Survey of the Letters of Paul:  1 Timothy 5:24

Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.

Verses 24-25 are a separate section in this chapter.

1 Timothy 5:24-25
24 Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF ULTIMATE CONCEALMENT
1 Timothy 5:24–5

Some men’s sins are plain for all to see, and lead the way to judgment; the sins of others will duly catch up on them. Even so, there are good deeds which are plain for all to see, and there are things of a very different quality which cannot be hidden.

THIS saying tells us to leave things to God and be content. There are obvious sinners, whose sins are clearly leading to their disaster and their punishment; and there are secret sinners who, behind a façade of blameless virtue, live a life that is in essence evil and ugly. What other people cannot.

There are some whose good deeds are plain for all to see, and who have already won the praise and thanks and congratulations of others. There are some whose good deeds have never been noticed, never appreciated, never thanked, never praised, never valued as they ought to have been. They need not feel either disappointed or embittered. God knows the good deed also, and he will repay, for he is never in anyone’s debt.

Here, we are told that we must neither grow angry at the apparent escape of some people nor grow embittered at the apparent thanklessness of others, but that we must be content to leave all things to the ultimate judgment of God. see, God does. As the thirteenth-century theologian Thomas Aquinas said, ‘Man sees the deed, but God sees the intention.’ There is no escape from the ultimate confrontation with the God who sees and knows everything. ~Barclay Commentaries

Now to the commentaries.

This verse has three obvious phrases:

1] Some men's sins are open beforehand.
2] Going before to judgment.
3] And some men they follow after.

1] Some men's sins are open beforehand.

Some men's sins are open beforehand - Discipline has been spoken of. Some men's lives are fully known, and their sins cry out, but others conceal them, and they will only be fully manifest at judgment. ~ People's New Testament

Some men's sins are open beforehand - “Openly plain,” “plain before all.” ~Robertson's Word Pictures

Some men’s sins are open beforehand - This declaration, though it assumes a general form, is to be taken evidently in connection with the general subject of introducing men to the ministry 1 Timothy 5:22-23 is to be regarded as a parenthesis. The apostle had given Timothy a charge 1 Timothy 5:22 respecting the character of those whom he should ordain. He here says, in reference to that, that the character of some people was manifest. There was no disguise. It was evident to all what it was, and there could be no danger of mistake respecting it. Their conduct was apparent to all. About such people he ought not to hesitate a moment, and, no matter what their talents, or learning, or rank in the community, he ought to have no participation in introducing them to the ministry. ~Barnes Notes

Quoted verses:
1 Timothy 5:22-23
22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.
23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.

Some men’s sins are open beforehand - In appointing men to sacred offices in the Church, among the candidates Timothy would find,
1. Some of whom he knew nothing, but only that they professed Christianity; let such be tried before they are appointed.
2. Some of whose faith and piety he had the fullest knowledge, and whose usefulness in the Church was well known.
3. Some whose lives were not at all or but partially reformed, who were still unchanged in their hearts, and unholy in their lives.

The sins of these latter were known to all; they go before to judgment; with them he could have no difficulty. With the first class he must have more difficulty; there might have been hypocrites among them, whose sins could not be known till after they were brought into the sacred office. The characters of all should be fully investigated. The sins of some, before this investigation, might be so manifest as to lead at once to condemnation. The sins of others might be found out after, or in consequence of, this investigation; and those that were otherwise could not be long hid from his knowledge, or the knowledge of the Church. On all these accounts the exhortation is necessary: Lay hands suddenly on no man. ~Adam Clarke

Some men's sins are open before hand - Some men are such open and notorious sinners, that there is no need of any inquiry about them, or any examination of them; or any witnesses to be called to their character, in order to pass judgment concerning them; they even prevent and supersede any formal process about them. With such persons, the apostle intimates, Timothy could have no difficulty upon him, what to do with them; should they be proposed for the ministry, he would know at once what to do with them; namely, reject them. There would be no danger of his laying hands suddenly on such; for the following phrase. ~John Gill

Some me's sin are open beforehand - Two kinds of sins are specified: those palpably manifest (so the Greek for “open beforehand” ought to be translated; so in Hebrews 7:14, it is translated “evident”; literally, “before” the eyes, that is, notorious), further explained as “going before to judgment”; and those which follow after the men (“some men they, that is, their sins, follow after”), namely, not going beforehand, loudly accusing, but hidden till they come to the judgment: so 1Timothy 5:25, the good works are of two classes: those palpably manifest (translate so, instead of “manifest beforehand”) and “those that are otherwise,” that is, not palpably manifest. Both alike “cannot be hid”; the former class in the case of bad and good are manifest already; the latter class in the case of both are not manifest now, but shall be so at the final judgment. ~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown

2] Going before to judgment.

