1 Timothy 5:19

1 Timothy 5:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
• New International Version (NIV)Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.

Context of 1 Timothy 5:19

17Elders 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!” Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses. 20Those who sin should be reprimanded in front of the whole church; this will serve as a strong warning to others. 21I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the highest angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing favoritism to anyone.

1 Timothy 5:19 word by word

κατὰ πρεσβυτέρου κατηγορίαν μὴ παραδέχου ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ ἐπὶ δύο ἢ τριῶν μαρτύρων.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·μήmē · notG3361
• ·εἰei · if: notG1487
• Againstκατάkata · according toG2596
• an elderπρεσβύτεροςpresbuteros · elder (leader)G4245
• receiveπαραδέχομαιparadechomai · to welcomeG3858
• an accusationκατηγορίαkatēgoria · accusationG2724
• butἐκτόςektos · outside/exceptG1622
• beforeἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• twoδύοduo · twoG1417
• orἤē · orG2228
• threeτρεῖςtreis tria · ThreeG5140
• witnessesμάρτυςmartus · witnessG3144

Cross-references for 1 Timothy 5:19

• John 18:29So Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked, “What is your charge against this man?”
• Acts 24:2When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Paul in the following address to the governor: “You have provided a long period of peace for us Jews and with foresight have enacted reforms for us.
• Acts 25:16I pointed out to them that Roman law does not convict people without a trial. They must be given an opportunity to confront their accusers and defend themselves.
• Deuteronomy 17:6But never put a person to death on the testimony of only one witness. There must always be two or three witnesses.
• Deuteronomy 19:15“You must not convict anyone of a crime on the testimony of only one witness. The facts of the case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
• Matthew 18:16But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses.
• John 8:17Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact.
• 2 Corinthians 13:1This is the third time I am coming to visit you (and as the Scriptures say, “The facts of every case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses”).
• Hebrews 10:28For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 5:19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19Against an elder - Be very cautious of receiving evil reports against those whose business it is to preach to others, and correct their vices. Do not consider an elder as guilty of any alleged crime, unless it be proved by two or three witnesses. This the law of Moses required in respect to all. Among the Romans, a plebeian might be condemned on the deposition of one credible witness; but it required two to convict a senator. The reason of this difference…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19Against an elder - The word “elder” here seems to be used in the sense in which it is in the previous verse as relating to “office,” and not in the sense of an aged man, as in 1 Timothy 5:1. The connection demands this interpretation. Receive not an accusation - He was not to regard such a charge as well founded unless sustained by two or three witnesses. It is clear from this, that Paul supposed that Timothy would be called on to hear charges against…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. 19-21The false teachers may have caused false accusations against Christian leaders. This passage follows the outline of Deuteronomy 19:15–21. two or three witnesses: See Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15; Matthew 18:16; 2 Corinthians 13:1; Hebrews 10:28.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1919. Against an elder--a presbyter of the Church. receive not--"entertain not" [Alford]. but before two or three witnesses--A judicial conviction was not permitted in De 17:6; 19:15, except on the testimony of at least two or three witnesses (compare Mt 18:16; Joh 8:17; 2Co 13:1; 1Jo 5:6, 7). But Timothy's entertaining an accusation against anyone is a different case, where the object was not judicially to punish, but to admonish: here he might ordinarily…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Timothy 5:19

• Church
• Commandments
• Elder
• Minister, Christian
• Witness

In the dictionaries

• Beforehand
• Deny
• Guide
• Marry
• Martyr
• Reproachfully
• Requite
• Reward
• Bishop
• Judge

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