1 Timothy 5:17-19

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 5:18

Verse 18 18Thou shalt not muzzle the ox This is a political precept which recommends to us equity and humanity (101) in general; as we have said in expounding the First Epistle to the Corinthians; (102) for, if he forbids us to be unkind to brute animals, how much greater humanity does he demand towards men! The meaning of this statement, therefore, is the same as if it had been said in general terns, that they must not make a wrong use of the labor of others. At the present day, the custom of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 5:19

Verse 19 19Against an elder receive not an accusation After having commanded that salaries should be paid to pastors, he likewise instructs Timothy not to allow them to be assailed by calumnies, or loaded with any accusation but what is supported by sufficient proof. But it may be thought strange, that he represents, as peculiar to elders, a law which is common to all. God lays down, authoritatively, this law as applicable to all cases, that they shall be decided “by the mouth of two or three... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 5:17

Those for they , A.V.; in teaching for doctrine , A.V. The elders ( πρεσβυτεροι ) here in its technical sense of "presbyters," which in the first age were the ruling body in every Chinch (see Acts 14:23 ; Acts 20:2 , Acts 20:4 , Acts 20:6 , Acts 20:22 ), after the analogy of the elders of the Jews. Rule well (at καλῶς προεστῶτες ). The presbyters or elders were the chiefs, rulers, or presidents, of the Church (see Romans 12:8 ; 1 Thessalonians 5:12 ; and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 5:18

When he for that , A.V.; hire for reward , A.V. Thou shall not muzzle , etc. This passage, kern Deuteronomy 25:1-19 ., which is quoted and commented upon, in the same souse as here, in 1 Corinthians 9:9 , shows distinctly that reward was to go with labor. The ox was not to be hindered from eating some portion of the grain which he was treading out. The preacher of the gospel was to live of the gospel. The laborer is worthy of his hire ( ἄξιος ὁ ἐργάτης τοῦ μισθοῦ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 5:19

Except at the mouth of for but before , A.V. An elder ; here clearly a presbyter, as the context proves. Receive ( παραδέχου ); give ear to , entertain ; as in Acts 22:18 , "They will not receive thy testimony." At the mouth of , etc. There is a reference to the law in Numbers 35:30 ; Deuteronomy 19:15 , and elsewhere (to which our Lord also refers, John 8:17 ), and St. Paul applies the principle of the law to Timothy's dealings with presbyters who might be... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Timothy 5:17

Let the elders that rule well - Greek, πρεσβύτεροι presbuteroi, Presbyters. The apostle had given full instructions respecting bishops 1 Timothy 3:1-7; deacons 1 Timothy 3:8-13; widows 1 Timothy 5:3-16; and he here proceeds to prescribe the duty of the church toward those who sustain the office of elder. The word used - “elder” or “presbyter” - properly refers to age, and is then used to denote the officers of the church, probably because the aged were at first entrusted with the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Timothy 5:18

For the Scripture saith - This is adduced as a reason why a church should show all due respect and care for its ministers. The reason is, that as God took care to make provision for the laboring ox, much more should due attention be paid to those who labor for the welfare of the church.Thou shalt not muzzle the ox - see this passage explained, and its bearing on such an argument shown, in the notes on 1 Corinthians 9:8-10.And, The labourer is worthy of his reward - This expression is found... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Timothy 5:19

Against an elder - The word “elder” here seems to be used in the sense in which it is in the previous verse as relating to “office,” and not in the sense of an aged man, as in 1 Timothy 5:1. The connection demands this interpretation.Receive not an accusation - He was not to regard such a charge as well founded unless sustained by two or three witnesses. It is clear from this, that Paul supposed that Timothy would be called on to hear charges against others who were in the ministerial office,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Timothy 5:17-18

1 Timothy 5:17-18. Let the elders that rule well Who approve themselves faithful stewards of all that is committed to their charge; be counted worthy of double honour A more abundant provision, seeing that such will employ it all to the glory of God. As they were the most laborious and disinterested men who were put into these offices, so, whatever any one had to bestow, in his life or death, was generally lodged in their hands for the poor. By this means the churchmen became very rich in... read more

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