1Ti 5:19-22 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Tim 5:19-21: 5:19-21 The climate created by the false teachers may have led to spurious charges against the leaders of the community. This passage follows the outline of Deut 19:15-21 . • two or three witnesses: See Deut 17:6 ; 19:15 ; Matt 18:16 ; 2 Cor 13:1 ; Heb 10:28 .

Summary for 1Tim 5:19-21: 5:19-21 ^a The climate created by the false teachers may have led to spurious charges against the leaders of the community. This passage follows the outline of Deut 19:15-21 ^b.

• two or three witnesses: See Deut 17:6 ^c; 19:15 ^d; Matt 18:16 ^e; 2 Cor 13:1 ^f; Heb 10:28 ^g.
5:20 ^h Those who sin: This term refers either to one who is (rightly) accused or to one making a (false) accusation (Deut 19:16-19 ⁱ).

• The others are either the other elders or the rest of the church (cp. Deut 19:20 ^j; Acts 5:1-11 ^k).
5:21 ^l God and Christ Jesus and the highest angels constitute three witnesses (5:19 ^m). These witnesses confirm the accusation against leaders who sin (5:20 ⁿ).

• Angels are associated with God’s judgment (Dan 7:9-10 ^o; Matt 13:49 ^p; 25:31 ^q, 41 ^r; Luke 9:26 ^s; 2 Thes 1:7 ^t).
5:22 ^u Do not share in the sins of others: Those who commission an elder are responsible for his conduct.