19 Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.(A) 20 Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will be afraid. 21 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe(B) these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism. 22 Don’t be too quick to appoint[a](C) anyone as an elder, and don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. 5:22 Lit to lay hands on

19 Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it can be confirmed by two or three witnesses.[a] 20 Those guilty of sin[b] must be rebuked[c] before all,[d] as a warning to the rest.[e] 21 Before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, I solemnly charge you to carry out these commands without prejudice or favoritism of any kind.[f] 22 Do not lay hands on anyone[g] hastily and so identify with the sins of others.[h] Keep yourself pure.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 5:19 sn An allusion to Deut 17:6; 19:15.
  2. 1 Timothy 5:20 sn As a continuation of v. 19, this refers to elders who sin, not to sinning believers more generally.
  3. 1 Timothy 5:20 tn Or “censured.” The Greek word implies exposing someone’s sin in order to bring correction.
  4. 1 Timothy 5:20 tn “Before all” probably refers to the whole congregation, not just all the elders; “the rest” is more likely to denote the remaining elders.
  5. 1 Timothy 5:20 tn Grk “that the rest may have fear.”
  6. 1 Timothy 5:21 tn Grk “doing nothing according to partiality.”
  7. 1 Timothy 5:22 tn In context “laying hands on anyone” refers to ordination or official installation of someone as an elder.
  8. 1 Timothy 5:22 tn Grk “and do not share in the sins of others.”