1 Timothy 5:19-21: Confronting Elders Without Partiality
2021-11-13
As the previous section dealt with elders that rule well, here we have elders that need to be confronted. However, there is a proper protocol for confronting elders: there must be two or three witnesses. Why two or three? Why not just say two? I am not for sure, but it sounds like it is preferred to have three, but two will suffice.
This should sound reminiscent of the church discipline process. We discussed this when discussing 1 Timothy 1:20 and the phrase, “delivered unto Satan.” However, the church discipline process unfolds in Matthew 18:15-20. Here is the process:
- The one (“thee” is singular) who was sinned against goes to the one who has sinned and confronts him alone. If he accepts what you say and you work it out, the matter is over (Matthew 18:15).
- Next, if this fails, you bring in one or two witnesses and try to work it out. The Lord is quoting Deuteronomy 19:15: “One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.” Multiple witnesses establish the authority of a decision.
- If this fails, the entire church (congregation) hears the matter (Matthew 18:17). This must be embarrassing. If he made it this far, he is likely fairly hardened in his way.
- If this fails, act as if he were an unbeliever (Matthew 18:17). He is presumably excused from the congregation.
- The decisions that the church makes in these cases are authoritative on behalf of the Lord (Matthew 18:18-20). This surely assumes the church consists of believers.
We see that an elder also requires multiple witnesses when confronting his sin. However, it appears there is a little difference when dealing with an elder. There is no mention on a solitary person approaching an elder. The starting point is with two or three witnesses.
Also, there is an emphasis on rebuking “before all” the church. If an elder sins, it must be exposed so “that others also may fear” (1 Timothy 5:20). The “others” could refer to other elders so that they would consider their own propensity toward sin and the consequences. They must be shown that the church does “nothing by partiality” (1 Timothy 5:21). Elders are not above the church’s standards.
The “others” also could refer to the whole church. When Ananias and Sapphira sinned, the Lord slew them. The public demise of the lying couple resulted in this: “And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things” (Acts 5:11). When the church sees sin being judged, and there is no partiality in that judgment, that will remind us quickly of the need for personal holiness.
Sin must be exposed, especially if it is a leader. If a leader persists in sin, the followers will be quick to emulate his ways.
1 Timothy 5:21
Paul charges Timothy “before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels.” If Paul was using these names, what he is about to say is extremely important. He must “observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.”
There is no one person who is more important than another. James 2:1-4 talks a bit about this. This passage deals with favoritism regarding the rich over the poor. The opposite, meaning favoring the poor, is also condemned: “Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause” (Exodus 23:3).
There is no partiality in who can get saved. We cannot show partiality either.
Favoritism is an issue in modern Christianity. We somehow have “Christian celebrities” today. How has that happened? Famous preachers, famous singers, and other household names. This has come about because we praise the “successful” so-called. People are then elevated above Christ. This is a byproduct of our culture, where our society worships celebrities. Christians have emulated the world.