1 Timothy 5:17

5:17-25 Care must be taken that ministers are maintained. And those who are laborious in this work are worthy of double honour and esteem. It is their just due, as much as the reward of the labourer. The apostle charges Timothy solemnly to guard against partiality. We have great need to watch at all times, that we do not partake of other men's sins. Keep thyself pure, not only from doing the like thyself, but from countenancing it, or any way helping to it in others. The apostle also charges Timothy to take care of his health. As we are not to make our bodies masters, so neither slaves; but to use them so that they may be most helpful to us in the service of God. There are secret, and there are open sins: some men's sins are open before-hand, and going before unto judgment; some they follow after. God will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make known the counsels of all hearts. Looking forward to the judgment-day, let us all attend to our proper offices, whether in higher or lower stations, studying that the name and doctrine of God may never be blasphemed on our account.

{14} Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of {e} double honour, {f} especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. (14) Now he gives rules, and shows how he ought to behave himself with the elders, that is to say, with the pastors, and those who have the governance in the discipline of the church, who is president of their company. The first rule: let the church or congregation see to this especially, as God himself has commanded, that the elders that do their duty well, are honestly supported. (e) We must be more concerned for them, than for the rest. (f) There were two types of elders: the one dealt with the government only, and looked to the behaviour of the congregation; the other in addition to that, dealt with both preaching and prayers, to and for the congregation.

1 Timothy 5:17-18 . Let the elders that rule well — Who approve themselves faithful stewards of all that is committed to their charge; be counted worthy of double honour — A more abundant provision, seeing that such will employ it all to the glory of God. As they were the most laborious and disinterested men who were put into these offices, so, whatever any one had to bestow, in his life or death, was generally lodged in their hands for the poor. By this means the churchmen became very rich in after ages. But as the design of the donors was the general good, there was the highest reason why it should be disposed of according to their pious intent. Especially they who labour — Diligently and painfully; in the word and doctrine — That is, in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture saith, &c. — See on 1 Corinthians 9:9 .

Who these elders are here intended hath been a great question: it is plain they are not such only as are preachers. They are such as are, worthy of double honour. The learned Mr. Pool, in his Latin Synopsis, giveth us an acconut of the most opinions about it: 1. Some judging them some of the elder sort of the members of the church, joining with the ministers in the government of the church, but not meddling with preaching, or administering sacraments. 2. Some judging by elders here are meant such as had been ministers, but being aged were superannnuated. 3. Others understanding by it the civil magistrates; which seemeth of all other opinions least probable, because at this time there were no such members of the Christian church. 4. Others think that deacons are here by that term understood, who being church officers have the name of elders given to them. 5. Others understand by elders the ordinary pastors of churches, that resided with their flocks, in opposition to apostles and evangelists: this seemeth less probable, because, there were no such in the primitive church but did labour in the word and doctrine. 6. Others think that some such are meant, as were not so fit for preaching, but yet administered the sacraments, prayed with the church, and privately admonished exorbitant members; but we shall want a good proof, either from Scripture or other authority, of any such officers in the primitive church.

I shall not determine which of these opinions is rightest, but leave the reader this own judgment. Whoever are here meant by elders are declared worthy of double honour; by which is understood either abundant honour, or else (as some say) respect and reverence, and also maintenance. Especially they who labour in the word and doctrine; but especially such as take pains in preaching the gospel.

1 Timothy 5:17 . Διπλῆς , double ) On account of their being older, and on account of their office. The eldership involves of itself veneration on account of age. Even Peter opposes the elders to the younger men ( νεωτέροις ), and yet he speaks as concerning an office, 1 Peter 5:5 ; 1 Peter 5:1 , etc. Double , i.e. large, Revelation 18:6 .— μάλιστα , especially ) Some then were able to rule, and to rule well, although they were not employed in word and doctrine , viz. in sacred studies, and in the instruction of others. But those who had been so employed ( κοπιῶντες ), were less at leisure for working, and for acquiring fortune, and were worthy of compensation.

The elders that rule well (οἱ καλῶς προεστῶτες πρεσβύτεροι) For that rule well, see on καλῶς προΐστάμενον ruling well, 1 Timothy 3:4. The phrase is peculiar to the Pastorals. See on 1 Timothy 5:1. Double honor (διπλῆς τιμῆς) This at least includes pecuniary remuneration for services, if it is not limited to that. The use of τιμή as pay or price appears Matthew 27:6, Matthew 27:9; Acts 4:34; Acts 7:16; 1 Corinthians 6:20. Double, not in a strictly literal sense, but as πλείονα τιμὴν more honor, Hebrews 3:3. The comparison is with those Elders who do not exhibit equal capacity or efficiency in ruling. The passage lends no support to the Reformed theory of two classes of Elders - ruling and teaching. The special honor or emolument is assigned to those who combine qualifications for both. Those who labor (οἱ κοπιῶντες) See on 1 Timothy 4:10. No special emphasis attaches to the word - hard toiling in comparison with those who do not toil. The meaning is, those who faithfully discharge the arduous duty of teaching. Comp. Hebrews 13:7. In word and doctrine (ἐν λόγῳ καὶ διδασκαλίᾳ) Better, word and teaching. Word is general, teaching special. In word signifies, in that class of functions where speech is concerned. The special emphasis (μάλιστα especially) shows the importance which was attached to teaching as an antidote of heresy.

