malicious attack ‘due to the
retaliation by some who had been rebuked by them for
sin’. Those who had been disciplined might well seek
to get their own back by maliciously charging an
elder with some irregularity or some sin.
The fact remains that this would be a happier world
– and the Church, too, would be happier – if people
would realize that it is nothing less than sin to
spread stories of whose truth they are not sure.
Irresponsible, slanderous and malicious talk does
infinite damage and causes infinite heartbreak, and
such talk will not go unpunished by God.
(3) Those who persist in sin are to be publicly
rebuked [meaning within the congregation of
firstfruits]. That public rebuke had a double value. It
sobered sinners into a consideration of their ways,
and it made others take care that they did not
involve themselves in a similar humiliation. The
threat of publicity is no bad thing if it keeps
people on the right path, even through fear. A wise
leader will know the time to keep things quiet and
the time for public rebuke. But, whatever happens,
the Church must never give the impression that it is
condoning sin.
(4) Timothy is urged to administer his office
without favoritism or prejudice. The biblical
scholar B. S. Easton writes: ‘The well-being of
every community depends on impartial discipline.’
Nothing does more harm than when some people are
treated as if they could do no wrong and others as
if they could do no right. Justice is a universal
virtue, and the Church must surely never fall below
the impartial standards which even the world
demands.
(5) Timothy is warned not to be too hasty ‘in laying
hands on any man’. That may mean one of two things.
(a) It may mean that he is not to be too quick in
laying hands on any man to ordain him to office in
the Church. Before people gain promotion in
business, or in teaching, or in the army or the navy
or the air force, they must prove that they deserve
it. No one should ever start at the top. This is
doubly important in the Church, for those who are
raised to high office and then fail in it bring
dishonour, not only on themselves, but also on the
Church. In a critical world, the Church cannot be
too careful in regard to the kind of men and women
whom it
chooses as its leaders.
(b) In the early Church, it was the custom to lay
hands on a sinner who repented, who had given proof
of repentance and who had returned to the fold of
the Church. It is laid down: ‘As each sinner
repents, and shows the fruits of repentance, lay
hands on him, while all pray for him.’ The early
Church historian Eusebius tells us that it was the
ancient custom that repentant sinners should be
received back with the laying on of hands and with
prayer. If that is the meaning here, it will be a
warning to Timothy not to be too quick to receive
back anyone who has brought disgrace on the Church,
to wait until the individual has shown genuine
[repentance and invoking of Godly
principles-fruit] and a true determination to live according
to that declaration of repentance. That is not for a
moment to say that such a person is to be held at
arm’s length and treated with suspicion, but rather
to be treated with all sympathy and with all help
and guidance in the period of probation. But it is
to say that membership of the Church is never to be
treated lightly, and that people must show their
[repentance] for the past and their determination for
the future before they are received not into the
fellowship of the Church but into its membership.
The fellowship of the Church exists to help such
people redeem themselves, but its membership is for
those who have truly pledged their lives to Christ. ~Barclay Commentary
You will notice that the I have the word
"repentance" in brackets within the Barclay commentary. I replaced the misplaced
word, "Penance" which has a far different meaning from repentance. "Penance" is
defined as:
1] An act of self-mortification or devotion performed voluntarily to show sorrow
for a sin or other wrongdoing.
2] A sacrament in some Christian churches that includes contrition, confession
to a priest or elder, acceptance of punishment and absolution [remission of
sin imparted by the human priest or elder].
Repentance is the work of the Holy Spirit, rather than the self and the fruit
produced, the work of Jesus Christ in and through us by the power of the Holy
Spirit.
Clearly the Barclay is discussing all six verses [17-22], so let us get specific
about verse 17.
1 Timothy 5:17
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially
they who labour in the word and doctrine.
The verse is in primarily three parts:
1] Let the elders that rule well.
2] Be counted worthy of double honour
3] Especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
1] Let the elders that rule well.
