1Ti 5:21-25 | KingComments | STEP | . If it has become evident that an elder has sinned, then he must be rebuked publicly. An example of this is what Paul does with Peter ( ). ‘To rebuke’ here means that the sin should be exposed and in that way evidently proved. In that way any objection will not be possible. The bad example of a leader could have the consequence that others are tempted not to deal too seriously with sin. Therefore in this case the rebuke must take place in the presence of all. The result is that “the rest also will be fearful [of sinning]” (cf. ). Such a public rebuke has a preventive effect on ‘the rest’. It is not really clear who are meant with “the rest”. Does that mean only the fellow elders or does that mean all members who form the local church? I tend to think that it implies the whole local church. It seems to me that a rebuke ‘in front of all’ implies that this happens in presence of the whole church. It doesn’t seem logical to me to speak of a rebuke ‘in front of all’ if that only happens in the circle of the elders. . By using the words “I solemnly charge” Paul places great emphasis on his words. He also underlines it by involving three witnesses in this case. They are, although invisible, always present with everything that happens in and through the church. The church is the house of “God”, “Christ Jesus” is the center there and “[His] chosen angels” are spectators of us as members of the church ( ; ). The Divine Residents of heaven, God and Christ Jesus, and also creatures that were kept from rebelling against God, the chosen angels, continuously see how you behave in God’s house. In the world God’s rights are in no way taken into consideration. But that ought to happen in God’s house. Therefore, the sin that is occurring there provably, ought to be dealt with and be judged by the church in accordance with God’s holiness. Paul warns of two dangers to which the church is exposed at the exertion of this necessary discipline. Those dangers are also great today. The one danger is “bias”, the other one is “partiality”. There is the temptation to overlook the evil of elders if people could possibly experience disadvantage when they rebuke them. If you have gained the favor of an influential leader, you might not want to lose it. To lose favor may absolutely have no role in the determination of sin. Also the preference that someone may have toward an elder can cause a hindrance to name the sin of the elder. Then there is no mention anymore of impartiality. If somebody means a lot to you, it is difficult “doing nothing in a [spirit of] partiality”. Then your preference determines your judgment too much. Remember that God ‘shows no partiality’ ( ) and deals without favoritism ( ; ). . Therefore, if a sin has been proved the whole local church is involved. But it is not always the case that a sin is that clearly present and demonstrable. It can happen that a person appears to do a service for the Lord, while he allows sins in his life that are not openly recognizable. Paul points out to Timothy that he ought to consider that. By the warning “do not lay hands upon anyone [too] hastily” he exhorts him to be cautious. The laying on of hands means to identify yourself with another person. With the offering service of Israel the laying on of hands has an important role. When the one who offers, lays his hand on the burnt offering ( ), the whole value the burnt offering has to God, as it were, transfers to him. Through that burnt offering he is made pleasing to God. With bringing the sin offering it is the other way around. By laying his hand on the sin offering ( ) his sin transfers, as it were, to the sin offering that is being slaughtered in his stead. God judges the offering and the sinner can go out free. Before Timothy identifies himself with the service of another person through the laying on of hands, he should be convinced that this person has really received that service from the Lord. According to it is good to precede the laying on of hands with a period of praying and fasting (cf. ). By a too quick recognition of a person to do a service for the Lord, Timothy runs the risk to identify himself with sins. That is the case when it appears that a person is doing his own will and is serving the Lord only by name. By laying hands on such a person this person is being stimulated in a wrong way, and he who lays hands on him follows him on that way. In that way he has fellowship with his sins. Here it becomes clear that direct connection with evil defiles a person. By being careful with identifying himself with another person Timothy keeps himself in purity. The call “keep yourself free from sin” also applies in general sense ( ). You can only remain pure if you fear God. Then He will show you His will in all cases where you doubt whether you can commit to it or cooperate with it ( ). . As you know, Timothy is an unpretentious, somewhat shy man. He is someone who lives meticulous and has a close conscience. Paul’s exhortation to be careful with the laying on of hands must have surely connected to his cautious way of living. I think that we should place the advice of Paul in this context with regard to the health of Timothy. Timothy must have done everything to prevent that God’s work would be hindered by him. He wanted to avoid everything that could possibly be a stumbling block to others ( ). Therefore he must have refused any drop of wine. And doesn’t God’s Word often warn against the abuse of wine? Still wine is not a prohibited beverage. The reason for using it, is of importance. Timothy then had a stomach problem and still other physical weaknesses. With a view to that Paul stimulates him to use a little wine. Paul does not use his gift of healing ( ) here, but stimulates him to use a little wine as medicine. There is no mention of a demon that strikes the stomach of Timothy. You see that sickness and physical weakness do not have to be caused by a demon of sickness that ought to be exorcised. Here you also see that the use of medicine is not a sign of unbelief. Still it is important to note that it is about “a little wine”. Excessive use is out of the question. As it is said, the use of wine is permitted ( ; ). It is the symbol of joy ( ). Therefore you are allowed to use a little wine only if you do not use it to forget all the misery for a moment like the world does (cf. ). . Here Paul continues the subject he was dealing with in , after the phrase concerning the health of Timothy and the advice what he should do. He points out that “the sins of some men are quite evident”. Before the life of such people becomes revealed before the judgment seat of Christ ( ), it is already revealed on earth that they have lived in sin. Their sins are “going before them to judgment”. In those cases the sins are totally clear and it will not be difficult to deal with it. There are also men of whom it is not directly clear that they live in sin. Still there comes a moment, after their life in which they had hidden their sin, that everything will be revealed before the judgment seat. . What applies to the sins “likewise” applies to “deeds that are good”. Also those will not remain hidden. There are good works which we already recognize as such on earth ( ), like we see with Dorcas ( ). There are also good works that were unnoticed for men. These will become equally visible and will appropriately be rewarded. Now read 1 Timothy 5:20-25 again. Reflection: Which indications in this section can you take to heart?

