1 Timothy 5:18

Contextual Overview

¹⁷The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. ¹⁷ The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. ¹⁷ The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. ¹⁷The elders who lead well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor at preaching the word and teaching. ¹⁷The cow bosses who run the outfit in a respectable manner should be treated with double respect. ¹⁷ Let rulers whose rule is good be honoured twice over, specially those whose work is preaching and teaching. ¹⁷ Let the elders who take the lead [among the saints] well be esteemed worthy of double honour, specially those labouring in word and teaching; ¹⁷ The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. ¹⁷ Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching. ¹⁷ Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in the word and teaching.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the scripture: Romans 4:3, Romans 9:17, Romans 10:11, Romans 11:2, Galatians 3:8, James 4:5

Thou: Deuteronomy 25:4, 1 Corinthians 9:9, 1 Corinthians 9:10

The labourer: Leviticus 19:13, Deuteronomy 24:14, Deuteronomy 24:15, Matthew 10:10, Luke 10:7

Reciprocal: Genesis 14:24 - let Numbers 18:31 - your reward Deuteronomy 18:8 - like portions Joshua 21:2 - The Lord Nehemiah 13:10 - the portions Song of Solomon 8:12 - those Luke 10:2 - the labourers Acts 28:10 - honoured Romans 16:12 - labour 1 Corinthians 9:4 - we Galatians 6:6 - General 1 Thessalonians 5:12 - labour

Cross-References

Genesis 4:17
Cain lay with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch.

Genesis 4:17
Cain made love to his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch.

Genesis 4:17
Then Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch; and he built a city and called the name of the city Enoch, after the name of his son.

Genesis 4:17
Cain had relations with his wife and she conceived, and gave birth to Enoch; and he built a city, and called the name of the city Enoch, after the name of his son.

Genesis 4:17
Cain also knewe his wyfe, whiche conceaued and bare Henoch, and buyldyng a citie, he called the name of the same citie after the name of his sonne Henoch.

Genesis 4:17
Cain had sexual relations with his wife. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son named Enoch. Cain built a city and gave the city the same name as his son Enoch.

Genesis 4:17
Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch; and he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch.

Genesis 4:17
Forsothe Cayn knewe his wiif, which conseyuede, and childide Enoth; and Cayn bildide a citee, and clepide the name therof of the name of hise sone Enoth.

Genesis 4:17
And Cain knew his wife, and she conceiued and bare Enoch, and hee builded a City, and called the name of the City, after the name of his sonne, Enoch.

Genesis 4:17
And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Ver. 18 For the Scripture saith,.... In Deuteronomy 25:4

thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn;

Deuteronomy 25:4- :.

Deuteronomy 25:4- :. The ox, for its strength and labour, is a fit emblem of a Gospel minister; and its treading the corn out of the husk and ear aptly represents the beating out, as it were, of Gospel truths, by the ministers of it, their making the doctrines of the Gospel clear, plain, and evident to the understandings of men; wherefore, as the ox was not muzzled when it trod out the corn, but might freely and largely feed upon it, so such who labour in the preaching of the Gospel ought to have a sufficient and competent maintenance: for which purpose this citation is made, as also the following:

and the labourer is worthy of his reward; which seems to be taken from Luke 10:7 which Gospel was now written, and in the hands of the apostle; who here, by two testimonies, the one from Moses, and the other from Christ, supports the right of the honourable maintenance of the ministers of the Gospel.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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 substantially in Matthew 10:10, and Luke 10:7. It does not occur in so many words in the Old Testament, and yet the apostle adduces it evidently as a quotation from the Scriptures, and as authority in the case. It would seem probable, therefore, that he had seen the Gospel by Matthew or by Luke, and that he quoted this as a part of Scripture, and regarded the Book from which he made the quotation as of the same authority as the Old Testament. If so, then this may be regarded as an attestation of the apostle to the inspiration of the “Gospel” in which it was found.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 18. The Scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox — This is a manifest proof that by τιμη, honour, in the preceding verse, the apostle means salary or wages: "Let the elders that rule well be accounted worthy of double honour," a larger salary than any of the official widows mentioned before, for "the labourer is worthy of his hire." The maintenance of every man in the Church should be in proportion to his own labour, and the necessities of his family. He that does no work should have no wages. In the Church of Christ there never can be a sinecure. They who minister at the altar should live by the altar; the ox that treadeth out the corn should not be muzzled; the labourer is worthy of his hire: but the altar should not support him who does not minister at it; if the ox won't tread out the corn, let him go to the common or be muzzled; if the man will not labour, let him have no hire.