September 27 / I Timothy 5:17-25

I Timothy 5:17-25

My Study Bible guided me well this morning – almost the entire reading today is speaking about elders, all except the last three verses. Seeing this reading in its full context makes it more clear than taking a verse out of context. Today’s first three verses obviously point to elders. However, verse 20, “As for those who persist in sin…” is referring back to the “charge against an elder” in verse 19. I suppose it’s possible to interpret verse 20 as applying to anyone in a congregation, not just elders, but again reading within the larger context is more appropriate. Likewise, verse 22 could easily be misinterpreted: “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands…” This verse refers to the ordination process which is still alive in our churches today. Initially I had read this verse in the NKJV: “Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins…”. I had first related this verse back to those who were “persisting in sin” (v. 20), with members of the congregation arguing that they were deserving of some sort of physical punishment. Again, a verse taken out of context can be easily misinterpreted!

Finally, today’s last two verses are worthy of note: The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden. (vv. 24-25, ESV) The phrase, even those that are not is translated those that are otherwise in both the NKJV and the NASB, leaving out the clarifying word “even”. Again in reading these other two versions before the ESV I had thought that “otherwise” referred to the opposite of “good works”, i.e., sins. So for clarification, these two verses are saying that some sins and some good works are readily evident (conspicuous) in some people’s lives, and that some sins and some good works are not immediately evident, but will surface later. Thankfully most committed Christians understand that in sharing our faith we often do not see repentance and redemption coming forth from an unbeliever and we lay claim to Isaiah 55:11, So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth. It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. We now also have I Timothy 5:25 to fall back on! GLORY!!

Slava Bohu!