1 Timothy 5:24

24 The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them.

1 Timothy 5:24 in Other Translations

24 Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.

24 The sins of some men are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later.

24 Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later.

24 The sins of some people are blatant and march them right into court. The sins of others don't show up until much later.

24 Some people's sins are evident, going before them to judgment, but [the sins] of others follow them.

1 Timothy 5:24 Meaning and Commentary

1 Timothy 5:24

Some men's sins are open before hand
Some men are such open and notorious sinners, that there is no need of any inquiry about them, or any examination of them; or any witnesses to be called to their character, in order to pass judgment concerning them; they even prevent and supersede any formal process about them. With such persons, the apostle intimates, Timothy could have no difficulty upon him, what to do with them; should they be proposed for the ministry, he would know at once what to do with them; namely, reject them. There would be no danger of his laying hands suddenly on such; for the following phrase,

going before to judgment,
is not to be understood of God's judgment, or of the last and future judgment of the great day, but of human judgment: it is true indeed that some men's sins are manifest and barefaced, before that day comes; while others are so private, that they will not be known till that day declares them, and brings to light the hidden things of darkness: and much such a way of speaking is used by the Jews; who say ^F13,

``whoever committeth one transgression, (a notorious one,) in this world, it joins to him, "and goes before him" (Nydh Mwyl) "to the day of judgment".''

But this sense agrees not with the context; and with what propriety soever it may be said, of some men's sins going before to judgment, it cannot be said with any, that others follow after judgment; since at the general judgment, every work, both good and bad, with every secret thing, will be brought into it; and nothing will follow after that: wherefore the next clause,

and some [men] they follow after;
that is, some men's sins follow after, is to be understood of their following after human judgment; or of their appearing in the light after judgment has been passed upon them, which before were hid: and the sense of the whole is this, that the characters of some men are so well known, and it is so plain a case, that they are destitute of the grace of God; have not ministerial gifts; or are unsound in the faith; or are men of immoral lives and conversations; so that there can be no dispute about them, whether they are to be admitted into the ministry of the word or rejected. But there are other persons who may be proposed, whose sins or errors are so private, that they may not be known; and yet may appear afterwards; wherefore it is proper to take time, and not be too hasty, or lay hands suddenly on men.

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FOOTNOTES:

F13 T. Bab. Sota, fol. 3. 2. Vid. Avoda Zara, fol. 5. 1.

1 Timothy 5:24 In-Context

22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

24 The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them.

25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.