Order in the Household: Honoring, Correcting, and Appointing Elders Text: 1 Timothy 5:17-25
Introduction: A Well-Ordered House
The Christian faith is not a sentimental feeling or a set of abstract doctrines to be debated in a classroom. It is a robust and practical way of life, intended to create a particular kind of people and a particular kind of community. The church is the household of God, and like any well-run household, it must have order. This order is not the sterile, bureaucratic order of a government agency, but the living, breathing, organic order of a family. It is an order defined by honor, respect, justice, and purity.
As Paul continues his instruction to his young apprentice Timothy, he moves from the care of widows to the governance of the church, specifically concerning the elders. These are the men charged with the oversight and spiritual health of the flock. If the church is to be the pillar and buttress of the truth, as Paul stated earlier, then the men who hold up that pillar must be held in high regard, and they must be held to a high standard. There can be no wobble in the leadership.
In our passage today, Paul lays out a series of practical instructions that are absolutely essential for the health of any church. He addresses how elders are to be compensated, how they are to be protected from slander, how they are to be disciplined when they fall, and how new elders are to be appointed. This is not fussy ecclesiastical housekeeping. This is spiritual warfare. A church that does not honor its faithful leaders will soon have no faithful leaders to honor. A church that does not discipline its unfaithful leaders will soon be led by wolves. And a church that is careless in appointing leaders is like a city that leaves its gates wide open for the enemy to walk right in.
We live in an age that despises authority and loves to tear down leaders. At the same time, we have a low tolerance for sin in the rearview mirror, but a high tolerance for it in the present. Paul's instructions cut straight across our modern sensibilities. He calls for a robust honor that makes feminists and egalitarians uncomfortable, and he calls for a swift and public justice that makes the sentimental and therapeutic among us squirm. But this is the wisdom of God for the household of God, and we would do well to listen.
The Text
The elders who lead well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor at preaching the word and teaching. For the Scripture says, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE IT IS THRESHING,” and “THE LABORER IS WORTHY OF HIS WAGES.” Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. Those who continue in sin, reprove in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His elect angels, to observe these instructions without bias, doing nothing in partiality. Do not lay hands upon anyone hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself pure. No longer drink water only, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after. So also good works are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.
(1 Timothy 5:17-25 LSB)
Worthy of Double Honor (vv. 17-18)
Paul begins with the principle of compensation and honor for faithful elders.
"The elders who lead well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor at preaching the word and teaching." (1 Timothy 5:17)
The word "honor" here, as in the previous discussion about widows, includes both respect and financial remuneration. The command is for "double honor." This doesn't mean a precise doubling of a salary, but rather an abundant, generous provision. It is a call for the church to be open-handed and not tight-fisted with the men who give their lives to shepherding the flock. This is particularly directed toward those who "labor" in preaching and teaching. The word for labor here means to toil to the point of exhaustion. The ministry of the Word is not a part-time hobby; it is grueling, demanding work. A man who faithfully preaches God's Word week in and week out, who prepares, studies, counsels, and prays, is expending immense spiritual, mental, and emotional energy. The church has a duty to ensure that such a man is not distracted by financial worry.
Paul then grounds this principle in the Old Testament law, demonstrating the continuity of God's economic principles.
"For the Scripture says, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE IT IS THRESHING,” and “THE LABORER IS WORTHY OF HIS WAGES.”" (1 Timothy 5:18)
He quotes two sources. The first is Deuteronomy 25:4. An ox that is treading the grain should be allowed to eat from the grain it is working. It is a simple principle of justice. If God is concerned for the fair treatment of a farm animal, how much more is He concerned for the men who labor in His spiritual harvest? To starve the pastor is to muzzle the ox, and it is an injustice in the sight of God. The second quote, "The laborer is worthy of his wages," is a direct citation of Jesus' words in Luke 10:7. It is remarkable that Paul refers to Luke's Gospel as "Scripture," placing it on par with the Torah. This shows how early the church recognized the authority of the New Testament writings. The point is clear: paying the pastor is not an act of charity. It is a wage owed. It is a matter of justice.
Protecting and Disciplining Elders (vv. 19-21)
Having established the honor due to elders, Paul now turns to the process for handling accusations against them. The office is honorable, and so it must be protected from frivolous or malicious attacks.
"Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses." (1 Timothy 5:19)
This is not a special rule invented for elders; it is the application of the universal standard of biblical justice found in Deuteronomy 19:15. No one in Israel could be condemned on the testimony of a single witness. Because an elder's position is one of public leadership, he is a prime target for Satan's attacks. Disgruntled members, false teachers, or those who simply don't like his preaching can easily fabricate slander. This rule acts as a necessary firewall. It does not mean that an elder is above the law. It means that for a charge to even be heard, to be officially "received" by the church leadership, it must be a credible charge, substantiated by multiple witnesses. This protects the church from being thrown into chaos by every rumor and complaint that floats through the pews.
