Survey of the Letters of Paul:  1 Timothy 5:22

1 Timothy 5:22
Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.

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

Now to the commentaries.

We can readily see the verse is in three parts:

1] Lay hands suddenly on no man.
2] Neither be partaker of other men's sins.
3] Keep thyself pure.


1] Lay hands suddenly on no man.

Lay hands suddenly on no man. - "All the old commentators, and the great majority of modern ones, applies this to ordination." The meaning is that no man must be ordained to office until his fitness is surely known. ~People's New Testament

Lay hands suddenly on no man - Do not hastily appoint any person to the sacred ministry: let the person be well proved before he receives the imposition of hands. Some understand this of laying hands on the sick. ~Adam Clarke

Lay hands suddenly on no man - The obvious meaning is to refer it to ordination. It was usual to lay the hands on the heads of those who were ordained to a sacred office, or appointed to perform an important duty. The idea here is, that Timothy should not be hasty in an act so important as that of introducing people to the ministry. He should take time to give them a fair trial of their piety; he should have satisfactory evidence of their qualifications. He should not at once introduce a man to the ministry because he gave evidence of piety, or because he burned with an ardent zeal, or because he thought himself qualified for the work. It is clear from this that the apostle regarded Timothy as having the right to ordain to the ministry; but not that he was to ordain alone, or as a prelate. The injunction would be entirely proper on the supposition that others were to be associated with him in the act of ordaining. ~Barnes Notes

2] Neither be partaker of other men's sins.

Neither be partaker of other men’s sins - This is evidently to be interpreted in connection with the injunction “to lay hands suddenly on no man.” The meaning, in this connection, is, that Timothy was not to become a participant in the sins of another by introducing him to the sacred office. He was not to invest one with a holy office who was a wicked man or a heretic, for this would be to sanction his wickedness and error. If we ordain a man to the office of the ministry who is known to be living in sin, or to cherish dangerous error, we become the patrons of the sin and of the heresy. We lend to it the sanction of our approbation; and give to it whatever currency it may acquire from the reputation which we may have, or which it may acquire from the influence of the sacred office of the ministry. Hence, the importance of caution in investing anyone with the ministerial office. But while Paul meant, doubtless, that this should be applied particularly to ordination to the ministry, he has given it a general character. In no way are we to participate in the sins of other people. We are not to be engaged with them in doing wrong; we are not to patronize them in a wicked business; we are not to be known as their companions or friends; and we are not to partake of their unlawful gains. We are not to lend money, or a boat, or a horse, or a pistol, or a bowie-knife, for an unlawful business; we are not to furnish capital for the slave-trade, or for an enterprise that contemplates the violation of the Sabbath. ~Barnes Notes

Neither be partaker of other men’s sins - It is a sin for any improper person to thrust himself into the sacred office; and he partakes of that sin who introduces, helps him forward, or sanctions him in it. O, what an account will rash, undiscerning, and prejudiced bishops, presbyters, and others, have to render to God for their ordinations! Their laying rash or careless hands “on skulls that cannot teach, and will not learn;” while probably they refuse inducting others well qualified for the Christian ministry. ~Adam Clarke

Neither be partaker of other men's sins - of any of the members of the church; by doing the same, joining with them therein, or by consenting to them and taking pleasure in them, as done by others; by conniving at them, and not restraining them, nor reproving for them: or rather this refers to rash and hasty ordinations of ministers; and either regards the sins of those who lay hands suddenly on men, and with whom the apostle would not have Timothy join, that he might not be a partner in their sins; or else the sins of those that are ordained, and these, whether before or after their ordination; which such involve themselves in, who either rashly and ignorantly ordain such persons; and much more if they do it, knowing them to be such: and these sins may include both immorality and error; see 2 John 1:10-11. Keep thyself pure; not from his own sins, the sin of nature, indwelling sin, and actual transgressions; no man is, or can be pure, from either of these; nor can any man keep himself; Christ only is able to keep them from falling. But the apostle's meaning is, that he should keep himself pure from the sins of others, by not rashly and suddenly admitting any into the ministry; just as the apostle was pure from the blood of all men, by faithfully preaching the Gospel; so he suggests that Timothy would be pure from partaking of other men's sins, by observing a strict discipline in the house of God. Some refer this to chastity of body, in opposition to the sin of uncleanness, which his youthful age and the temptations about him might expose him to the danger of; and which is scandalous and infamous in a minister of the word. Which sense serves to show the connection of the following words, which otherwise seem to stand unconnected. ~John Gill

Quoted verse:
2 John 1:10-11
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Quotes and verses on choosing your friends wisely:

"In life you'll realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you, and some will teach you. But most importantly...some will bring out the best in you."

"In the garden of friendship is where we cultivate love. choose your friends wisely and the love that grows will be a blessing."

"Once you let go of negative people, Positive one appear."

"You become like the 5 people you spend the most time with."

Proverbs 18:24
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

John 15:14
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Proverbs 27:9
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

"The entire water of the sea can't sink a ship unless it gets inside the ship. Similarly, negativity of the world can't put you down unless you allow it to get inside you. Choose your friends wisely.

3] Keep thyself pure.

Keep thyself pure - Free from the sins of other men. ~People's New Testament

Keep thyself pure - Particularly, in regard to participation in the sins of others; generally, in all things - in heart, in word, in conduct. ~Barnes Notes

Keep thyself pure - From this and every other evil. ~Adam Clarke

Quotes on keeping yourself pure:

"We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves."

"Power is not alluring to pure minds." ~Thomas Jefferson

"Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue."

"The Bible is one of the greatest blessings bestowed by God on the children of men. It has God for its author; salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture for its matter. It is all pure."

"If you desire to be pure, have firm faith, and slowly go on with your devotional practices without wasting your energy in useless scriptural discussions and arguments. Your little brain will otherwise be muddled."

Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

The commentary:

Blessed are the pure in heart - That is, whose minds, motives, and principles are pure; who seek not only to have the external actions correct, but who desire to be holy in heart, and who are so. Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart. ~Barnes Notes

1 Timothy 1:5  [see lesson]
Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

Psalm 12:6
The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Romans 6:13
Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

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