22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.” (1 Timothy 5:22 (ESV)
The Apostle Paul continued giving directives to Timothy, the pastor of the church in Ephesus and his young protégé. Today’s featured text contains three more commands of godly counsel. What did Paul mean by these three gujidelines?
The first command was “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands.” The phrase in the laying on of (ἐπιτίθει; epitithei) is a present, active, imperative verb. It means to put on, place on, or to give. What was placed on someone were hands (χεῖρας; cheiras). This placement of hands upon someone was not to be done is haste. Hasty (ταχέως; tacheos) means quickly or hurriedly. Out English word tachometer comes from this Greek term. See I Timothy 4:14.
“Jewish teachers would “lay their hands” on their disciples to “ordain” them, and that is what Paul has in view here: ordaining an elder who had not first been tested made one responsible for his subsequent exposure if he turned out to be ungodly.”[1]
Pastor J. Ligon Duncan writes, “He (Paul) goes on to say don’t ordain a man too quickly. It’s a directive against premature ordination of a person to the office of elder. Ministers and elders are to be appointed in a measured and deliberate fashion, not installed and appointed too quickly. This is the second time that Paul has said this in the letter. Remember back in I Timothy 3 he said don’t make a novice an elder. Don’t have someone convert to the Lord Jesus Christ, embrace Him by faith, and then three weeks later start him in the elder training program.”
“Paul doesn’t say exactly how long, but the idea is, of course, that you’re able to observe a man’s steady commitment to Christ, his shepherding of his family, his growth in grace, his understanding of biblical truth, his practice of the Christian life. You’re to see enough of a consistency in pattern there that you recognize that
you’ve got a mature believer before he’s appointed to be an elder–a shepherd, a
pastor of the flock.”
Second, Timothy was not to “nor take part in the sins of others.” To take part (κοινώνει; koinonei) is also a present, active imperative. It refers to fellowship. It means to share in something or with someone. What did Paul command Timothy to not share or to be in fellowship? It was in the sins (ἁμαρτίαις; hamartiais) or wrongdoing, evil and guilt of others (ἀλλοτρίαις; allotriais). In the context, the word others refer to other elders.
“The words do not share in the sins of others may be merely advice for Timothy to guard his own conduct generally (cf. 1 Tim. 4:16; Acts 20:28). But more likely, in light of the context, this is a warning about the implications of hasty ordinations. Those who take part in the premature ordination of an errant elder share some of the blame for the negative consequences to their church.”[2]
Thirdly, Paul commanded Timothy to “keep yourself pure.” The word pure (ἁγνὸν; hagnon) means innocent and without defect. To keep (τήρει; terei) is a present, active imperative verb. It means to guard and obey. A pastor cannot keep others from sin if they are not keeping themselves from evil and wrongdoing.
“The symbolical indication of the impartation of gifts which one will need in discharging the duties of his office has been mentioned before (see on 1 Tim. 4:14), and will be mentioned again (2 Tim. 1:6). This work must not be done “in a hurry.” The qualifications of the men who are being considered must be fully examined before they can be nominated for office. This is in harmony with what the apostle has been saying in 1 Tim. 3:2, 7, 10. Ordination without preceding thorough investigation would render Timothy co-responsible for the wrongs which such elders might subsequently commit. This, in turn, would add to the difficulty of disciplining them. Timothy must strive to “keep himself pure” (in full conformity with God’s moral law) with respect to this and all other matters.”[3]
Ordaining a man to serve as a pastor or lay elder is a serious and solemn act. It is not to be done quickly or thoughtlessly. “To participate in the ordination of an elder known to be unqualified is to approve of his sins and to risk sharing the guilt for them,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), 1 Ti 5:22.
[2] A. Duane Litfin, “1 Timothy,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 744.
[3] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 185.
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