Rebuke Not An Elder By Ron Daly In 1 Timothy 5:1-2 Gods word says, Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brethren: the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity. First, what does the word elder mean at this place? It translates the Greek presbutero, dative masculine singular of presbuteros. Presbuteros is used in a number of ways in the New Testament, e.g., members of the Sanhedrin (presbuterous ton Ioudaion, elders of the Jews); Luke 7:3, the 24 members of the heavenly court (hoi eikosi tessares presbuteroi); Revelation 5:8, men who were appointed to preside over and shepherd local assemblies of Christians (tous presbuterous tes ekklesias, the elders of the church), Acts 20:17; cf. 1 Timothy 5:17-19, and those who are advanced in life (hoi presbuteroi, old men), Acts 2:17. The meaning of elder in verse 1 is old man. We can be certain that this is correct because of the contextual indicators. There is an antithesis which exists between an elder who is to be exhorted as a father, and younger men who are to be exhorted as brethren (neoteras hos adelphous). So, elder (presbuteros) is used in contrast to younger (neos). Whatever elder means, younger is the opposite, and whatever younger means, elder is the opposite. Furthermore, Paul continues by contrasting elder women as mothers (presbuteras hos meteras), and exhorting younger women as sisters (neoteras hos adelphas). The elder of verse 1 denotes the same thing as elder women of verse 2, except for the distinction in gender. Younger men likewise denotes the same thing as younger women excepting the gender distinction. Also, there is a parallelism which exists between elder of 1 Timothy 5:1, and the language of the same apostle elsewhere. In Titus 2:2, Paul exhorts Titus that he, in speaking sound teaching, inform aged men (presbutas) of their duties, and aged women (presbutidas) of their duty to teach the young women (tas fleas, vv. 3,4). Here, again, Paul uses antithesis. We find the same use of elder by the apostle Peter. Likewise, ye younger (neoteroi), be subject unto older ones (presbuterois) (1 Pet. 5:5). Note again the antithesis between younger and elder. Second, what is the significance of the injunction rebuke not an elder expressed by the negative imperative (me epiplexes)? May we not rebuke all who are in error, and who persist in sin or rebellion against God, whether young or old? According to other texts we may (Matt. 18:15-18; Lk. 17:3-4; 1 Tim. 5:20; 2 Tim. 4:2). So, why does the Holy Spirit through Paul, so emphatically say to Timothy particularly to rebuke not an elder? The key is in the word rebuke. It is not the same word used in 2 Timothy 4:2. The word used in 2 Timothy is epitimao. Contextually, epitimao means to censure and render a sharp rebuke by the preaching of the word. Rebuke in 1 Timothy 5 is from the Greek epiplesso which means to reprimand, to strike (verbally), to assault with abusive speech, to chastise with words, to reproach or denounce. In the context, Paul in-formed Timothy of the proper conduct among believers, which he as an evangelist must practice. One of the charges given to Timothy was, Let no man despise thy youth (1 Tim. 4:12). That is, let no man look down on you because you are young; treat old men and women with respect. There is an Old Testament text which contains the same idea couched in similar language, Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man, and thou shalt fear thy God; I am Yahweh (Lev. 19:32). One of the ways that Timothy would show respect for the elderly, is by not lashing out with harsh words, but by having this tongue tempered by love and gentleness. Instead of the phrase Rebuke not an elder, the recent versions say, Dont criticize an older man (Simple English Bible), Never be harsh with an elder (New English Bible), Never censure an older man harshly (James Moffatt Translation), Do not sharply rebuke an older man (NASV), Do not speak harshly to an older man (NRSV), Do not reprimand an older man (McCords New Testament Translation), Do not rebuke an older man harshly NIV. The expression Rebuke not an elder does not restrict or forbid the younger from correcting the older brothers in the Lord who err, but it does teach that there is a proper way to do it. And, that the way is not by ridicule and harshness, but as fathers and mothers, that is, with genuine concern and kindness, attempting to win them by snatching them out of the devils grasp!
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 08:44:46 +0000
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