1. I Timothy 5:17-20 Treatment of Elders
Elders who rule well worthy of double honor
Elders: Gk. Presbuteroi, older men, but context indicates this is in an official sense.
Rule: Gk. Proistemi. Be over, superintend, preside over.
Honor: a valuing, connected with a price paid, preciousness, price, sum
The idea of honor used here includes the prospect of financial support. This idea is further developed in vs. 18.
Note

2. I Timothy 5:17-20 Treatment of Elders
Especially those who labor in word and doctrine (NASB preaching and teaching)
Labor: Gk. Kopiao. Grow weary, tired, exhausted, to toil.
Doctrine: Gk. Didaskalia. Implies the act of teaching.
“Especially those…..” emphasizes that some Elders may spend more time teaching and preaching. Thus, some may serve as preachers.

3. I Timothy 5:17-20 Treatment of Elders
“Do not muzzle the ox while he is threshing”
Quote from Deut 25:4. Provided a sense of fairness to the working animal by allowing it to eat as it worked. Quoted by Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:9-14 and applied to preachers to show they can be financially supported from the gospel.

4. I Timothy 5:17-20 Treatment of Elders
“The laborer is worthy of his wages”
Used by Jesus in Matthew 10:10 and Luke 10:7 to the limited commission and sending of the seventy. Again shows that those who preach and do the special work of God are entitled to benefit materially.

5. I Timothy 5:17-20 Treatment of Elders
“The laborer is worthy of his wages”
Paul quotes these passages (shows that Matthew or/and Luke were likely already written and familiar) and applies them in this context to Elders to further build the case for their financial support.
Consider 1 Peter 5:2 implies they might ordinarily receive financial compensation, but that should not be a motivation.

6. I Timothy 5:17-20 Treatment of Elders
Accusations against Elders must be supported by two or three witnesses
This was a requirement of the Law of Moses. Deut 19:15.
Also required by Jesus in the case of sin between two people, when the offender would not repent after being privately confronted by the one offended. Matthew 18:15-16.

7. I Timothy 5:17-20 Treatment of Elders
Accusations against Elders must be supported by two or three witnesses
Principle that required two witnesses for testimony was referenced by Jesus in John 5:31-32, 8:17, by Paul in 2 Corinthians 13:1. By the Hebrew writer in Hebrews 10:28.
So principle is in effect for all people, especially in the case of Elders who are accused, and might be more susceptible to scrutiny.

8. I Timothy 5:17-20 Treatment of Elders
Elders who remain in sin are to be publicly rebuked, so others will be fearful of sinning.
This implies that the requirements in vs. 19 have been met and properly established.
Followed by Paul against Peter in Gal. 2:11-14.

9. I Timothy 5:17-20 Treatment of Elders
Elders who remain in sin are to be publicly rebuked, so others will be fearful of sinning.
The public rebuke will serve as an example to others and provide a deterrent to sinning.
Keep in mind that Jesus’ instruction concerning sin between two brethren would still apply and would preclude public rebuke if the Elder repented.

10. I Timothy 5:21-23 Personal Instructions to Timothy
I charge you before God, Jesus & Select Angels.
Charge: Gk. Diamarturomai. Bear solemn witness, charge earnestly.
Elect Angels: Elect: Chosen of God. Angels: Messengers of God. Gk. Angelos is used in both a celestial (heavenly) or terrestrial (common man, earthly) sense. Context implies a heavenly, celestial sense.

11. I Timothy 5:21-23 Personal Instructions to Timothy
Observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing from partiality.
Without prejudice: Gk. Choris prokrimatos. Don’t prejudge without having all the facts.
Partiality: Gk. Prosklisin. Incline towards one.
Don’t allow a pre-judge a matter or individual without having all the facts and don’t allow personal feelings to prevent you from carrying out discipline as God intends.

12. I Timothy 5:21-23 Personal Instructions to Timothy
Do not lay hands on anyone (too) hastily.
Laying on of hands was common way to signify the appointment of one to a position or function.
Acts 6:1-6. Appointment of men to serve widows.
Acts 8: Imparting of spiritual gifts by the Apostles.

