God’s Word Translation
1 Timothy 5:17
17Give double honor to spiritual leaders who handle their duties well. This is especially true if they work hard at teaching God’s word.
1 Timothy 5:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
- New International Version (NIV)The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
Context of 1 Timothy 5:17
15Some of them have already turned away to follow Satan. 16If any woman is a believer and has relatives who are widows, she should help them. In this way the church is not burdened and can help widows who have no families. Give double honor to spiritual leaders who handle their duties well. This is especially true if they work hard at teaching God’s word. 18After all, Scripture says, “Never muzzle an ox when it is threshing grain,” and “The worker deserves his pay.” 19Don’t pay attention to an accusation against a spiritual leader unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.
Read all of 1 Timothy 51 Timothy 5:17 word by word
Οἱ καλῶς προεστῶτες πρεσβύτεροι διπλῆς τιμῆς ἀξιούσθωσαν μάλιστα οἱ κοπιῶντες ἐν λόγῳ καὶ διδασκαλίᾳ·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Letἀξιόωaxioō · to deem worthyG515
- the eldersπρεσβύτεροςpresbuteros · elder (leader)G4245
- that ruleπροΐστημιproistēmi · to set beforeG4291
- wellκαλῶςkalōs · wellG2573
- of doubleδιπλοῦςdiplous · doubleG1362
- honourτιμήtimē · honorG5092
- especiallyμάλισταmalista · especiallyG3122
- they who labourκοπιάωkopiaō · to laborG2872
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- doctrineδιδασκαλίαdidaskalia · teachingG1319
Cross-references for 1 Timothy 5:17
- 1 Timothy 5:1Never use harsh words when you correct an older man, but talk to him as if he were your father. Talk to younger men as if they were your brothers,
- 1 Timothy 3:5(If a man doesn’t know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)
- Matthew 24:25Listen! I’ve told you this before it happens.
- Luke 12:42The Lord asked, “Who, then, is the faithful, skilled manager that the master will put in charge of giving the other servants their share of food at the right time?
- Romans 12:8If it is encouraging others, devote yourself to giving encouragement. If it is sharing, be generous. If it is leadership, lead enthusiastically. If it is helping people in need, help them cheerfully.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12Brothers and sisters, we ask you to show your appreciation for those leaders who work among you and instruct you.
- Hebrews 13:7Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. Think about how their lives turned out, and imitate their faith.
- 1 Timothy 5:3Honor widows who have no families.
- Acts 28:10They showed respect for us in many ways, and when we were going to set sail, they put whatever we needed on board.
- Romans 15:27These Macedonians and Greeks have shared the spiritual wealth of the Christians in Jerusalem. So they are obligated to use their earthly wealth to help them.
- 1 Corinthians 9:5Don’t we have the right to take our wives along with us like the other apostles, the Lord’s brothers, and Cephas do?
- Galatians 6:6The person who is taught God’s word should share all good things with his teacher.
- Philippians 2:29Give him a joyful Christian welcome. Make sure you honor people like Epaphroditus highly.
- 2 Kings 2:9While they were crossing, Elijah asked Elisha, “What should I do for you before I’m taken from you?” Elisha answered, “Let me inherit a double share of your spirit.”
- Isaiah 40:2“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and announce to it that its time of hard labor is over and its wrongs have been paid for. It has received from the Lord double for all its sins.”
- Jeremiah 16:18First, I will have them pay twice as much for their wickedness and their sin, because they have polluted my land. They have filled my property with the lifeless statues of their detestable and disgusting idols.”
Commentaries on 1 Timothy 5:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Let the elders that rule well - Elder is probably here the name of an ecclesiastical officer, similar to what we now term presbyter. See on 1 Timothy 5:1; (note). Dr. Macknight has remarked that, "in the first age, the name , elder, was given to all who exercised any sacred office in the Church, as is plain from Acts 20:28, where the persons are called , bishops, who, Acts 20:17, were called , elders. The same thing appears from Titus 1:5, where those are…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Let the elders that rule well - Greek, ́ presbuteroiPresbyters. The apostle had given full instructions respecting bishops 1 Timothy 3:1-7; deacons 1 Timothy 3:8-13; widows 1 Timothy 5:3-16; and he here proceeds to prescribe the duty of the church toward those who sustain the office of elder. The word used - “elder” or “presbyter” - properly refers to age, and is then used to denote the officers of the church, probably because the aged were at first…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-25Verses 17-25 Care must be taken that ministers are maintained. And those who are laborious in this work are worthy of double honour and esteem. It is their just due, as much as the reward of the labourer. The apostle charges Timothy solemnly to guard against partiality. We have great 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…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-18are worthy of double honor: Compare Galatians 6:6. There is no evidence of paid leadership at this time. The word used here never refers to a continuous salary. But it does imply more than just respect. The quotations from Scripture suggest gifts of money (Deuteronomy 25:4; Luke 10:7).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. The transition from the widow presbyteresses (1Ti 5:9) to the presbyters here, is natural. rule well--literally, "preside well," with wisdom, ability, and loving faithfulness, over the flock assigned to them. be counted worthy of double honour--that is, the honor which is expressed by gifts (1Ti 5:3, 18) and otherwise. If a presbyter as such, in virtue of his office, is already worthy of honor, he who rules well is doubly so [Wiesinger] (1Co 9:14; Ga…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Timothy 5:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Timothy 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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