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In verse 16 "if any woman believer has widows" may raise problems, but there is an
alternative reading "if any man or woman who believes" and this accords better with the
context, for it is difficult to accept that the responsibility to relieve destitute widows
would be confined to women alone.
Paul now deals once more with elders, this time concerning their remuneration. That
"honour" (time) is used in this sense, verse 18 makes clear. The Apostle quotes the
Mosaic precept of Deut. 25: 4 which he had previously used in I Cor. 9: 9 and also
the saying of the Lord recorded in Luke 10: 7 which is more than a current proverb. The
adjective `double' appears to have the sense of generous provision. If God was
concerned for cattle treading the corn and ordained that ample provision should be made
for them, surely, the Apostle argues, those who take responsibility in service, (`rule
well'), specially those who preach and teach (verse 17) should be adequately
compensated.
Further rules are now given to protect leaders from false accusations. The law of God
gave through Moses required the agreement of at least two witnesses before a man was
called to answer a charge against him (Deut. 19: 15). Matt. 18: 16 and II Cor. 13: 1
agree with this. The Apostle writes:
"Against an elder receive not an accusation, except at the mouth of two or three
witnesses. Them that sin (meaning persist in sin) reprove in the sight of all, that the rest
also may be in fear" (5: 19, 20, R.V.).
At this point Paul gives Timothy a solemn charge concerning these regulations:
"I charge thee in the sight of God, and Christ Jesus, and the elect angels, that thou
observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality" (5: 21, R.V.).
This stresses even further the importance of the commands given. We do not know
who `the elect angels' are. There appears to be a variety of grades of heavenly beings.
Those mentioned here evidently belong to the highest class. In II Tim. 4: 1 we have a
similar solemn charge, but without any reference to angels. Timothy must carefully
observe all the instructions given and be absolutely unprejudiced and impartial, never
allowing his personal feelings to influence his judgment:
This warned Timothy against hastily appointing anyone for specific Christian service
without due regard to their suitability. Some think it might refer to the restoration of
penitents after discipline, but this is far-fetched and there seems no doubt that the former
meaning is the correct one. It would be easy to appoint someone for Christian work who
appeared to be keen, but was he worthy and fitted to carry out his task? This is what
Timothy must carefully ponder and do nothing in a hurry.
Undue haste in Christian appointments has led to unworthy people being brought into
the Lord's work, which has wrought havoc and played into the enemy's hands. Someone
has said that today there are too many `untaught teachers' who are quite unsuitable for
the work they have taken upon themselves. Such should remember the warning of