1 Timothy 5:17 kjv
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
1 Timothy 5:17 nkjv
Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
1 Timothy 5:17 niv
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
1 Timothy 5:17 esv
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
1 Timothy 5:17 nlt
Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.
1 Timothy 5 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Tim 5:18 | "For the Scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,' and 'The laborer deserves his wages.'" | OT Fulfillment, OT Quotation |
| Luke 10:7 | "But stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages." | NT Echo, Support for Ministry |
| Gal 6:6 | "Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches." | NT Principle, Financial Support |
| 1 Cor 9:14 | "In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel." | NT Command, Support for Ministry |
| 1 Cor 9:7 | "Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating its fruit? Who tends a flock without receiving milk from the flock?" | NT Analogy, Support Justification |
| 1 Cor 9:11 | "If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much to ask if we should reap material benefits from you?" | NT Principle, Reciprocity |
| Matt 10:10 | "...nor a bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff, for the laborer deserves his food." | NT Teaching, Provision for Workers |
| Phil 4:17-18 | "Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is credited to your account. I have received full payment and have an abundance, I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a pleasing sacrifice, acceptable to God." | NT Example, God's Recognition |
| Deut 25:4 | "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain." | OT Law, OT Basis for NT quote |
| 1 Tim 5:1-2 | "Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as to a father, to younger men as to brothers, to older women as to mothers, with all purity, to younger women as to sisters." | NT Context, Honor within Church |
| 1 Tim 3:1 | "This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task." | NT Context, Noble calling |
| Titus 1:9 | "...holding fast the faithful word as taught, that he may be able to give instruction by sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it." | NT Qualification, Teaching Role |
| Acts 20:28 | "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood." | NT Command, Shepherd's Duty |
| Heb 13:7 | "Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith." | NT Exhortation, Remember leaders |
| Heb 13:17 | "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be disadvantageous to you." | NT Exhortation, Submission |
| 1 Thess 5:12-13 | "We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves." | NT Parallel, Respect Leaders |
| Mal 3:10 | "'Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.'" | OT Principle, Provision and Blessing |
| 1 Cor 12:26 | "If one member suffers, all members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice with it." | NT Principle, Body Interdependence |
| Eph 4:11 | "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers," | NT Context, Diverse ministries |
| James 3:1 | "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." | NT Caution, Responsibility |
1 Timothy 5 verses
1 Timothy 5 17 Meaning
The elders who lead well are worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. This signifies a recognition of their diligent spiritual work and dedication, deserving of both respect and financial support. The emphasis is on acknowledging their strenuous efforts in the ministry.
1 Timothy 5 17 Context
First Timothy is a pastoral epistle from the Apostle Paul to his protégé Timothy, who was serving as a leader in the church at Ephesus. Chapter 5 addresses how believers should treat different groups within the church: widows, elders, and slaves. Verse 17 specifically focuses on the elders, distinguishing between those who govern well and those who also engage in the "work of preaching and teaching." This verse follows a discussion on supporting elderly widows (vv. 3-16) and precedes instruction on how to handle accusations against elders (vv. 19-20). The historical context involves establishing order and proper conduct within the early church, ensuring that leaders who devoted themselves to ministry were adequately supported by the community they served.
1 Timothy 5 17 Word Analysis
- oiJ (hoit): Relative pronoun, "those who." Introduces the subordinate clause describing the elders.
- kalw~" (kalōs): Adverb, "well," "excellently." Modifies "proistamenoi" (leading), indicating a commendable manner of leadership.
- proestwte" (proestōtes): Present active participle from "proistēmi," meaning "to stand before," "to rule," "to preside over," "to lead." It implies leadership, management, and oversight within the church.
- deuteraj (deuteraj): Adverb, "double," "twice as much." Implies a higher degree of honor due to a specific group of elders.
- timhV (timēs): Noun, genitive singular, "honor," "value," "respect," "reverence," "recompense." This honor encompasses both respect and material provision.
- episwJ (epixōrēzō): Second person plural aorist imperative from "episōreō," meaning "to heap up," "to lay upon." The present imperative in Greek indicates ongoing action. The use of the aorist tense here is possibly for aoristic tmesis construction (or the word itself implies action without temporal specification), conveying an imperative command. The emphasis is on actively providing support.
- malista (malista): Adverb, "especially," "most of all." Highlights the specific group of elders deserving of greater honor.
- tw~" (tois): Definite article, dative plural masculine, "the."
- logw~" (logois): Dative plural noun from "logos," meaning "word," "speech," "account," "reason." Here, it refers to the "word of God," particularly in its proclamation and teaching.
- kopionta" (kopiontas): Present active participle from "kopiáō," meaning "to toil," "to labor," "to grow weary," "to work hard." It conveys strenuous and dedicated effort.
- kain diav (kaí dia): Conjunction "and," "even," "also," paired with a preposition, suggesting "especially through" or "through the word."
- th~" (tēn): Definite article, accusative singular feminine, "the."
- kai (kai): Conjunction, "and."
- didaskonta" (didaskontas): Present active participle from "didáskō," meaning "to teach," "to instruct." It refers to the act of teaching.
Group Analysis:
- "oiJ kalw~" proestwte"": Elders who exercise leadership effectively and commendably.
- "deuteraj timhV epistwJ": Are to be given double honor. This refers to significant financial support and profound respect, acknowledging their demanding role.
- "malista tw~" kopionta" logw~" kai didaskonta"": Specifically those who toil in the word and in teaching. This distinguishes those whose primary, active work is the proclamation and explication of God's message, making them worthy of greater provision due to the intensity and importance of their labor.
1 Timothy 5 17 Bonus Section
The concept of "double honor" (deuteraj timhV) can be understood in its spiritual and material aspects. Spiritually, it signifies deep respect, deference, and esteem for their office and calling. Materially, it points to ample financial support that covers their needs, allowing them to focus on their ministry without undue distraction. The word "laboring" (kopionta") underscores the intensity of the work, implying a struggle and exertion, much like strenuous physical labor. This suggests that effective gospel ministry, especially when involving deep study and consistent teaching, is not an easy task and requires community support to thrive. This provision is not a reward for service, but a necessary enablement for continued faithful ministry, ensuring the work of God can be sustained and advanced.
1 Timothy 5 17 Commentary
This verse establishes a clear principle of valuing and supporting those who lead and minister within the church, particularly those dedicated to the preaching and teaching of God's Word. The "double honor" isn't necessarily a literal doubling of salary but indicates a profound and generous provision commensurate with their service. The emphasis on "laboring in word and doctrine" points to the strenuous intellectual and spiritual work involved in faithful ministry, necessitating practical support so that they may not be hindered in their sacred calling. This provision ensures that the ministers of the Gospel can devote themselves fully to their duties without being overly burdened by financial concerns. The Apostle Paul grounds this principle in Old Testament precedent (Deut 25:4) and Christ's own teachings (Luke 10:7), showing it's a divinely ordained principle for the sustenance of ministry.