‏ 1 Timothy 5:21-25

Sins, Sickness and Infirmities

1Tim 5:20. If it has become evident that an elder has sinned, then he must be rebuked publicly. An example of this is what Paul does with Peter (Gal 2:11). ‘To rebuke’ here means that the sin should be exposed and in that way evidently proved. In that way any objection will not be possible.

The bad example of a leader could have the consequence that others are tempted not to deal too seriously with sin. Therefore in this case the rebuke must take place in the presence of all. The result is that “the rest also will be fearful [of sinning]” (cf. 2Pet 2:6). Such a public rebuke has a preventive effect on ‘the rest’.

It is not really clear who are meant with “the rest”. Does that mean only the fellow elders or does that mean all members who form the local church? I tend to think that it implies the whole local church. It seems to me that a rebuke ‘in front of all’ implies that this happens in presence of the whole church. It doesn’t seem logical to me to speak of a rebuke ‘in front of all’ if that only happens in the circle of the elders.

1Tim 5:21. By using the words “I solemnly charge” Paul places great emphasis on his words. He also underlines it by involving three witnesses in this case. They are, although invisible, always present with everything that happens in and through the church. The church is the house of “God”, “Christ Jesus” is the center there and “[His] chosen angels” are spectators of us as members of the church (1Cor 11:10; Eph 3:10).

The Divine Residents of heaven, God and Christ Jesus, and also creatures that were kept from rebelling against God, the chosen angels, continuously see how you behave in God’s house. In the world God’s rights are in no way taken into consideration. But that ought to happen in God’s house. Therefore, the sin that is occurring there provably, ought to be dealt with and be judged by the church in accordance with God’s holiness.

Paul warns of two dangers to which the church is exposed at the exertion of this necessary discipline. Those dangers are also great today. The one danger is “bias”, the other one is “partiality”. There is the temptation to overlook the evil of elders if people could possibly experience disadvantage when they rebuke them. If you have gained the favor of an influential leader, you might not want to lose it. To lose favor may absolutely have no role in the determination of sin.

Also the preference that someone may have toward an elder can cause a hindrance to name the sin of the elder. Then there is no mention anymore of impartiality. If somebody means a lot to you, it is difficult “doing nothing in a [spirit of] partiality”. Then your preference determines your judgment too much. Remember that God ‘shows no partiality’ (Deu 10:17) and deals without favoritism (Gal 2:6; Col 3:25).

