1 Timothy 5:1

The Text: Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father.

The Meaning Given To It: Brethren often go to extremes on how they regard and act toward elders in a local congregation. Some treat them with distain, defiance and disrespect while others feel that they are demigods whose conduct and decisions must not and cannot be called into question. We are headed for trouble in the church---to say nothing about problems with God---when we take either extreme. The misapplication of this verse comes with the latter extreme. It is often cited as proof of the contention that an elder/overseer in a local church can never be rebuked about his conduct or teaching.

The Context: First, let's see who this "elder" is. If we would not stop with verse 1 but go on and read the rest of the verses we would see what kind of elder is being referred to. The latter part of this verse speaks of younger men and in verse 2 mention is made of older women and younger women, and verse 3 begins a lengthy discussion of widows of varying ages. It is the age of various people that is the focus in this part of the context, not some function that they engage in as a part of the local church; Paul is talking about men who are older, not men who are overseers. Secondly, notice the use of the "not...but..." expression. Paul is not saying that an "elder" can't be spoken to about something in their life or teaching that is improper (read verse 17 where Paul begins to discuss these men and clearly says in verse 20 that they are to be reproved when they sin.)

The Meaning: Now what is Paul saying about Timothy's association with these older men? He is emphasizing the fact that, in Timothy's relationship with them, he is to exhort each as if they were his father. Few things are as disrespectful as a young man or woman acting in an insolent, haughty, disrespectful way toward an older man or woman and Paul is reminding Timothy that in his dealings with older men he is to admonish them when the occasion justifies. We would do well to remember some principles found in other verses about older people and our attitude toward and treatment of those who are our elders.

Lev 19:32 You shall rise up before the grayheaded, and honor the aged, and you shall revere your God; I am the LORD. To "rise up" has the same meaning here it has in Prov. 31:28---show respect for---and we "rise up", as the rest of verse 28 makes clear, not only by what we do but by what we say: "...and bless her", i.e., praise or speak well of her.

Job 32:4-6 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were years older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men his anger burned. 6 So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite spoke out and said, "I am young in years and you are old; therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you what I think. Whether or not Elihu practiced what he preached on this occasion is beside the point; what he said was absolutely correct: younger people should wait before they tell older people what they think and they need to develop the quality of timidity and shyness in regard to their speech in the presence of those who are older.

Younger preachers sit up and take notice: the fact that you are a preacher does not give you the right to "go on the attack" against an older preacher or any older Christian man in just any manner you choose. It might be they have faults that need pointed out; it may be that what they are teaching is contrary to what is found in the Bible, but you need to watch how you act and what you say as you point these things out. I've listened to debates and read articles in which younger preachers were dealing with older preachers and I seriously doubt that those younger men would have ever talked to their fathers in the way they were speaking to or writing about the older evangelist. There was much more rebuking taking place than admonishing. Young preachers, if you wouldn't talk to your dad that way, don't talk to any older man in that manner. If you wouldn't treat your dad in the same manner you're treating an older man who may need some correcting, chances are your attitude and approach are wrong. And this goes beyond the language we use either vocally or in print. Underhandedness, unfairness and all other such unethical carnal weapons (2 Cor. 10:3-4) are not part of our armor. Standing for and defending Truth does not justify a "whatever it takes" or "anything goes" attitude and approach. There is no difference between insolence and false teaching; one will send you to hell as surely and quickly as the other. Just as the alleged false teacher will give account to His God for what he teaches, so you will give account for every word that comes out of your mouth (Matt. 12:36), and that includes those directed toward aged saints. You would do well to remember Paul's admonition in 2 Timothy 2:24-25, especially when dealing with older men, And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth.

David Smitherman