1 Timothy 5:17

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

15For some have already wandered away to follow Satan. 16If a believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. The church should not be burdened, so that it may help the widows who are truly in need. Elders who provide effective leadership must be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard in speaking and teaching. 18For the scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker deserves his pay.” 19Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it can be confirmed by two or three witnesses.

1 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 5:1Do not address an older man harshly but appeal to him as a father. Speak to younger men as brothers,
• 1 Timothy 3:5But if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for the church of God?
• Matthew 24:25Remember, I have told you ahead of time.
• Luke 12:42The Lord replied, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his household servants, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time?
• Romans 12:8if it is exhortation, he must exhort; if it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity; if it is leadership, he must do so with diligence; if it is showing mercy, he must do so with cheerfulness.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:12Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who labor among you and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you,
• Hebrews 13:7Remember your leaders, who spoke God’s message to you; reflect on the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith.
• 1 Timothy 5:3Honor widows who are truly in need.
• Acts 28:10They also bestowed many honors, and when we were preparing to sail, they gave us all the supplies we needed.
• Romans 15:27For they were pleased to do this, and indeed they are indebted to the Jerusalem saints. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are obligated also to minister to them in material things.
• 1 Corinthians 9:5Do we not have the right to the company of a believing wife, like the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?
• Galatians 6:6Now the one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with the one who teaches it.
• Philippians 2:29So welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,
• 2 Kings 2:9When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “What can I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of the prophetic spirit that energizes you.”
• Isaiah 40:2“Speak kindly to Jerusalem, and tell her that her time of warfare is over, that her punishment is completed. For the Lord has made her pay double for all her sins.”
• Jeremiah 16:18Before I restore them I will punish them in full for their sins and the wrongs they have done. For they have polluted my land with the lifeless statues of their disgusting idols. They have filled the land I have claimed as my own with their detestable 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

• Church
• Commandments
• Elder
• Minister, Christian
• Reverence

In the dictionaries

• Beforehand
• Deny
• Guide
• Marry
• Reproachfully
• Requite
• Reward
• Bishop
• Church Government
• Doctrine

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