1Ti 5:17-18 | Clarke | e4.org | 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 . . Dr. Macknight has remarked that, "in the first age, the name πρεσβυτερος, elder , was given to all who exercised any sacred office in the Church, as is plain from , where the persons are called επισκοποι, bishops , who, , were called πρεσβυτεροι, elders . The same thing appears from , where those are called elders who, , are named bishops ; and from , where, collectively, all who held sacred offices in Lystra are called πρεσβυτεριον, the presbytery or eldership , and are said to have concurred with St. Paul in setting Timothy apart to the ministry." Double honour ] διπληςτιμης. Almost every critic of note allows that τιμη 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.

‏ 1 Timothy 5:17-18

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 Clarke on 1Ti 5:1. Dr. Macknight has remarked that, "in the first age, the name πρεσβυτερος, elder, was given to all who exercised any sacred office in the Church, as is plain from Ac 20:28, where the persons are called επισκοποι, bishops, who, Ac 20:17, were called πρεσβυτεροι, elders. The same thing appears from Tit 1:5, where those are called elders who, Tit 1:7, are named bishops; and from 1Ti 4:14, where, collectively, all who held sacred offices in Lystra are called πρεσβυτεριον, the presbytery or eldership, and are said to have concurred with St. Paul in setting Timothy apart to the ministry."

Double honour] διπληςτιμης. Almost every critic of note allows that τιμη 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.

Verse 18. The Scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox] This is a manifest proof that by τιμη, honour, in the preceding verse, the apostle means salary or wages: "Let the elders that rule well be accounted worthy of double honour," a larger salary than any of the official widows mentioned before, for "the labourer is worthy of his hire." The maintenance of every man in the Church should be in proportion to his own labour, and the necessities of his family. He that does no work should have no wages. In the Church of Christ there never can be a sinecure. They who minister at the altar should live by the altar; the ox that treadeth out the corn should not be muzzled; the labourer is worthy of his hire: but the altar should not support him who does not minister at it; if the ox won't tread out the corn, let him go to the common or be muzzled; if the man will not labour, let him have no hire.