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Verse Takeaways
1
"Elder" Refers to Age, Not Office
All the commentators agree that "elder" in this verse does not refer to a church office (like a pastor or presbyter) but simply to an older man. The evidence is the direct contrast with "the younger men" and the instruction to treat him "as a father," which points to age rather than official position.
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Book Overview
1 Timothy
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Commentaries
7
Albert Barnes
On 1 Timothy 5:1
18th Century
Theologian
1 Timothy Chapter 5
ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER
This chapter embraces the following subjects:
- The proper method of admonitio…
AT Robertson
On 1 Timothy 5:1
Rebuke not an elder (πρεσβυτερω μη επιπληξηις). Dative case πρεσβυτερω used in the usual sense of an older man, not a minister () …
Charles Ellicott
On 1 Timothy 5:1
19th Century
Bishop
Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father.—Two-thirds of Paul’s first Letter to Timothy have been taken up with directions, …
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Expositor's Bible Commentary
On 1 Timothy 5:1
“Exhort” (GK 4151) also means “encourage”; this verb carries through to the end of v.2. The young man Timothy should treat the older men with gentl…
John Calvin
On 1 Timothy 5:1
16th Century
Theologian
Do not harshly rebuke an elder. He now recommends to Timothy gentleness and moderation in correcting faults. Correction is a medicine, whi…
John Gill
On 1 Timothy 5:1
17th Century
Pastor
Ver. 1. Rebuke not an elder
By whom is meant, not an elder 1 Timothy 5:2
Matthew Henry
On 1 Timothy 5:1–2
17th Century
Minister
Respect must be paid to the dignity of age and position. The younger, if at fault, must be rebuked, not as one eager to find fault with them, but a…