1 Timothy 5:17

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 elders: 1 Timothy 5:1

rule: 1 Timothy 3:5, Matthew 24:25, Luke 12:42, Romans 12:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:13, Hebrews 13:7, Hebrews 13:17, Hebrews 13:24

be: 1 Timothy 5:3, Acts 28:10, Romans 15:27, 1 Corinthians 9:5-14, Galatians 6:6, Philippians 2:29

double: 2 Kings 2:9, Isaiah 40:2, Jeremiah 16:18, Jeremiah 17:18, Zechariah 9:12

labour: 1 Timothy 4:10, Matthew 9:37, Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:1, Luke 10:2, Luke 10:7, John 4:38, Acts 20:35, Romans 16:12, 1 Corinthians 3:9, 1 Corinthians 15:10, 1 Corinthians 16:16, 2 Corinthians 6:1, Philippians 2:16, Philippians 4:3, 2 Timothy 2:6

word: 1 Timothy 4:6, 1 Timothy 4:16, 2 Timothy 4:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 9:23 - General Genesis 24:2 - eldest Genesis 47:22 - for the priests Numbers 18:31 - your reward Numbers 31:41 - Eleazar Deuteronomy 14:27 - the Levite Deuteronomy 18:8 - like portions Deuteronomy 25:4 - muzzle Joshua 21:2 - The Lord 2 Kings 2:19 - my Lord seeth Nehemiah 13:10 - the portions Song of Solomon 8:12 - those Matthew 10:10 - for the Acts 11:30 - to the Acts 14:23 - elders Acts 20:17 - the elders Acts 20:28 - overseers Romans 12:7 - or he Romans 13:7 - honour to 1 Corinthians 9:4 - we 1 Corinthians 9:14 - ordained 1 Corinthians 12:28 - governments 1 Thessalonians 2:6 - of men Titus 2:10 - the doctrine Revelation 2:3 - hast laboured

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Let the elders that rule well,.... By whom are meant not elders in age; though such ought to be honoured and respected, and to have a proper maintenance either from their children or the church, when reduced, and incapable of helping themselves; but then this is what should be done to all such persons, whereas the elders here are particularly described as good rulers and labourers in the word and doctrine; besides, elders in age are taken notice of before; nor are civil magistrates intended, such as were called the elders of Israel; for though such as discharge their office well are worthy of honour, yet it does not belong to any of them to labour in preaching the doctrine of the Gospel: nor are deacons designed, for they are never called elders in Scripture; nor is their work ruling, but serving of tables; nor does the ministry of the word belong to them as such; nor is any maintenance allowed them from the church on account of their office: nor are lay elders meant, who rule, but teach not; since there are no such officers appointed in the churches of Christ; whose only officers are bishops or elders and deacons: wherefore the qualifications such are only given in a preceding chapter. There are no other that rule in churches, but such who also speak to them the word of God; wherefore by him that rules, and the labourer in word and doctrine, are not meant two distinct orders, but different persons of the same order; some of these ruling well, but do not take so much pains in the ministry of the word; while others of them both rule well and labour in the word, and who are to be reckoned deserving of the honour hereafter mentioned. These are called "elders", because they are commonly chosen out of the senior members of the churches, though not always, Timothy is an exception to this; and because of their senile gravity and prudence, which were necessary in them: and they may be said to "rule", because they are set in the highest place in the church, and over others in the Lord, who are to submit themselves to them, and obey them. Christ's church is a kingdom, he is King of it, and his ministering servants are rulers under him; and who rule "well" when they rule not with force and cruelty, or lord it over God's heritage; but when they govern according to the laws which Christ the King and lawgiver has prescribed; when they explain and enforce those laws, and show them to the people, and see that they are put in execution and when they discharge this part of their work with diligence and prudence. Now let such be

counted worthy of double honour; which some understand of honour in this world, and in the world to come, and which they have; they are honoured now by Christ, though reproached by the world, by being called unto, qualified for, and succeeded in the work of the ministry; and when they have faithfully discharged it, they will be honoured by him hereafter, and be introduced into his joy with commendation, and shine as the stars for ever and ever. But rather this is to be understood both of that outward respect that is to be shown them by words and actions; and of a sufficient maintenance that is to be provided for them; in which sense the word "honour" is used in this chapter before; :-, and some think that the comparison is between the widows before mentioned, and these elders; that if poor widows in the church are to be honoured and maintained, then much more the officers of it; these are worthy of more honour, even of double honour, or, a larger and a more honourable main tenant: and indeed this seems to be the meaning of the word "double" when used both in an ill and in a good sense; see Revelation 18:6 and is an allusion to the firstborn among the Jews, who was to have a double portion of his father's goods, Deuteronomy 21:17 and so may here signify, that the ministers of the Gospel ought not to have a short and scanty, but a large and honourable maintenance.