13. I Timothy 5:21-23 Personal Instructions to Timothy
Do not lay hands on anyone (too) hastily.
Laying on of hands was common way to signify the appointment …….
Acts 13:1-3: Selection by the Holy Spirit of Saul and Barnabas for work in preaching.
1 Timothy 4:14: Imparting of spiritual gift to Timothy by Elders.
Hebrews 6:2: Listed among the foundational, elementary principles of Christ.

14. I Timothy 5:21-23 Personal Instructions to Timothy
Do not lay hands on anyone (too) hastily.
Since “laying on a hands” conveyed an appointment, and the context is about Elders, the most logical explanation is that this refers to the need to exercise caution and carefulness in the selection of a man to this office.

15. I Timothy 5:21-22 Personal Instructions to Timothy
Nor share in other people’s sins,
keep yourself pure.
If by prejudice, partiality, or haste, Timothy (or anyone else) was to participate in appointing an unqualified, sinful man to be an Elder, he would share in his sin, and impact his own purity.

16. I Timothy 5:23 Personal Instructions to Timothy
No Longer Drink Only Water
Gk. Meketi hudropotei. No longer drink water alone. Possibly means to mix wine with water.
Some suggest mixing wine with water would purify the water by killing bacteria, but there is not a great deal of scientific evidence to suggest that this works.

17. I Timothy 5:23 Personal Instructions to Timothy
But use a little wine…
Wine. Gk. Oinos. Broad term used to refer to fruit of the vine, ranging from fresh grape juice all the way up to fermented wine. Also included a non-alcoholic syrup that resulted from cooking down grape juice, that was later reconstituted with water, for a beverage.

18. I Timothy 5:23 Personal Instructions to Timothy
For Your Stomach’s Sake and Frequent Infirmities
Prescribes the use of wine for a medicinal purpose.
Drinking contaminated water has long been known to be associated with stomach ailments and other sicknesses.

19. I Timothy 5:23 Personal Instructions to Timothy
Fermented or Unfermented Wine?
Arguments supporting fermented:
“Don’t drink exclusively (or only) water” suggests that Timothy’s conscience didn’t permit him to use wine for any basis. Why would he avoid the use of plain or reconstituted grape juice??

20. I Timothy 5:23 Personal Instructions to Timothy
Fermented or Unfermented Wine?
Arguments supporting fermented:
Paul says use a “little” wine. Why limit grape juice?
The term “wine” has already been used in this letter w/r/t qualifications for Elders and Deacons, with context indicating it was alcoholic.

21. I Timothy 5:23 Personal Instructions to Timothy
Fermented or Unfermented?
Arguments supporting Unfermented:
Pliny (first century naturalist writer) describes a certain type of unfermented wine that resulted from the filtration of fresh grape juice that strained out the yeast products, thus preventing fermentation.

22. I Timothy 5:23 Personal Instructions to Timothy
Fermented or Unfermented?
The terms aduminon and adynamon were used in ancient sources to describe unfermented, wines that were given to sick people.
Other secular sources reference a unfermented “stomach wine” prepared with water from a thick syrup, given as a medicine to people who were physically weak and had digestive problems.

23. I Timothy 5:23 Personal Instructions to Timothy
Fermented or Unfermented?
But even if we conclude this wine was fermented, this passage only authorizes its use as a medicine, and even then, limits it to a “little” amount.
Nothing in the passage indicates that it was to be used to induce an intoxicating effect, but rather as a remedy for stomach and other ailments.

24. I Timothy 5:24-25 God’s Ultimate Judgment
The sins of some are evident, going before judgment, for some their sins follow after
The sins of some are easily observed, while the sins of others will be revealed at the judgment. Ecclesiastes 12:14. Hebrews 4:13.

25. I Timothy 5:24-25 God’s Ultimate Judgment
 Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed
A parallel to the previous passage. Just as the sins of some are evident, the good deeds of some are easily observed.
Both verses (24-25) may point back to the context of dealing with Elders.