SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:17
¶ Los ancianos que gobiernan bien, sean tenidos por dignos de doble honra; mayormente los que trabajan en predicar y ensear.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 5:17
Verse 17. Let the elders that rule well] Elder is probably here the name of an ecclesiastical officer, similar to what we now term presbyter. See on ver. 1. Dr. Macknight has remarked that, "in the first age, the name presbuterov, elder, was given to all who exercised any sacred office in the Church, as is plain from Acts xx. 28, where the persons are called episkopoi, bishops, who, ver. 17, were called presbuteroi, elders. The same thing appears from Tit. i. 5, where those are called elders who, ver. 7, are named bishops; and from chap. iv. 14, where, collectively, all who held sacred offices in Lystra are called presbuterion, the presbytery or eldership, and are said to have concurred with St. Paul in setting Timothy apart to the ministry." Double honour] diplhv timhv. Almost every critic of note allows that timh here signifies reward, stipend, wages. Let him have a double or a larger salary who rules well; and why? Because in the discharge of his office he must be at expense, in proportion to his diligence, in visiting and relieving the sick, in lodging and providing for strangers; in a word, in his being given to hospitality, which was required of every bishop or presbyter. Especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.] Those who not only preach publicly, but instruct privately, catechize, &c. Some think this refers to distinct ecclesiastical orders; but these technical distinctions were, in my opinion, a work of later times.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. Let the elders that rule well , etc.] By whom are meant not elders in age; though such ought to be honoured and respected, and to have a proper maintenance either from their children or the church, when reduced, and incapable of helping themselves; but then this is what should be done to all such persons, whereas the elders here are particularly described as good rulers and labourers in the word and doctrine; besides, elders in age are taken notice of before; nor are civil magistrates intended, such as were called the elders of Israel; for though such as discharge their office well are worthy of honour, yet it does not belong to any of them to labour in preaching the doctrine of the Gospel: nor are deacons designed, for they are never called elders in Scripture; nor is their work ruling, but serving of tables; nor does the ministry of the word belong to them as such; nor is any maintenance allowed them from the church on account of their office: nor are lay elders meant, who rule, but teach not; since there are no such officers appointed in the churches of Christ; whose only officers are bishops or elders and deacons: wherefore the qualifications such are only given in a preceding chapter. There are no other that rule in churches, but such who also speak to them the word of God; wherefore by him that rules, and the labourer in word and doctrine, are not meant two distinct orders, but different persons of the same order; some of these ruling well, but do not take so much pains in the ministry of the word; while others of them both rule well and labour in the word, and who are to be reckoned deserving of the honour hereafter mentioned. These are called elders, because they are commonly chosen out of the senior members of the churches, though not always, Timothy is an exception to this; and because of their senile gravity and prudence, which were necessary in them: and they may be said to rule, because they are set in the highest place in the church, and over others in the Lord, who are to submit themselves to them, and obey them. Christ's church is a kingdom, he is King of it, and his ministering servants are rulers under him; and who rule well when they rule not with force and cruelty, or lord it over God's heritage; but when they govern according to the laws which Christ the King and lawgiver has prescribed; when they explain and enforce those laws, and show them to the people, and see that they are put in execution and when they discharge this part of their work with diligence and prudence. Now let such be counted worthy of double honour ; which some understand of honour in this world, and in the world to come, and which they have; they are honoured now by Christ, though reproached by the world, by being called unto, qualified for, and succeeded in the work of the ministry; and when they have faithfully discharged it, they will be honoured by him hereafter, and be introduced into his joy with commendation, and shine as the stars for ever and ever. But rather this is to be understood both of that outward respect that is to be shown them by words and actions; and of a sufficient maintenance that is to be provided for them; in which sense the word honour is used in this chapter before; (see Gill on 1 Timothy 5:3), and some think that the comparison is between the widows before mentioned, and these elders; that if poor widows in the church are to be honoured and maintained, then much more the officers of it; these are worthy of more honour, even of double honour, or, a larger and a more honourable main tenant: and indeed this seems to be the meaning of the word double when used both in an ill and in a good sense; (see Revelation 18:6 2 Kings 2:9) and is an allusion to the firstborn among the Jews, who was to have a double portion of his father's goods, ( Deuteronomy 21:17) and so may here signify, that the ministers of the Gospel ought not to have a short and scanty, but a large and honourable maintenance. Especially they who labour in the word and doctrine ; which lies in a constant reading of the Scriptures, the word of God, and diligently searching into them, and comparing them together, in order to find out the mind and will of God in them; in a daily meditation upon them, and study of them; and in frequent and fervent wrestling with God, or prayer to him, to give an understanding of them; and in endeavouring to find out the sense of difficult passages, which are hard to be understood; and in providing for the different cases and circumstances of hearers, that everyone may have a portion; and in the choice of apt and proper words to express truth in, to the capacities of all: this is labouring in the word in private; besides which there is labouring in doctrine, in public; in preaching the Gospel constantly, boldly, and faithfully; in holding it fast against all opposition, and in defending it by argument, both by word and writing. The phrase seems to be Jewish, a like one is often to be met with in Jewish writings: Rabbenu was sitting atyyrwab y[l , and labouring in the law before the congregation of the Babylonians at Tzippore f74 ; and again f75 , R. Jonah gave tithes to R. Acha bar Alia, not because he was a priest, but because he atyrwab y[l , laboured in the law; and they say f76 , there is no greater reward for a man in the world, as for him atyrwab y[ld , who labours in the law; hence we read of hrwt lm[ , the labour of the law, which they say the mouth is made for, and of labourers in the law f78 ; and such persons they judged worthy of the greatest respect, and to be preferred to others.
