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1 Timothy 5:19

Don’t receive an accusation against an elder, except at the word of two or three witnesses.

World English Bible · Public Domain

Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    Don’t receive an accusation against an elder, except at the word of two or three witnesses.

  • TYNDALE Tyndale New Testament (1534)

    Agaynst an elder receave none accusacion: but vnder two or thre witnesses.

  • GNV Geneva Bible (1599)

    Against an Elder receiue none accusation, but vnder two or three witnesses.

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Cross-references (12)

Passages linked to 1 Timothy 5:19 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.

  • Matthew 18:16 But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
  • Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin that he sins. At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established.
  • 2 Corinthians 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. “At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”
  • Deuteronomy 17:6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death. At the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
  • Titus 1:6 if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, who are not accused of loose or unruly behavior.
  • Hebrews 10:28 A man who disregards Moses’ law dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses.
  • Deuteronomy 19:18-19 and the judges shall make diligent inquisition; and behold, if the witness is a false witness, and has testified falsely against his brother, then you shall do to him as he had thought to do to his brother. So you shall remove the evil from among you.
  • John 8:17 It’s also written in your law that the testimony of two people is valid.
  • Acts 25:16 I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man to destruction before the accused has met the accusers face to face and has had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him.
  • John 18:29 Pilate therefore went out to them, and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”
  • Acts 11:30 which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
  • Acts 24:2-13 When he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace, and that prosperity is coming to this nation by your foresight, we accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. But that I don’t delay you, I entreat you to bear with us and hear a few words. For we have found this man to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, and we arrested him. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.” The Jews also joined in the attack, affirming that these things were so. When the governor had beckoned to him to speak, Paul answered, “Because I know that you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I cheerfully make my defense, seeing that you can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem. In the temple they didn’t find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the synagogues, or in the city. Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me.

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

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Explain this verse (19 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 19 Against an elder receive not an accusation After…

19 Against an elder receive not an accusation After having commanded that salaries should be paid to pastors, he likewise instructs Timothy not to allow them to be assailed by calumnies, or loaded with any accusation but what is supported by sufficient proof. But it may be thought strange, that he represents, as peculiar to elders, a law which is common to all. God lays down, authoritatively, this law as applicable to all cases, that they shall be decided “by the mouth of two or three witnesses.” (Deuteronomy 17:6; Matthew 18:16.) Why then does the Apostle protect elders alone by this privilege, as if it were peculiar to them, that their innocence shall be defended against false accusations?

I reply, this is a necessary remedy against the malice of men; for none are more liable to slanders and calumnies than godly teachers. Not only does it arise from the difficulty of their office, that sometimes they either sink under it, or stagger, or halt, or blunder, in consequence of which wicked men seize many occasions for finding fault with them; but there is this additional vexation, that, although they perform their duty correctly, so as not to commit any error whatever, they never escape a thousand censures. And this is the craftiness of Satan, to draw away the hearts of men from ministers, that instruction may gradually fall into contempt. Thus not only is wrong done to innocent persons, in having their reputation unjustly wounded, (which is exceedingly base in regard to those who hold so honorable a rank,) but the authority of the sacred doctrine of God is diminished.

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And this is what Satan, as I have said, chiefly labors to accomplish; for not only is the saying of Plato true in this instance, that “the multitude are malicious, and envy those who are above them,” but the more earnestly any pastor strives to advance the kingdom of Christ, so much the more is he loaded with envy, and so much the fiercer are the assaults made on him. Not only so, but as soon as any charge against the ministers of the word has gone abroad, it is believed as fully as if they were already convicted. This is not merely owing to the higher degree of moral excellence which is demanded from them, but because almost all are tempted by Satan to excessive credulity, so that, without making any inquiry, they eagerly condemn their pastors, whose good name they ought rather to have defended.

On good grounds, therefore, Paul opposes so heinous iniquity, and forbids that elders shall be subjected to the slanders of wicked men till they have been convicted by sufficient proof. We need not wonder, therefore, if they whose duty it is to reprove the faults of all, to oppose the wicked desires of all, and to restrain by their severity every person whom they see going astray, have many enemies. What, then, will be the consequence; if we shall listen indiscriminately to all the slanders that are spread abroad concerning them?

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain The second rule: Let no accusation be admitted against…
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Against an elder; whether an elder in years or…
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain Here our apostle directs Timothy how to proceed in…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Them that sin rebuke before all,.... This the apostle…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain Against an elder - Or presbyter. Do not even…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 19. Against an elder] Be very cautious of…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain 1Ti 5:19-20. Against an elder — Or presbyter; do…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Against an elder - The word “elder” here seems…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Against a priest. The word presbyter[9] is commonly here…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain Against an elder--a presbyter of the Church.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 19. Trial of elders.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 19. Against an elder] A continuation of Timothy’s official…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (19) Against an elder receive not an accusation, but…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Except at the mouth of for but before, A.V…
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 19. Against an elder receive not. Accusations against bishops…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 Do not receive an accusation
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 5:19-21 The climate created by the false teachers may…

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