RELATING WITH CHURCH LEADERS
1 TIMOTHY 5:17-25

17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
18 For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.
23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.
24 Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

1. Paying Elders (vv. 17-18)

• Paul says that an elder who rules well should be worthy of double honor, i.e. good

  Reveal Answer

  pay
  for those who labor in the word and teaching.

• There are a couple applications:
  1) A

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  church
  should look to do the very best it can to provide a salary for her pastor/staff, especially those churches which have leaders that work hard, do well, preach, teach, serve, etc.
  2) The
  Reveal Answer

  senior
  Reveal Answer

  pastor
  should lead the church to take care of the staff. In essence Paul says, “Timothy, some of the elders are worthy of double honor. Lead the church to take care of them because the church is blessed.”

• Paul gives two quotes to support his comment of about elders being worthy of double honor.

• Deuteronomy 25:4 is a verse that had become an idiom by the first century drawing upon the ancient, familiar image of an ox dragging a threshing board cover cut grain to separate the kernel from the husks. As the ox worked, it was allowed to eat some of the grain.

• Paul also quotes Jesus (Mt. 10:10): “for the workman is worthy of his meat.”

• If someone works a job you hired them to do, then pay them. That is what happens in the secular world. So certainly then, a church should see to it that a pastor/elder/staff member who serves well is provided for well financially.

2. Disciplining Elders (vv. 19-21)

• Church discipline is typically thought of in terms of the church seeking to discipline and restore a church member. But, what Paul has in mind here is the disciplining and restoration of an
  Reveal Answer

  elder
  .

• Paul tells Timothy that he (senior leader) may have to discipline and seek to restore an erring elder.

• Elder discipline has the same goal as church discipline –

  Reveal Answer

  correct
  and
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  restore
  . But, when an elder has to be disciplined it can be very damaging due to the influence of the sinning elder on the church and effect on community. That is why he needs to be corrected. But Paul tells Timothy to do it carefully.

1) Be

of the facts (v. 19)

Charles Swindoll: Don’t listen to every whim of criticism; investigate any accusation thoroughly to test its merit before taking any action.

• Paul reaches back to Old Testament days and says that all should be established by two or three witnesses.
• This was the perhaps the only evidence in Paul’s day. However, today a single witness could be substantiated by emails, photos, video, financial paper trail, etc.
• The point Paul is making is that Timothy (church) should thoroughly investigate and make sure that an accusation is true.
• Also, the idea of establishing an accusation with 2 or 3 witnesses gives the accused an opportunity to face his accusers.

2) Be open and

(v. 20)

• When it comes to dealing with an elder or staff member, it is best to do it openly and with transparency.
• Paul tells Timothy to rebuke the sinning elder before the all the elders/entire church. The word rebuke means to show a sinner his sin and summon him to
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  repentance
  .
• The goal is restoration not humiliation.

Warren Weirsbe:
If an officer [church leader / pastor / elder] is guilty, then he should be rebuked before all the other leaders (1 Tim. 5:20). He should be given opportunity to repent, and if he does he should be forgiven (2 Cor. 2:6-11). Once he is forgiven, the matter is settled and should never be brought up again.

Charles Swindoll:
…the rebuke must take place “before all” or “in the presence of all” in the local congregation. This is not to humiliate the individual – although shame is regrettably inevitable – but to remain transparent and truthful as a church.

3) Be

with discipline

• We are to remain impartial in hearing and investigating accusations, discerning the truth of a matter, and then holding a pastor/elder/staff member accountable to God’s Word.

3. Selecting And Ordaining Elders (vv. 22-25)

• To “lay hands” on someone in the context of ministry is to ordain and endorse that person to serve the congregation and to represent the church in an official capacity.

• Paul warns Timothy (and churches) to avoid ordaining a man too quickly.

  1) Raising up

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  new
  leadership

  2) Restoring

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  repentant
  leadership
  • When we don’t do our due diligence, we can literally share in the sin of others and results of that sin. There is a sense of culpability.

• Parenthesis – vs. 23 - Whatever the matter at hand with Timothy, Paul’s advice is just simple, common sense advice regarding medicine for Timothy’s illness. The wine was safer to drink in moderation than the water.

• Paul ends with a caution and an encouragement.

• Caution: We can’t see into a man’s soul or heart or mind. Some sins are blatant and open. Some sins are hidden and you won’t know about them in this lifetime.
• Encouragement: Deeds can be seen. Good deeds are the evidence of what is internal. Follow the trail of good deeds and you will find a worthy elder.