Going before to judgment - The sins are so plain that [the sins] they receive instant condemnation. ~Robertson's Word Pictures

Going before to judgment - Their character is well understood. There is no need of waiting for the day of judgment to know what they are. Their deeds so precede their own appearance at the judgment-bar, that the record and the verdict can be made up before they arrive there, and there will be scarcely need even of the formality of a trial. The meaning here is, that there could be no doubt about the character of such people, and Timothy should not be accessory to their being introduced into the office of the ministry. ~Barnes Notes

Going before to judgment - is not to be understood of God's judgment, or of the last and future judgment of the great day, but of human judgment: it is true indeed that some men's sins are manifest and barefaced, before that day comes; while others are so private, that they will not be known till that day declares them, and brings to light the hidden things of darkness: and much such a way of speaking is used by the Jews; who say,

"whoever committeth one transgression, (a notorious one,) in this world, it joins to him, "and goes before him"  "to the day of judgment".''

But this sense agrees not with the context; and with what propriety soever it may be said, of some men's sins going before to judgment, it cannot be said with any, that others follow after judgment; since at the general judgment, every work, both good and bad, with every secret thing, will be brought into it; and nothing will follow after that: wherefore the next clause. ~John Gill

Going before to judgment — as heralds; crying sins which accuse their perpetrator. The connection seems to me this: He had enjoined Timothy, 1 Timothy 5:20, “Rebuke them that sin before all”: and in 1 Timothy 5:22, “Neither be partaker of other men’s sins,” by ordaining ungodly men; having then by a digression at the clause, “keep thyself pure,” guarded against an ascetical error of Timothy in fancying purity consisted in asceticism, and having exhorted him to use wine for strengthening him in his work, he returns to the subject of his being vigorous as an overseer in rebuking sin, whether in presbyters or people, and in avoiding participation in men’s sins by ordaining ungodly candidates. He says, therefore, there are two classes of sins, as there are two classes of good works: those palpably manifest, and those not so; the former are those on which thou shouldest act decidedly at once when called on, whether to rebuke in general, or to ordain ministers in particular; as to the latter, the final judgment alone can decide; however hidden now they “cannot be hid” then. This could only be said of the final judgment; all judgments before then are fallible. Thus he implies that Timothy can only be responsible if he connive at manifest, or evident sins; not that those that are otherwise shall escape judgment at last: just as in the case of good works, he can only be responsible for taking into account in his judgments those which are patent to all, not those secret good works which nevertheless will not remain hidden at the final judgment. ~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown

3] And some men they follow after.

And some men they follow after - not clearly manifest at first, but come out plainly at last. How true that is of secret sins. ~Robertson's Word Pictures

And some men they follow after - That is, their character is not fully understood here. They conceal their plans. They practice deception. They appear different from what they really are. But the character of such people will be developed, and they will be judged according to their works. They cannot hope to escape with impunity. Though they have endeavored to hide their evil deeds, yet they will follow after them to the judgment-bar, and will meet them there. The meaning, in this connection, seems to be, that there ought to be circumspection in judging of the qualifications of men for the office of the ministry. It ought not to be inferred from favorable appearances at once, or on slight acquaintance, that they are qualified for the office - for they may be of the number of those whose characters, now concealed or misunderstood, will be developed only on the final trial. ~Barnes Notes

And some men they follow after - that is, some men's sins follow after, is to be understood of their following after human judgment; or of their appearing in the light after judgment has been passed upon them, which before were hid: and the sense of the whole is this, that the characters of some men are so well known, and it is so plain a case, that they are destitute of the grace of God; have not ministerial gifts; or are unsound in the faith; or are men of immoral lives and conversations; so that there can be no dispute about them, whether they are to be admitted into the ministry of the word or rejected. But there are other persons who may be proposed, whose sins or errors are so private, that they may not be known; and yet may appear afterwards; wherefore it is proper to take time, and not be too hasty, or lay hands suddenly on men. ~John Gill

I want to end this lesson with some scriptures that are examples of what we read in 1 Timothy 5:24.

Jeremiah 2:34 ...speaking to the idolatry of Manasseh
Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.

Acts 1:16-20
16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

Acts 5:1-11
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

Acts 8:18
And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

Galatians 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

2 Timothy 4:10
For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

2 Peter 2:20-21
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

back to the top     back to main page