1 Timothy 5:22

Contextual Overview

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 Let the Zakenim who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching. ¹⁷ Elders who handle their dutieswho rule">[fn] well should be considered worthy of double compensation,honor">[fn] especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.Acts 28:10; Romans 12:8; 1 Corinthians 9:10,14; Galatians 6:6; Philippians 2:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:7,17;">[xr] ¹⁷ 17 Those presbyters who well conduct themselves [fn] shall be worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and in doctrine. ¹⁷ Let the elders who conduct themselves well, be esteemed worthy of double honor; especially they who labor in the word and in doctrine. 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 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in 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,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

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

Lay 4:14; Acts 6:6; 13:3; 2 Timothy 1:6; Hebrews 6:2

suddenly

3:6,10; Joshua 9:14; 2 Timothy 2:2; Titus 1:5-9

neither

Ephesians 5:11; 2 John 1:11; Revelation 18:4

keep

4:12; Acts 18:6; 20:26

Reciprocal: Genesis 48:14 - and laid;  Leviticus 14:42 - General;  Leviticus 19:17 - and not suffer sin upon him;  Numbers 8:10 - General;  Numbers 16:26 - I pray you;  Numbers 27:18 - lay;  Deuteronomy 34:9 - Moses;  Psalm 50:18 - partaker;  Jeremiah 51:6 - be not;  Ezekiel 3:18 - but;  Ezekiel 44:10 - the Levites;  Acts 8:17 - laid;  Acts 9:17 - and putting;  Acts 14:23 - they had;  Acts 15:29 - if ye;  Acts 19:6 - laid;  2 Corinthians 5:16 - know we no;  2 Corinthians 7:11 - clearing;  Ephesians 5:7 - General;  2 Peter 3:1 - pure

Cross-References

Genesis 5:5
And all the days of Adam that he lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died.

Genesis 5:5
So Adam lived a total of 930 years; then he died.

Genesis 5:5
All the days that Adam lived were nine hundred thirty years, then he died.

Genesis 5:5
And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died.

Genesis 5:5
And all the years of Adam's life were nine hundred and thirty: and he came to his end.

Genesis 5:5
And all the dayes that Adam lyued were nine hundreth and thirtie yeres, and he dyed.

Genesis 5:5
So all the dayes that Adam liued, were nine hundreth and thirtie yeeres: and he died.

Genesis 5:5
Thus all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died.

Genesis 5:5
and died at the age of 930.

Genesis 5:5
And all the days of Adam which he lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Lay hands suddenly on no man,.... Which is not to be understood of removing censures from off offenders, upon their repentance, which should not be suddenly and hastily done; and which it seems in later times has been done by imposition of hands; but since no such custom obtained in the apostle's time, and a taking off of censures is never in Scripture signified by this phrase, it cannot be intended here; but rather the admission of persons into the work of the ministry, and the installing of them into the office of an or pastor; upon whom, in these early times, hands were laid by the apostles, whereby gifts were conveyed, as on Timothy; See Gill on 1 Timothy 4:14.

And from this rite this act was so called, as it might be when it was laid aside; just as, with the Jews, an ordination of one of their doctors is called סמיכה, "imposition of hands", though they performed it by words, and not by laying on of hands; which now by them is not judged necessary: and then the sense is, do not hastily and at once admit any person into the sacred work of the ministry, or constitute him an elder, or pastor, over a church of Christ; but let him be first proved, and let it plainly appear, that he has the grace of God in him, and has gifts for public service bestowed on him; that he is sound in faith, and of a good life and conversation; and a man of uprightness and fidelity;

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 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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Lay hands suddenly on no man - Some have understood this of laying on hands to heal the sick (Koppe); others of the laying on of hands to absolve penitents, but 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; notes, 1 Timothy 4:14; compare Acts 6:6; Acts 8:17. 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. It is just such as a Presbyterian father in the ministry would give in a charge to his son now; it is in fact just the charge which is now given by Presbyterians and congregationalists to those who are set apart to the sacred office, in reference to ordaining others.

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 manufacturing intoxicating drinks, or for an enterprise that contemplates the violation of the Sabbath.

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

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

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.

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.

Keep thyself pure - From this and every other evil.