1 Timothy 5:17

1 Timothy 5:17

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

a. NLT:  Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.

b. NIV: The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

    

c. YLT: The well-leading elders of double honour let them be counted worthy, especially those labouring in word and teaching,      

d. Amplified Bible Classic:  Let the elders who perform the duties of their office well be considered doubly worthy of honor [and of adequate financial support], especially those who labor faithfully in preaching and teaching.

e. Worrell Translation: Let elders who preside well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in word and teaching.

f. Wuest Translation: Let the elders that are ruling well be deemed deserving of double honor, especially those who are laboring with wearisome effort in the Word and in the teaching.

1. “Let the elders that rule well…”

a. [Let the] elders [Strong: 4245 presbuteros pres-boo'-ter-os comparative of presbus (elderly); older; as noun, a senior; specially, an Israelite Sanhedrist (also figuratively, member of the celestial council) or Christian "presbyter":-- elder(-est), old.]    [Zodhiates: The comparative of presbus—an old man, an ambassador. Older, aged, an elder, a senior. The elders of the Christian churches, presbyter, to whom was committed the direction and government of individual churches, equal to episkopos, overseer, bishop…That in the government of the local church there were only male bishops or elders…is supported by the fact that a bishop refers only to a male as does elder.]

1). elder [Unger’s Bible Dictionary] “The “elders” of the New Testament church were  the “pastors”, “bishops or overseers”, “leaders,” “rulers” of the flock. They were also the regular teachers of the congregation, whose duty it was to expound the Scriptures…The same officers of the church of Ephesus are alternately called elders and bishops. Peter urges the elders to “tend the flock of God, and to fulfill the office of bishops…[One theory for the use of the two terms for the same office]…The term presbyter/elder has been claimed to be of Jewish derivation , and to used at first only by Jewish-Christian congregations…in communities where a Christian church had sprung from the bosom of a local synagogue…likewise, the term bishop is used to designate on of like official duty in churches of almost exclusively Gentile origin.”

b. [that] rule [Strong: 4291 * proistemi pro-is'-tay-mee from 4253 and 2476; to stand before, i.e. (in rank) to preside, or (by implication) to practise:--maintain, be over, rule.]   [Zodhiates: proishemi; pro-before, over; histemi-to place, to stand; With the meaning to be over, to preside, rule.]

c. well [Strong: 2573 kalos kal-oce' adverb from 2570; well (usually morally):--(in a) good (place), honestly, + recover, (full) well.]  [Zodhiates: spoken in regard to office or duty, well, faithfully.]

1). The most definitive passages on elders/bishops.

a). Acts 20:17-38 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

20:18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,

20:19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

20:20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,

20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

20:22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

20:23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

20:25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

20:26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

20:33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.

20:34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

20:36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

20:37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,

20:38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

b). 1 Timothy 3:1-7 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

c). Titus 1:4-9 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

1:6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

1:8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

2. “…be counted worthy of double honour…”

a. be counted worth [Strong: 515 axioo ax-ee-o'-o from 514; to deem entitled or fit:--desire, think good, count (think) worthy.]

b. [of] double [Strong: 1362 diplous dip-looce' from 1364 and (probably) the base of 4119; two-fold:--double, two-fold more.] [Zodhiates: Double or twice as much, used of honour.]

c. honour [Strong: 5092 time tee-may' from 5099; a value, i.e. money paid, or (concretely and collectively) valuables; by analogy, esteem (especially of the highest degree), or the dignity itself:--honour, precious, price, some.] [Zodhiates: Honor, respect, reverence, esteem. In 1 Timothy 5:17 compensation, that which is paid in honour of another’s work.] [DC Note: It seems Zodhiates thinks the ‘double’ honor is respect and money.]

1). The idea that honor can be financial is Biblical. This will play out completely in the next verse.

a). Proverbs 3:9, 10 “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

3:10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”

3. “…especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.”

a. especially [Strong: 3122 malista mal'-is-tah neuter plural of the superlative of an apparently primary adverb mala (very); (adverbially) most (in the greatest degree) or particularly:--chiefly, most of all, (e-)specially.]

b. they who [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

c. labor [2872 * kopiao] [Zodhiates: To be worn out, weary, faint, to weary oneself with labor…In 1 Timothy 5:17 followed by ‘en’, in, to labor in, such as the Word.]

d. in [Strong: 1722 en en a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

e. the word [Strong: 3056 logos log'-os from 3004; something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ):--account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say(-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.]

f. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

g. doctrine [Strong: 1319 didaskalia did-as-kal-ee'-ah from 1320; instruction (the function or the information):--doctrine, learning, teaching.] [Zodhiates: Teaching or instruction …the act or manner of teaching.]

1). This implies there were elders/bishops who did not labour in the word and doctrine, i.e., they did not teach or preach.