For, they say f79 , if a congregation is obliged to give a salary to a doctor (or ruler of the synagogue), and to a minister of the congregation, and it is not in their power to give to both; if the ruler is a famous man, and great in the law, and expert in doctrine, he is to be preferred, but if not the minister of the congregation is to be preferred.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 17-25 - Care must be taken that ministers are maintained. And those who ar laborious in this work are worthy of double honour and esteem. It in their just due, as much as the reward of the labourer. The apostl charges Timothy solemnly to guard against partiality. We have grea need to watch at all times, that we do not partake of other men's sins Keep thyself pure, not only from doing the like thyself, but from countenancing it, or any way helping to it in others. The apostle als charges Timothy to take care of his health. As we are not to make ou bodies masters, so neither slaves; but to use them so that they may be most helpful to us in the service of God. There are secret, and ther are open sins: some men's sins are open before-hand, and going befor unto judgment; some they follow after. God will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make known the counsels of all hearts Looking forward to the judgment-day, let us all attend to our prope offices, whether in higher or lower stations, studying that the nam and doctrine of God may never be blasphemed on our account __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
οι 3588 καλως 2573 προεστωτες 4291 5761 πρεσβυτεροι 4245 διπλης 1362 τιμης 5092 αξιουσθωσαν 515 5744 μαλιστα 3122 οι 3588 κοπιωντες 2872 5723 εν 1722 λογω 3056 και 2532 διδασκαλια 1319
Vincent's NT Word Studies
17. The elders that rule well (oi kalwv proestwtev presbuteroi). For that rule well, see on kalwv proistamenon ruling well, 1 Timothy iii. 4. The phrase is peculiar to the Pastorals. See on ver. 1.
Double honor (diplhv timhv). This at least includes pecuniary remuneration for services, if it is not limited to that. The use of timh as pay or price appears Matthews xxvii. 6, 9; Acts iv. 34; vii. 16; 1 Corinthians vi. 20. Double, not in a strictly literal sense, but as pleiona timhn more honor, Heb. iii. 3. The comparison is with those Elders who do not exhibit equal capacity or efficiency in ruling. The passage lends no support to the Reformed theory of two classes of Elders - ruling and teaching. The special honor or emolument is assigned to those who combine qualifications for both.
Those who labor (oi kopiwntev). See on ch. iv. 10. No special emphesis attaches to the word - hard toiling in comeparison with those who do not toil. The meaning is, those who faithfully discharge the arduous duty of teaching. Comp. Heb. xiii. 7.
In word and doctrine (en logw kai didaskalia). Better, word and teaching. Word is general, teaching special. In word signifies, in that class of functions where speech is concerned. The special emphasis (malista especially) shows the importance which was attached to teaching as an antidote of heresy.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
5:17 {The elders that rule well} (hoi kalws proestwtes presbuteroi). See verse #1 for ordinary sense of presbuteros for "older man." But here of position in same sense as episkopos (#3:2) as in #Tit 1:5 = episkopos in verse #7. Cf. Luke's use of presbuteros (#Ac 20:17) = Paul's episkopous (#Ac 20:28). proestwtes is second perfect active participle of proistemi (intransitive use) for which see #3:4. {Let be counted worthy} (axiousqwsan). Present passive imperative of axiow, to deem worthy (#2Th 1:11). With genitive case here. {Of double honor} (diples times). Old and common contract adjective (diploos, two-fold, in opposition to haploos, single fold). But why "of double honor"? See #6:1 for "of all honor." White suggests "remuneration" rather than "honor" for times (a common use for price or pay). Liddon proposes "honorarium" (both honor and pay and so "double"). Wetstein gives numerous examples of soldiers receiving double pay for unusual services. Some suggest twice the pay given the enrolled widows. {Especially those who labor in word and teaching} (malista hoi kopiwntes en logwi kai didaskaliai). Either those who work hard or toil (usual meaning of kopiaw, #2Ti 2:6) in preaching and teaching (most probable meaning. See verse #18) or those who teach and preach and not merely preside (a doubtful distinction in "elders" at this time). See #Tit 1:8f. See both kopiaw and proistamai used for same men (elders) in #1Th 5:12 and the use of kopiaw in #1Co 15:10; 16:16.
