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 I am afraid that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan. 16If a woman who is a believer has relatives who are widows, she must take care of them and not put the responsibility on the church. Then the church can care for the widows who are truly alone. Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. 18For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!” 19Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is 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 5:1Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers.
• 1 Timothy 3:5For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?
• Matthew 24:25See, I have warned you about this ahead of time.
• Luke 12:42And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them.
• Romans 12:8If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:12Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance.
• Hebrews 13:7Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.
• 1 Timothy 5:3Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her.
• Acts 28:10As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip.
• Romans 15:27They were glad to do this because they feel they owe a real debt to them. Since the Gentiles received the spiritual blessings of the Good News from the believers in Jerusalem, they feel the least they can do in return is to help them financially.
• 1 Corinthians 9:5Don’t we have the right to bring a believing wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers do, and as Peter does?
• Galatians 6:6Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.
• Philippians 2:29Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve.
• 2 Kings 2:9When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.”
• Isaiah 40:2“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone and her sins are pardoned. Yes, the Lord has punished her twice over for all her sins.”
• Jeremiah 16:18I will double their punishment for all their sins, because they have defiled my land with lifeless images of their detestable gods and have filled my territory with their evil deeds.”

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