17. The transition from the widow presbyteresses (1Ti 5:9) to the presbyters here, is natural. rule well—literally, "preside well," with wisdom, ability, and loving faithfulness, over the flock assigned to them. be counted worthy of double honour—that is, the honor which is expressed by gifts (1Ti 5:3, 18) 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] (1Co 9:14; Ga 6:6; 1Th 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 (Re 18:6). specially they who labour in the word and doctrine—Greek, "teaching"; preaching of the word, and instruction, catechetical or otherwise. This implies that of the ruling presbyters there were two kinds, those who labored in the word and teaching, and those who did not. Lay presbyters, so called merely because of their age, have no place here; for both classes mentioned here alike are ruling presbyters. A college of presbyters is implied as existing in each large congregation. As in 1Ti 3:1-16 their qualifications are spoken of, so here the acknowledgments due to them for their services.

Verse 17. - Those for they , A.V.; in teaching for doctrine , A.V. The elders ( πρεσβυτεροι ) here in its technical sense of "presbyters," which in the first age were the ruling body in every Chinch (see Acts 14:23 ; Acts 20:2, 4, 6, 22 ), after the analogy of the elders of the Jews. Rule well (at καλῶς προεστῶτες ). The presbyters or elders were the chiefs, rulers, or presidents, of the Church (see Romans 12:8 ; 1 Thessalonians 5:12 ; and above, 1 Timothy 3:4, 5 ). It seems that they did not necessarily teach and preach, but those who did so, laboring in the Word and teaching, were especially worthy of honor. Double honor (see note on ver. 3) means simply increased honor, not exactly twice as much as some one else, or with arithmetical exactness. So the word διπλοῦς is used in Matthew 23:15 ; Revelation 18:6 ; and by the LXX. in Isaiah 40:2 ; Jeremiah 16:18 ; and elsewhere also in classical Greek. And so we say, "twice as good," "twice as much," with the same indefinite meaning. The Word and teaching. The "Word" means generally "the Word of God," as we have "preach the Word," "hear the Word," "the ministry of the Word," "doers of the Word," etc. And although there is no article before λόγῳ here yet, considering the presence of the preposition ἐν , and St.

Paul's less careful use of the article in his later Epistles, this absence is not sufficient to counterbalance the weight of those considerations which lead to the conclusion that "laboring in the Word" refers to the Word of God. The alternative rendering of "oral discourse" or "in speaking" seems rather weak. Teaching would mean catechetical instruction and similar explanatory teaching. Labor ( οἱ κοπιῶντες ); a word very frequently used by St. Paul of spiritual labors ( Romans 16:6, 12 ; 1 Corinthians 15:10 ; Galatians 4:11 ; Colossians 1:29 , etc.). 1 Timothy 5:17

17 . the elders that rule well ] The perfect part. with present neuter signification. The verb itself is peculiar to these Epistles, except Romans 12:8 , ‘he that ruleth with diligence,’ and 1 Thessalonians 5:12 , ‘that labour among you and are over you; and is used of the management ‘of a house,’ in 1 Timothy 3:4-5 , ‘of children,’ 1 Timothy 3:12 , and of the mastery ‘of good works,’ Titus 3:8 (where see note) and 14. The word is too general to draw from it the meaning of ruling elders as distinguished from teaching elders. Doubtless ‘government’ was the foremost thought in the selection of an ‘elder’ because someone must give orders ‘for order’s sake.’ But the above passage from the earliest of the Epistles, the 1 Thessalonians, shews us the three chief functions of the ministry already blended: (1) that of the laborious servant , ‘that labour among you,’ the same word as here, ‘who labour;’ (2) that of the leader and head in things spiritual, ‘are over you,’ as here ‘that rule;’ and (3) that of the teacher and counsellor , ‘and admonish you,’ as here ‘in the word and in teaching.’ As Bp Lightfoot puts it in his ‘Christian Ministry’ Ep.

Philipp ., ‘The work of teaching seems to be regarded rather as incidental to than as inherent in the office: “double honour shall be paid.… especially to such as labour in word and doctrine,” as though one holding this office might decline the work of instruction.’ double honour ] The word has been defined on 1 Timothy 5:3 ; and includes, though it is not confined to, money payment: this is clear from the next verse. they who labour in the word ] The meaning of the Greek word comes out with especial force in 2 Timothy 2:6 , the husbandman that laboureth , that really toils ‘with honest sweat week in week out.’ So Matthew 11:28 , ‘Come unto Me all ye that labour,’ A.V., where the Prayer-Book in the ‘comfortable words’ renders ‘all that travail.’ Surely our word ‘labour’ has lost some of its strength now since the time when it represented toil and pain like the ‘labour pains’ of ‘a woman in her travail.’ It is right therefore to lay stress on the word here in reading the passage. in the word and doctrine ] Rather, in speech and in teaching . ‘In speech:’ the exact phrase has occurred 1 Timothy 4:12 , and seems to describe the ordinary intercourse (cf. Colossians 4:6 ), while ‘in teaching’ describes the sermon, or lecture, or lesson, the word being characteristic of the present stage of the pastoral office; see note on 1 Timothy 1:10 . 17–25 .