INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING REBUKING AN ELDER
READ 1 Timothy 5
This chapter has two basic points of instruction. One involves how the church is to support widows in the local church. The other is instructions concerning leaders (elders) in the local church.
5:19-20, “Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 20Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.”
Paul gives guidelines throughout the book pertaining to elders (pastors). Here he instructs, “Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses” (vs. 19). Accusations against an elder/bishop/pastor are to be received only by two or three witnesses.
Additionally, Paul instructs, in verse 20, “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.” If the accusation is found true, the elder/pastor/bishop is to be rebuked before all. The “all” probably refers to the church as a whole. However, it could also refer to several elders. The church at Ephesus had several branches meeting in homes. Each of these satellite churches had an elder/pastor. Paul may have been referring to rebuking an errant pastor before his peers, the other pastors.
Your Friend and HIS,
Pastor Abbott
MEDITATIONS
1. Why are we commanded to be slow and certain in our rebuke of an elder?
2. How many people must be a witness against an elder to bring a rebuke?
3. What does Paul mean when he says, “Them that sin rebuke before all…”?
4. What is the result of open rebuke? How might this help others?