1 Timothy 5:17
Read 1 Timothy 5:17 Using Other Translations
What does 1 Timothy 5:17 mean?
Let the elders that rule well
By whom are meant not elders in age; though such ought to be
honoured and respected, and to have a proper maintenance either
from their children or the church, when reduced, and incapable of
helping themselves; but then this is what should be done to all
such persons, whereas the elders here are particularly described
as good rulers and labourers in the word and doctrine; besides,
elders in age are taken notice of before; nor are civil
magistrates intended, such as were called the elders of Israel;
for though such as discharge their office well are worthy of
honour, yet it does not belong to any of them to labour in
preaching the doctrine of the Gospel: nor are deacons designed,
for they are never called elders in Scripture; nor is their work
ruling, but serving of tables; nor does the ministry of the word
belong to them as such; nor is any maintenance allowed them from
the church on account of their office: nor are lay elders meant,
who rule, but teach not; since there are no such officers
appointed in the churches of Christ; whose only officers are
bishops or elders and deacons: wherefore the qualifications such
are only given in a preceding chapter. There are no other that
rule in churches, but such who also speak to them the word of
God; wherefore by him that rules, and the labourer in word and
doctrine, are not meant two distinct orders, but different
persons of the same order; some of these ruling well, but do not
take so much pains in the ministry of the word; while others of
them both rule well and labour in the word, and who are to be
reckoned deserving of the honour hereafter mentioned. These are
called "elders", because they are commonly chosen out of the
senior members of the churches, though not always, Timothy is an
exception to this; and because of their senile gravity and
prudence, which were necessary in them: and they may be said to
"rule", because they are set in the highest place in the church,
and over others in the Lord, who are to submit themselves to
them, and obey them. Christ's church is a kingdom, he is King of
it, and his ministering servants are rulers under him; and who
rule "well" when they rule not with force and cruelty, or lord it
over God's heritage; but when they govern according to the laws
which Christ the King and lawgiver has prescribed; when they
explain and enforce those laws, and show them to the people, and
see that they are put in execution and when they discharge this
part of their work with diligence and prudence. Now let such be
counted worthy of double honour;
which some understand of honour in this world, and in the world
to come, and which they have; they are honoured now by Christ,
though reproached by the world, by being called unto, qualified
for, and succeeded in the work of the ministry; and when they
have faithfully discharged it, they will be honoured by him
hereafter, and be introduced into his joy with commendation, and
shine as the stars for ever and ever. But rather this is to be
understood both of that outward respect that is to be shown them
by words and actions; and of a sufficient maintenance that is to
be provided for them; in which sense the word "honour" is used in
this chapter before; (See Gill on 1
Timothy 5:3), and some think that the comparison is
between the widows before mentioned, and these elders; that if
poor widows in the church are to be honoured and maintained, then
much more the officers of it; these are worthy of more honour,
even of double honour, or, a larger and a more honourable main
tenant: and indeed this seems to be the meaning of the word
"double" when used both in an ill and in a good sense; see (
Revelation 18:6 ) (
2 Kings 2:9 )
and is an allusion to the firstborn among the Jews, who was to
have a double portion of his father's goods, ( Deuteronomy
21:17 ) and so may here signify, that the ministers of the
Gospel ought not to have a short and scanty, but a large and
honourable maintenance.
Especially they who labour in the word and
doctrine;
which lies in a constant reading of the Scriptures, the word of
God, and diligently searching into them, and comparing them
together, in order to find out the mind and will of God in them;
in a daily meditation upon them, and study of them; and in
frequent and fervent wrestling with God, or prayer to him, to
give an understanding of them; and in endeavouring to find out
the sense of difficult passages, which are hard to be understood;
and in providing for the different cases and circumstances of
hearers, that everyone may have a portion; and in the choice of
apt and proper words to express truth in, to the capacities of
all: this is labouring in the word in private; besides which
there is labouring in doctrine, in public; in preaching the
Gospel constantly, boldly, and faithfully; in holding it fast
against all opposition, and in defending it by argument, both by
word and writing. The phrase seems to be Jewish, a like one is
often to be met with in Jewish writings: Rabbenu was sitting
(atyyrwab yel) ,
``"and labouring in the law" before the congregation of the Babylonians at Tzippore F2;''and again F3,
``R. Jonah gave tithes to R. Acha bar Alia, not because he was a priest, but because he (atyrwab yel) , "laboured in the law";''and they say F4,
``there is no greater reward for a man in the world, as for him (atyrwab yeld) , "who labours in the law";''hence we read F5 of (hrwt lme) , "the labour of the law", which they say the mouth is made for, and of labourers in the law F6; and such persons they judged worthy of the greatest respect, and to be preferred to others. For, they say F7,
``if a congregation is obliged to give a salary to a doctor (or ruler of the synagogue), and to a minister of the congregation, and it is not in their power to give to both; if the ruler is a famous man, and great in the law, and expert in doctrine, he is to be preferred, but if not the minister of the congregation is to be preferred.''
F2 Bereshit Rabba, sect. 33. fol. 28. 3.
F3 T. Hieros. Masser, Sheni, fol. 56. 2.
F4 Zohar in Gen. fol. 60. 4. & pasira.
F5 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 99. 2.
F6 Derech Eretz, fol. 17. 4.
F7 Jore Des, Tit. 251. sect. 13.
