Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Timothy 5:22

"Lay hands hastily on no man, neither be partaker of other men`s sins: keep thyself pure." — 1 Timothy 5:22 (ASV)

What is meant by “the laying on of hands”? While some commentators feel that the context favors the idea of laying hands of reconciliation on repentant fallen elders when they are received back into the church, most view this as a reference to ordination. In other words, this passage prohibits hasty ordination. That fits in well with the main discussion of this chapter. The laying on of hands in the Pastoral Letters seems to be regularly associated with ordination (cf. 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:7).

What about “Do not share in the sins of others”? Whenever Timothy ordained an elder, he became in a measure a surety for that person’s character and thus was implicated in any sins the man might commit. So the young superintendent is warned, “Keep yourself pure”—primarily by being cautious about ordaining candidates, though the more general application to the whole of life may also be intended.