Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 57

Paul Gives Timothy Personal Instruction

1 Timothy 5:22-23 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. KJV

Paul completed his instruction to Brother Timothy on how the members of Christ Body should be treated by the leadership of Christ Church and now Paul turns to Timothy (the individual man and Christian) to give him some personal counsel for his own spiritual health and welfare, as well as his physical health and welfare by beginning with these words, "Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure." (1 Timothy 5:22) (KJV). When Paul writes here, 'Lay hands suddenly on no man', he is directing Timothy to be cautious, conservative, and careful about any man (in the visible Church) being ordained into a leadership office in the Church. Some commentators have ascribed, assigned, or attributed these words written here by Paul to Timothy to attest to the laying on of hands for healing or to absolve sins, however, in keeping with all of Paul's earlier instructions to Timothy above concerning elders in the Church (1 Timothy 5:17-20) it should be clear that Paul means that Timothy should be very careful in his selection of elders in the Church of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. Here is what John Wesley had to say concerning the laying on of hands suddenly, "That is, appoint no man to Church offices without full trial and examination; else thou wilt be accessary to, and accountable for, his misbehavior in his office."

The instructions given to the members of the early Church in seeking men to serve in the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ in the daily distribution of material goods to the widows in the Church from the twelve (12) Apostles was this concerning the men who would do such a job, "NOW ABOUT this time, when the number of the disciples was greatly increasing, complaint was made by the Hellenists (the Greek-speaking Jews) against the [native] Hebrews because their widows were being overlooked {and} neglected in the daily ministration (distribution of relief). So the Twelve [apostles] convened the multitude of the disciples and said, It is not seemly {or} desirable {or} right that we should have to give up {or} neglect [preaching] the Word of God in order to attend to serving at tables {and} superintending the distribution of food. Therefore select out from among yourselves, brethren, seven men of good {and} attested character {and} repute, full of the [Holy] Spirit and wisdom, whom we may assign to look after this business {and} duty." (Acts 6:1-3) (Amplified Bible). Now surely if this was (and still should be today) the criteria for those who served food in the Church of Jesus Christ, then certainly we must believe that Paul here is referring to the laying on of hands in the ordination of men to a leadership office in the Church.

When Paul writes, 'neither be partaker of other men's sins', he does not mean that Timothy was participating or taking actual physical part in the sin's of others, but what he is saying here to him is that if you are hasty, that is, if you do it without the proper deliberation such decisions derserve in your selection of any man or woman to an office in Christ Church, then if they are proven to be a detriment, a danger, and cause great damage to the members of Christ Body spiritually and even physically, then Brother Timothy it will be as if you commited the very same sins against Christ and His Church as your appointee was found guilty of by all the leadership. The Apostle John warned of such similar behavior by believers when he wrote these words in one of his epistles, "Anyone who runs on ahead [of God] and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ [who is not content with what He taught] does not have God; but he who continues to live in the doctrine (teaching) of Christ [does have God], he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine [is disloyal to what Jesus Christ taught], do not receive him [do not accept him, do not welcome or admit him] into [your] house or bid him Godspeed {or} give him any encouragement. For he who wishes him success [who encourages him, wishing him Godspeed] is a partaker in his evil doings." (2 John 1:9-11) (Amplified Bible).

Here is what Adam Clarke had to say concerning not participating in the sins of other men, "It is a sin for any improper person to thrust himself into the sacred office; and he partakes of that sin who introduces, helps him forward, or sanctions him in it. O, what an account will rash, undiscerning, and prejudiced bishops, presbyters, and others, have to render to God for their ordinations! Their laying rash or careless hands 'on skulls that cannot teach, and will not learn;' while probably they refuse inducting others well qualified for the Christian ministry." Note: "Can we say see what some in the Catholic Church have done, according to the hundreds and thousands of then children, now adults who were victims of ill suited Priest's rape and molestation, as well as those other Priest in higher leadership positions who covered up these sins in order to protect the reputation of the Catholic Church while neglecting the welfare and well being of helpless children." Paul wanted Timothy and all believers with this authority and responsibility to keep themselves pure from these things. The English word 'pure' Paul uses here testifies to this being his meaning as it is translated by the Greek word hagnos which means properly clean, that is, (figuratively) innocent, modest, perfect: - chaste, clean, pure. Paul wanted Timothy then and all true believers now and of every era and generation to be innocent of appointing such men or women to leadership positions who will do spiritual and even physical hurt and harm to members of Christ Body.

Paul now counsels Timothy about taking care of himself physically as he writes, "Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities." (1 Timothy 5:23) (KJV). Paul knew of Timothy's ailments and directs him on what he must do to help keep himself physically strong to do the work of the ministry he was called by God the Father to do for His Church. Wine (fermented wine) back then was used by many people for medicinal purposes, so Paul wanted Timothy to use this medicine for his stomach trouble and other things that would afflict him along the way. The idea that Paul was giving Timothy and all other believers a license to drink alcohol in reckless abandonment is ridiculous and not even worth discussion, remember these words, "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled {and} stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit." (Ephesians 5:18) (Amplified Bible). Paul was a man filled with the Holy Spirit of God, but at the same time he was a practical man and a man who exercised common sense, therefore, he told Timothy to use the medicine available then that most people used for their infirmities and this English word 'infirmities' is translated by the Greek word astheneia meaning feebleness (of body or mind); by implication malady; - disease, infirmity, sickness, weakness. Let us not come to the Bible with only our expectations of receiving some great spiritual revelations from God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit and miss out on the wealth of practical knowledge found in this Book good for every day living and sojourning here on the earth.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…