1 Timothy 5:1 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; KJV
Paul now shifts his attention, assistance, and admonition to Brother Timothy with the emphasis and focus on a brief bit of instruction to him on how he (as the leader or one of the leaders in Ephesus) should treat members of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ Body in the assembly of saints by saying first, "Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;" (1 Timothy 5:1) (KJV). All in the Church of Christ were not cut out of a cookie mold, meaning they are not all the same and they all require different ways in which they are to be cared for, censured, and counseled by Brother Timothy. The English word 'Rebuke' that begins this 1st verse is translated by the Greek word epiplēssō (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) meaning to chastise, that is, (with words) to upbraid: - that is, express criticism towards or reproach. The little English phrase 'an elder' is translated by the Greek word presbuteros meaning (elderly); older; as noun, a senior; specifically an Israelite Sanhedrist (also figuratively, member of the celestial council) or Christian “presbyter”: - elder , older person.
In other words, Paul wanted to see Timothy and all the other leaders of Christ Church pay very close attention to their treatment of the senior or elder members of Christ Body, paying them the respect they would to their own earthly Fathers. Paul growing up as a Jewish boy attending regularly the Jewish animal sacrifices and the other ceremonies in the Synagogue knew how important showing respect to the Jewish elders was regarded by all and even though our Lord Jesus Christ sinless perfect life and then His subsequent death on the Cross, burial and resurrection from the dead has satisfied all of the Mosaic Law and the Moral Law of God, yet Paul still sees that certain Jewish policy, procedure, and practice was in no way disavowed, or denied, or destroyed by our Lord's sacrifice. It is still Christ will that just as the elders in the Jewish Synagogues were reverenced, revered, and respected highly by the younger members, so too should be the practice in Christ Body (the Church). Paul begin as a little Jewish boy and ended as a Jewish man who sat as an elder in the Jewish Sanhedrin, so he saw this profound honoring of the Jewish elders from both perspectives.
The Apostle Paul uses this noun 'elder' here in the dative case, that is, it serves as the indirect object of the verb 'rebuke', therefore, detailing that Paul is here referring to the older persons of the Church and not specifically 'the elder' who is in leadership in the Church. Here is what Albert Barnes had to say concerning rebuking not an elder, "The word 'elder' here is not used in the sense in which it often is, to denote an officer of the Church, a Presbyter, but in its proper and usual sense, to denote an aged man. This is evident, because the Apostle immediately mentions in contradistinction from the elder, 'the younger men,' where it cannot be supposed that he refers to them as officers. The command to treat the 'elder' as a 'father,' also shows the same thing. By the direction not to rebuke, it is not to be supposed that the minister of the Gospel is not to admonish the aged, or that he is not to show them their sins when they go astray, but that he is to do this as he would to a father. He is not to assume a harsh, dictatorial, and denunciatory manner. The precepts of religion always respect the proprieties of life, and never allow us to transgress them, even when the object is to reclaim a soul from error, and to save one who is wandering. Besides, when this is the aim, it will always be most certainly accomplished by observing the respect due to others on account of office, relation, rank, or age."
The English word 'intreat' is translated by the Greek word parakaleō meaning to call near, that is, invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation): - beseech, call for, comfort, exhort, intreat, pray. In other words, Paul instructs Timothy to exhort and call near the elders in the Church, even when they need admonishing for their sin and error as one would show reverence and respect to a Father and also as Paul directed the Galatian believers with these words, "BRETHREN, IF any person is overtaken in misconduct {or} sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right {and} restore {and} reinstate him, without any sense of superiority {and} with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also." (Galatians 6:1) (Amplified Bible). When Paul writes here, 'and the younger men as brethren', he means simply that Timothy is to interact with the younger men as his equal, even though he is a leader in the Church and again this does not mean he must not hand down discipline for wrong, wayward, or wicked behavior, but he is not to lord over them his position of authority. Here again is what Albert Barnes had to say concerning treating the younger men as brethren, "That is, treat them as you would your own brothers. Do not consider them as aliens, strangers, or enemies, but entertain toward them, even when they go astray, the kindly feelings of a brother. This refers more particularly to his private conversation with them, and to his personal efforts to reclaim them when they had fallen into sin. When these efforts were ineffectual, and they sinned openly, he was to 'rebuke them before all' 1 Timothy 5:20, that others might be deterred from following their example."
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…
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