Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | 1 Timothy 5:22 Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Timothy 5:22 Do not hurry to lay hands on anyone [ordaining and approving someone for ministry or an office in the church, or in reinstating expelled offenders], and thereby share in the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin. |
Bible Question:
Although we may not "lay on hands too hastily" do we participate in the sins of others when we do not confront the sin? This passage is about elders and rebuking them - but does this excuse us from confronting sin in church? I'm wondering about church discipline here. |
Bible Answer: We need to be careful here. We need to take these things in the context in which they were given. The context includes the answers to the following questions: To whom is this addressed? Where? When? Why? Etc. In this case, consider who the recipient was, and what his responsibilities were. Please note that the letter was addressed to Timothy. There are some things that we can apply to ourselves, but not all. Why? Timothy was a believer (2 Timothy 3:15), and so are we (1 Timothy 2:4). But Timothy also had a special position (Acts 16), a charge (1 Timothy 1:18), and responsibilities (Romans 12:8) that we do not all have (1 Corinthians 12). Timothy was left in Ephesus as a teacher, and a substitute for the Apostle Paul (1 Timothy 1:3). Paul, as an apostle, had a special responsibility in the church, and Timothy was his helper. It was in light of that position that he was to act (1 Timothy 1:18) and do the things specified. As it was with Titus (1:5), he was to set things in order, and he was to maintain order in the church, not only preaching, but reproving, rebuking, exhorting (2 Timothy 4:2). Clearly, that is not a position that we all have and not a set of responsibilities that we all have. In fact, some of us are called to be quiet, and not to speak at all (1 Timothy 2:11,12). The “laying on of hands” was something that Timothy would do, in his position. It is not a position that we all have. Similarly, “confronting sin” must be done in the church. But this is not a responsibility that we all have. Those who have that responsibility should face it (1 Peter 5). The rest of us are called to follow (Hebrews 13:17) Doubtless there are other responsibilities that we all have in dealing with sin, and these are addressed in other passages. But those specified in 1 Timothy 5 are not for all of us. Think about it. As Paul would say to Timothy, consider what I say, and the Lord will give you understanding in all things. |