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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Timothy 5:17-25

Here are directions, I. Concerning the supporting of ministers. Care must be taken that they be honourably maintained (1 Tim. 5:17): Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour (that is, of double maintenance, double to what they have had, or to what others have), especially those who labour in the word and doctrine, those who are more laborious than others. Observe, The presbytery ruled, and the same that ruled were those who laboured in the word and doctrine: they had... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 5:23

5:23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine for the sake of your stomach, to help your frequent illnesses. This sentence shows the real intimacy of these letters. Amidst the affairs of the Church and the problems of administration, Paul finds time to slip in a little bit of loving advice to Timothy about his health. There had always been a strain of asceticism in Jewish religion. When a man took the Nazirite vow ( Numbers 6:1-21 ) he was pledged never to taste any of the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 5:24-25

5:24-25 Some men's sins are plain for all to see, and lead the way to judgment; the sins of others will duly catch up on them. Even so there are good deeds which are plain for all to see, and there are things of a very different quality which cannot be hidden. This saying bids us leave things to God and be content. There are obvious sinners, whose sins are clearly leading to their disaster and their punishment; and there are secret sinners who, behind a front of unimpeachable rectitude,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 5:23

Drink no longer water ,.... Though it was commendable in him to keep under his body, as the apostle did, by abstemious living, and not pamper the flesh and encourage the lusts of it, and so preserve purity and chastity; yet it was proper that he should take care of his health, that it was not impaired by too much severity, and so he be incapable of doing the work of the Lord. And it seems by this, that his long and only use of water for his drink had been prejudicial to his health: wherefore... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 5:23

Drink no longer water, but use a little wine - The whole of this verse seems, to several learned critics and divines, strangely inserted in this place; it might have been, according to them, a note which the apostle inserted in the margin of his letter, on recollecting the precarious state of Timothy's health, and his great abstemiousness and self-denial. I believe the verse to be in its proper place; and, for reasons which I shall adduce, not less necessary than the directions which precede... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 5:24

Some men's sins are open beforehand - In appointing men to sacred offices in the Church, among the candidates Timothy would find, Some of whom he knew nothing, but only that they professed Christianity; let such be tried before they are appointed. Some of whose faith and piety he had the fullest knowledge, and whose usefulness in the Church was well known. Some whose lives were not at all or but partially reformed, who were still unchanged in their hearts, and unholy in their lives. ... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 5:23

Verse 23 23No longer drink water There are some who conjecture that this sentence, which breaks off the train of thought, was not written by Paul. But we see that Paul was not so anxious about keeping up the close connection of a discourse, and that it was very customary with him to intermingle a variety of statements without any arrangement. Besides, it is possible that what had been formerly written in the margin of the Epistle afterwards found its way into this passage through the mistake of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 5:24

Verse 24 24The sins of some men are visible beforehand As there is nothing that distresses more the faithful ministers of the Church, than to see no way of correcting evils, and to be compelled to endure hypocrites, of whose wickedness they are aware and to be unable to banish from the Church many who are destructive plagues, or even to hinder them from spreading their venom by secret arts; (115) Paul supports Timothy by this consolation, that, when it shall please God, they, will one day be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 5:1-25

I. THE CONDUCT OF TIMOTHY TOWARD ELDERLY MEN . "Reprimand not an elderly person, but exhort him as a brother." The allusion is not to an official elder of the Church, but to any elderly member of it. 1. Such persons might possibly be guilty of serious shortcomings , warranting private admonition, if not the exercise of discipline. Their conduct would have a worse effect than that of more youthful offenders. 2. Timothy must not use sharpness or severity in dealing... read more

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