Barnes Notes:
Let the elders that rule well - Greek, πρεσβύτεροι presbuteroi, Presbyters. The
apostle had given full instructions respecting bishops 1 Timothy 3:1-7 [see
lessons on each verse]; deacons 1 Timothy 3:8-13 [see
lessons on each verse]; widows 1 Timothy 5:3-16 [see
lessons on each verse]; and he here proceeds to prescribe the duty of
the church toward those who sustain the office of elder. The word used - “elder”
or “presbyter” - properly refers to age, and is then used to denote the officers
of the church, probably because the aged were at first entrusted with the
administration of the affairs of the church. The word was in familiar use among
the Jews to denote the body of men that presided in the synagogue. ~Barnes
Notes
Adam Clarke:
Let the elders that rule well - Elder is probably here the name of an
ecclesiastical officer, similar to what we now term presbyter. Dr. Macknight has
remarked that, “in the first age, the name πρεσβυτερος, elder, was given to all
who exercised any sacred office in the Church, as is plain from Acts 20:28,
where the persons are called επισκοποι, bishops, who, Acts 20:17, were called
πρεσβυτεροι, elders. The same thing appears from Titus 1:5, where those are
called elders who, Titus 1:7, are named bishops; and from
1 Timothy 4:14, where, collectively, all who
held sacred offices in Lystra are called πρεσβυτεριον, the presbytery or
eldership, and are said to have concurred with St. Paul in setting Timothy apart
to the ministry.” ~ Adam Clarke
Quoted verses:
Acts 20:28
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the
Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath
purchased with his own blood.
Acts 20:17
And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
Titus 1:5
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things
that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
Titus 1:7
For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon
angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre.
Jamieson, Fausset, Brown ...for "rule well"
Rule well - literally, “preside well,” with wisdom, ability, and loving
faithfulness, over the flock assigned to them. ~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown
People's New Testament:
Let the elders that rule well. - The officials called "bishops"
in
1 Timothy 3:2, are here called elders.
~People's New Testament
Quoted verse ...and I will read:
1 Timothy 3:2-5
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of
good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a
brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all
gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of
the church of God?)
2] Be counted worthy of double honour.
Jamieson, Fausset, Brown:
be counted worthy of double honour — that is, the honor which is expressed by
gifts and otherwise. If a presbyter as such, in virtue of his office, is already
worthy of honor, he who rules well is doubly so [Wiesinger] (1 Corinthians 9:14;
Galatians 6:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:12). Not literally that a presbyter who rules
well should get double the salary of one who does not rule well [Alford], or of
a presbyteress widow, or of the deacons [Chrysostom]. “Double” is used for large
in general (Revelation 18:6).
Quoted verses:
1 Corinthians 9:14 ...ruling well
Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all
good things.
Galatians 6:6 ...ruling well
Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all
good things.
1 Thessalonians 5:12 ...ruling well
And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over
you in the Lord, and admonish you;
Revelation 18:6 ..."Double" is used for large in general
Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her
works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. ~Jamieson,
Fausset, Brown
Barnes Notes:
Be counted worthy of double honour - Of double respect; that is, of a high
degree of respect; of a degree of respect becoming their age and office;.
~Barnes Notes
John Gill: ...who expands on the meaning
counted worthy of double honour - which some understand of honour in this world,
and in the world to come, and which they have; they are honoured now by Christ,
though reproached by the world, by being called unto, qualified for, and
succeeded in the work of the ministry; and when they have faithfully discharged
it, they will be honoured by him hereafter, and be introduced into his joy with
commendation, and shine as the stars for ever and ever. But rather this is to be
understood both of that outward respect that is to be shown them by words and
actions; and of a sufficient maintenance that is to be provided for them; in
which sense the word "honour" is used in this chapter before; ~John Gill
3] Especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
John Gill:
Especially they who labour in the word and doctrine - which lies in a constant
reading of the Scriptures, the word of God, and diligently searching into them,
and comparing them together, in order to find out the mind and will of God in
them; in a daily meditation upon them, and study of them; and in frequent and
fervent wrestling with God, or prayer to him, to give an understanding of them;
and in endeavouring to find out the sense of difficult passages, which are hard
to be understood; and in providing for the different cases and circumstances of
hearers, that everyone may have a portion; and in the choice of apt and proper
words to express truth in, to the capacities of all: this is labouring in the
word in private; besides which there is labouring in doctrine, in public; in
preaching the Gospel constantly, boldly, and faithfully; in holding it fast
against all opposition, and in defending it by argument, both by word and
writing. ~John Gill