Today’s passage: 1 Timothy 5:17-25
Helpful thoughts:
- Remember that “elders” are synonymous with pastors and overseers/bishops in the New Testament.
- The commendation to give “Double honor” is not only a financial command, though the context certainly addresses the financial aspect as well. This double honor is a general idea of respect and care given to those elders who lead the church faithfully, especially those who teach and preach often.
- Some other things to note from this instruction:
- This is another instance in the NT which assumes there are always more then one elder/pastor in the local church.
- Not every elder/pastor is paid or regarded as being responsible for the same amount of work. (Think, paid elders/pastors and lay elders/pastors)
- Not every elder is expected to preach and teach as much as the others. Elders must be able to teach. But, not all elders will teach and preach as often as others.
- Accusations against elders must be brought by two or three witnesses (In keeping with the principle of Deuteronomy 19:15). But when those accusations are properly brought and true, they are to be brought before the church.
- Elders are to be held accountable.
- This accountability is never to simply be a slap on the wrist. Once the sin is rebuked, repentance should be sought. This process may or may not allow that pastor to continue in his office depending on the situation and the qualifications of an elder.
- The water in that time was not as purified as ours is today. The fermentation process in wine would kill off whatever was in the water and was therefore safer to drink. Timothy may have sought to remain abstinent from wine, and was paying the price physically. Paul let him know it was ok to drink some wine to bolster his health.
Questions to consider:
- Laying hands on someone (Verse 22) refers to the process of ordaining someone to an office in the church. Why is it wise to be patient in the process of seeing if a person is ready for that role? How does verse 24 correlate with the instruction of verse 22?
- Why would it be helpful to have more than one elder in a church? What becomes necessary when there is only one elder? What must the deacons then be asked to do so that there isn’t a single man ruling the church? What could the deacons be freed up to focus on more if they were not charged with also fulfilling eldering responsibilities?
- Given the fact that churches are also responsible for the purity, rebuking, and exhorting of their pastors/elders, does a church rise and fall on a single elder? If a church would cease to exist if the elder(s) pulled the plug, what actual role would the congregation be fulfilling? Why is congregational governance an absolute must for any local church?