1 Timothy 5:20

Contextual Overview

¹⁷ Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in the word and in teaching. ¹⁷Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. ¹⁷ Church leaders who do their job well deserve to be paid twice as much, especially if they work hard at preaching and teaching. ¹⁷ The leaders who lead well should be considered worthy of double honor, especially those working hard at communicating the Word and at teaching. ¹⁷ Let the elders who take the lead [among the saints] well be esteemed worthy of double honour, specially those labouring in word and teaching; ¹⁷ The elders who lead the church in a good way should receive double honor—in particular, those who do the work of counseling and teaching. ¹⁷ Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching. ¹⁷ Let rulers whose rule is good be honoured twice over, specially those whose work is preaching and teaching. ¹⁷ The Elders that rule well, let them be had in double honour, specially they which labour in the worde and doctrine, ¹⁷ Let the elders who minister well be esteemed worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

rebuke: Leviticus 19:17, Galatians 2:11-14, 2 Timothy 4:2, Titus 1:13

that others: 1 Timothy 1:20, Deuteronomy 13:11, Deuteronomy 17:13, Deuteronomy 19:20, Deuteronomy 21:21, Acts 5:5, Acts 5:11, Acts 19:17

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 17:12 - thou shalt Nehemiah 5:7 - I rebuked Job 34:26 - in Proverbs 24:23 - It Proverbs 24:25 - them Proverbs 27:5 - General Ezekiel 16:41 - and I Ezekiel 22:2 - thou shalt Mark 8:33 - he rebuked Luke 20:45 - General 2 Corinthians 2:6 - which Galatians 2:14 - I said Ephesians 5:11 - but Philippians 2:15 - rebuke 1 Thessalonians 5:12 - and admonish 1 Timothy 5:1 - Rebuke

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Them that sin rebuke before all,.... This the apostle adds to the above rule, to show that he was far from screening wicked ministers, or elders, guilty of flagitious crimes, and gross enormities: for these words, though they may be applied unto, and may hold good of all offenders, that are members of churches; yet they seem chiefly to regard elders, even such who sin, who continue to sin, who live in sin, in some notorious sin or another; which is evident and known, to the great scandal of religion, and dishonour of the Gospel: and so some read the words, "them that sin before all, rebuke"; not only admonish once and again, but degrade them from their office, and withdraw from them, as from other disorderly persons, and cut them off, and cast them out of the church, and that in a public manner; and so the Arabic version renders it, "before the congregation": which was done only in case of notorious offences: and which rule is observed by the Jews, and runs thus h;

"a wise man, an elder in wisdom, and so a prince, or the father of the sanhedrim, that sins, they do not excommunicate him (with Niddui) always בפרהסיא, "publicly", unless he does as Jeroboam the son of Nebat and his companions; but when he sins other sins, they chastise him privately.''

The end is,

that others also may fear; that other elders, or other members of the church, or both, may fear to do the same evil things, lest they incur the same censure and punishment: the Syriac version reads, "other men"; and the Arabic version, "the rest of the people". The phrase seems to be taken out of Deuteronomy 13:11.

h Maimon. Talmud Tora, c. 7. sect. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Them that sin - That have been proved to have committed sin - referring probably to the elders mentioned in the previous verse, but giving the direction so general a form that it might be applicable to others.

Rebuke before all - Before all the church or congregation. The word “rebuke” properly denotes to reprove or reprehend. It means here that there should be a public statement of the nature of the offence, and such a censure as the case demanded. It extends only to spiritual censures. There is no power given of inflicting any punishment by fine or imprisonment. The power of the church, in such cases, is only to express its strong and decided disapprobation of the wrong done, and, if the case demands it, of disowning the offending member or minister. This direction to “rebuke an offender before all,” may be easily reconciled with the direction in 1 Timothy 5:1, “Rebuke not an elder.” The latter refers to the private and pastoral conversation with an elder, and to the method in which he should be treated in such contact - to wit, with the feelings due to a father; the direction here refers to the manner in which an offender should be treated who has been proved to be guilty, and where the case has become public. Then there is to be a public expression of disapprobation.

That others also may fear - That they may be kept from committing the same offence; compare 1 Peter 2:14. The end of punishment is not the gratification of the private feelings of him who administers it, but the prevention of crime.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 20. Them that sin rebuke before all — That is, before the members of the Church; which was the custom of the Jews in their synagogues. But, if the words refer to the elders alone, then the transgressing elder is to be reproved before his fellows, and be tried by them.

That others also may fear. — This is the grand object of Church censures, to reclaim the transgressors, and to give warning to others.