1 Timothy 5:17-20·~1 min

Honoring Elders

Paul says elders who lead well are worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching, and he supports this with Scripture about not muzzling the ox and about the worker deserving wages.

E¹⁷lders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. ¹⁸For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”

Timothy is not to accept an accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. But those who persist in sin must be rebuked publicly so that others will fear.

¹⁹Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ²⁰But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.

Section summaryPaul says elders who lead well, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching, are worthy of double honor, grounding that claim in Scripture. But he also insists on due process for accusations and on public rebuke when an elder persists in sin, so that the church honors leadership without surrendering holiness.

Role in the chapterThis section balances support and accountability. It shows that honoring leadership includes both generous recognition and serious discipline.