1Tim 5:22. Therefore, if a sin has been proved the whole local church is involved. But it is not always the case that a sin is that clearly present and demonstrable. It can happen that a person appears to do a service for the Lord, while he allows sins in his life that are not openly recognizable. Paul points out to Timothy that he ought to consider that. By the warning “do not lay hands upon anyone [too] hastily” he exhorts him to be cautious.

The laying on of hands means to identify yourself with another person. With the offering service of Israel the laying on of hands has an important role. When the one who offers, lays his hand on the burnt offering (Lev 1:4), the whole value the burnt offering has to God, as it were, transfers to him. Through that burnt offering he is made pleasing to God. With bringing the sin offering it is the other way around. By laying his hand on the sin offering (Lev 4:4) his sin transfers, as it were, to the sin offering that is being slaughtered in his stead. God judges the offering and the sinner can go out free.

Before Timothy identifies himself with the service of another person through the laying on of hands, he should be convinced that this person has really received that service from the Lord. According to Acts 13:3 it is good to precede the laying on of hands with a period of praying and fasting (cf. Acts 6:6).

By a too quick recognition of a person to do a service for the Lord, Timothy runs the risk to identify himself with sins. That is the case when it appears that a person is doing his own will and is serving the Lord only by name. By laying hands on such a person this person is being stimulated in a wrong way, and he who lays hands on him follows him on that way. In that way he has fellowship with his sins.

Here it becomes clear that direct connection with evil defiles a person. By being careful with identifying himself with another person Timothy keeps himself in purity. The call “keep yourself free from sin” also applies in general sense (2Cor 7:1). You can only remain pure if you fear God. Then He will show you His will in all cases where you doubt whether you can commit to it or cooperate with it (Psa 25:14).

1Tim 5:23. As you know, Timothy is an unpretentious, somewhat shy man. He is someone who lives meticulous and has a close conscience. Paul’s exhortation to be careful with the laying on of hands must have surely connected to his cautious way of living. I think that we should place the advice of Paul in this context with regard to the health of Timothy.

Timothy must have done everything to prevent that God’s work would be hindered by him. He wanted to avoid everything that could possibly be a stumbling block to others (Rom 14:21). Therefore he must have refused any drop of wine. And doesn’t God’s Word often warn against the abuse of wine? Still wine is not a prohibited beverage. The reason for using it, is of importance. Timothy then had a stomach problem and still other physical weaknesses. With a view to that Paul stimulates him to use a little wine.

Paul does not use his gift of healing (Acts 28:8-9) here, but stimulates him to use a little wine as medicine. There is no mention of a demon that strikes the stomach of Timothy. You see that sickness and physical weakness do not have to be caused by a demon of sickness that ought to be exorcised. Here you also see that the use of medicine is not a sign of unbelief.

Still it is important to note that it is about “a little wine”. Excessive use is out of the question. As it is said, the use of wine is permitted (Jn 2:1-11; 1Cor 10:16). It is the symbol of joy (Psa 104:15). Therefore you are allowed to use a little wine only if you do not use it to forget all the misery for a moment like the world does (cf. Pro 31:7).

1Tim 5:24. Here Paul continues the subject he was dealing with in 1Tim 5:22, after the phrase concerning the health of Timothy and the advice what he should do. He points out that “the sins of some men are quite evident”. Before the life of such people becomes revealed before the judgment seat of Christ (2Cor 5:10), it is already revealed on earth that they have lived in sin. Their sins are “going before them to judgment”. In those cases the sins are totally clear and it will not be difficult to deal with it.

There are also men of whom it is not directly clear that they live in sin. Still there comes a moment, after their life in which they had hidden their sin, that everything will be revealed before the judgment seat.

1Tim 5:25. What applies to the sins “likewise” applies to “deeds that are good”. Also those will not remain hidden. There are good works which we already recognize as such on earth (Mt 5:16), like we see with Dorcas (Acts 9:36 ; 39). There are also good works that were unnoticed for men. These will become equally visible and will appropriately be rewarded.

Now read 1 Timothy 5:20-25 again.

Reflection: Which indications in this section can you take to heart?