But this protection is not a shield for wickedness. If the charge is substantiated, the discipline must be firm and public.
"Those who continue in sin, reprove in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful." (1 Timothy 5:20)
The standard is higher for leaders. If an elder is found to be in persistent, unrepentant sin, the discipline is not to be handled quietly in a back room. He is to be rebuked "in the presence of all." Why? Because his sin is a public scandal, and therefore the remedy must be public. His leadership role means his sin affects the entire congregation. A public rebuke serves two purposes. First, it vindicates the holiness of God and the integrity of the church. Second, it creates a holy "fear" in the rest of the congregation. It sends a clear message: sin will not be tolerated, especially in leadership. If this is what happens to a shepherd, what will happen to the sheep if they stray? This is the kind of fear that keeps a church pure.
Paul underscores the gravity of these instructions with a solemn charge.
"I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His elect angels, to observe these instructions without bias, doing nothing in partiality." (1 Timothy 5:21)
Timothy is to act as a judge, and he is to remember that he is being watched. He is in the courtroom of heaven. God, Christ, and the elect angels are the witnesses to his administration of justice. Therefore, there can be no partiality. He cannot show favoritism to a wealthy or popular elder, nor can he be unduly harsh on an elder he personally dislikes. The standard of justice must be applied evenly, without prejudice. This is the foundation of a just and healthy church government.
Appointing New Leaders (v. 22)
From correcting current leaders, Paul turns to the appointment of future ones. The two are directly related: a failure in the latter will inevitably lead to a need for the former.
"Do not lay hands upon anyone hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself pure." (1 Timothy 5:22)
The "laying on of hands" refers to ordination, the public commissioning of a man for the office of elder. Paul's warning is sharp: don't be hasty. Don't rush a man into office. The process of selecting elders must be slow, careful, and deliberate. A man's character, his doctrine, and his ability to manage his own household must be thoroughly examined over time. To ordain a man hastily is to endorse him publicly. If that man then falls into sin and disqualifies himself, the ones who ordained him "share responsibility for the sins." They are complicit. They have failed in their duty as gatekeepers. Timothy is charged to keep himself pure by maintaining a high and careful standard for the eldership.
A Personal Word and a Concluding Principle (vv. 23-25)
Paul then inserts a brief, personal piece of medical advice to Timothy, which at first seems out of place.
"No longer drink water only, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments." (1 Timothy 5:23)
Why is this here? Some have suggested Timothy was so ascetic, perhaps in reaction to the luxury-loving false teachers, that he was harming his own health. The water in a place like Ephesus was often unsafe, and wine, mixed with water, was a common way to purify it. This is a beautiful picture of the pastor's care. Paul is not just concerned with Timothy's doctrine, but with his digestion. It also serves as a wonderful guard against a Gnostic, anti-material piety. The creation is good. Wine is a gift from God, and it can be used medicinally. This is not a license for drunkenness, but a commonsense application of God's provision for our physical well-being. The Christian life is an embodied life.
Finally, Paul returns to his theme of judging character, providing a concluding principle for Timothy's work of oversight.
"The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after. So also good works are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed." (1 Timothy 5:24-25)
This is a word of wisdom for a man charged with appointing and disciplining elders. Some men are walking scandals. Their sin is "quite evident," parading ahead of them. It's easy to see they are disqualified. Don't ordain them. But other men are more subtle. Their sins are hidden and only "follow after" them, becoming clear over time. This is why you must not be hasty. Time reveals character. The same is true of good works. Some men have an obvious, evident track record of faithfulness. But others are quieter, and their good works are not immediately seen. But, Paul says, they "cannot be concealed" forever. The point is this: be patient. Be discerning. Time and careful observation are your allies. Don't make snap judgments, either for or against a man. Watch the pattern of his life, because character, whether good or bad, will eventually come to the light.
Conclusion: The Weight of Glory and Governance
This passage gives us a framework for a church that is both strong and just. It is a church that honors and provides for its leaders, recognizing the immense value of the public ministry of the Word. It is a church that protects its leaders from slander but does not protect them from discipline. It is a church where justice is administered without fear or favor. And it is a church that is careful and deliberate in raising up the next generation of leaders.
We are called to build this kind of church. This requires a congregation that is willing to generously support the ministry and to respect the office of elder. It requires a people who refuse to participate in gossip or slander, but who also have the courage to bring a legitimate charge through the proper channels when necessary. And it requires elders who take their calling with the utmost seriousness, knowing that they are accountable to God for the flock under their care.
The health of the church depends on the health of its leadership. When the shepherds are strong, the flock is safe. When the shepherds are honored, the ministry flourishes. And when the shepherds are held to a high standard, the name of Christ is glorified. May God give us the grace to be this kind of church, a well-ordered household, to the praise of His glorious name.