Especially they who labour in the word and doctrine; which lies in a constant reading of the Scriptures, the word of God, and diligently searching into them, and comparing them together, in order to find out the mind and will of God in them; in a daily meditation upon them, and study of them; and in frequent and fervent wrestling with God, or prayer to him, to give an understanding of them; and in endeavouring to find out the sense of difficult passages, which are hard to be understood; and in providing for the different cases and circumstances of hearers, that everyone may have a portion; and in the choice of apt and proper words to express truth in, to the capacities of all: this is labouring in the word in private; besides which there is labouring in doctrine, in public; in preaching the Gospel constantly, boldly, and faithfully; in holding it fast against all opposition, and in defending it by argument, both by word and writing. The phrase seems to be Jewish, a like one is often to be met with in Jewish writings: Rabbenu was sitting לעי באורייתא,

""and labouring in the law" before the congregation of the Babylonians at Tzippore b;''

and again c,

"R. Jonah gave tithes to R. Acha bar Alia, not because he was a priest, but because he לעי באוריתא, "laboured in the law";''

and they say d,

"there is no greater reward for a man in the world, as for him דלעי באוריתא, "who labours in the law";''

hence we read e of עמל תורה, "the labour of the law", which they say the mouth is made for, and of labourers in the law f; and such persons they judged worthy of the greatest respect, and to be preferred to others. For, they say g,

"if a congregation is obliged to give a salary to a doctor (or ruler of the synagogue), and to a minister of the congregation, and it is not in their power to give to both; if the ruler is a famous man, and great in the law, and expert in doctrine, he is to be preferred, but if not the minister of the congregation is to be preferred.''

b Bereshit Rabba, sect. 33. fol. 28. 3. c T. Hieros. Masser, Sheni, fol. 56. 2. d Zohar in Gen. fol. 60. 4. & pasira. e T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 99. 2. f Derech Eretz, fol. 17. 4. g Jore Des, Tit. 251. sect. 13.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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 administration of the affairs of the church. The word was in familiar use among the Jews to denote the body of men that presided in the synagogue; see the Matthew 15:2 note; Acts 11:30; Acts 15:2 notes.

That rule well - Presiding well, or well managing the spiritual interests of the church. The word rendered “rule” - προεστῶτες proestōtes - is from a verb meaning to be over; to preside over; to have the care of. The word is used with reference to bishops, Titus 1:5, Titus 1:7; to an apostle, 1 Peter 5:1; and is such a word as would apply to any officers to whom the management and government of the church was entrusted. On the general subject of the rulers in the church; see the notes on 1 Corinthians 12:28. It is probable that not precisely the same organization was pursued in every place where a church was established; and where there was a Jewish synagogue, the Christian church would be formed substantially after that model, and in such a church there would be a bench of presiding eiders; see, on this subject, Whately’s “Kingdom of Christ delineated,” pp. 84-80. The language here seems to have been taken from such an organization. On the Jewish synagogue, see the notes on Matthew 4:23.

Be counted worthy of double honour - Of double respect; that is, of a high degree of respect; of a degree of respect becoming their age and office; compare 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13. From the quotation which is made in 1 Timothy 5:18, in relation to this subject, it would seem probable that the apostle had some reference also to their support, or to what was necessary for their maintenance. There is no improbability in supposing that all the officers of the church, of whatever grade or rank, may have had some compensation, corresponding to the amount of time which their office required them to devote to the service of the church. Nothing would be more reasonable than that, if their duties in the church interfered with their regular employments in their secular calling, their brethren should contribute to their support; compare notes on 1 Corinthians 9:0.

Especially they who labour in word and doctrine - In preaching and instructing the people. From this it is clear that, while there were “elders” who labored “in the word and doctrine,” that is, in preaching, there were also those who did not labor “in the word and doctrine,” but who were nevertheless appointed to rule in the church. Whether, however, they were regarded as a separate and distinct class of officers, does not appear from this passage. It may have been that there was a bench of elders to whom the general management of the church was confided, and that a part of them were engaged in preaching; a part may have performed the office of “teachers” (see the Romans 12:7 note; 1 Corinthians 12:28 note), and a part may have been employed in managing other concerns of the church, and yet all were regarded as the προεστῶτες πρεσβύτεροι proestōtes presbuteroi - or “elders presiding over the church.” It cannot, I think, be certainly concluded from this passage, that the ruling elders who did not teach or preach were regarded as a separate class or order of permanent officers in the church. There seems to have been a bench of elders selected on account of age, piety, prudence, and wisdom, to whom was entrusted the whole business of the instruction and government of the church, and they performed the various parts of the duty as they had ability. Those among them who “labored in the word and doctrine,” and who gave up all their time to the business of their office, would be worthy of special respect, and of a higher compensation.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 17. Let the elders that rule well — Elder is probably here the name of an ecclesiastical officer, similar to what we now term presbyter. See note on 1 Timothy 5:1. Dr. Macknight has remarked that, "in the first age, the name πρεσβυτερος, elder, was given to all who exercised any sacred office in the Church, as is plain from Acts 20:28, where the persons are called επισκοποι, bishops, who, Acts 20:17, were called πρεσβυτεροι, elders. The same thing appears from Titus 1:5, where those are called elders who, Titus 1:7, are named bishops; and from 1 Timothy 4:14, where, collectively, all who held sacred offices in Lystra are called πρεσβυτεριον, the presbytery or eldership, and are said to have concurred with St. Paul in setting Timothy apart to the ministry."

Double honour — Διπλης τιμης. Almost every critic of note allows that τιμη here signifies reward, stipend, wages. Let him have a double or a larger salary who rules well; and why? Because in the discharge of his office he must be at expense, in proportion to his diligence, in visiting and relieving the sick, in lodging and providing for strangers; in a word, in his being given to hospitality, which was required of every bishop or presbyter.

Especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. — Those who not only preach publicly, but instruct privately, catechize, c. Some think this refers to distinct ecclesiastical orders but these technical distinctions were, in my opinion, a work of later times.