As Paul the apostle continued to give instructions to
Timothy his “son in the faith”
concerning overseeing the church located in Ephesus, he moved from
the topic of caring for “widows”
or “presbyteroses”
and returned to write about “elders”
or “presbyteros” as
he began in verse one of chapter five where we read, “Rebuke
not an elder, but intreat him
as a father; and
the younger men as brethren;”. In verse
seventeen of this same chapter, Paul told Timothy these “elders”
were worthy of “double
honor” where we read:
Let the
elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor,
especially
they who labour in the word and doctrine.
The verse begins, “Let
the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor,...”
Paul began
with the word “Let”
which is the same Greek word “axioō”
which
is also used for “be counted
worthy”
and means “to think meet, fit,
right, to judge worthy and deem deserving”. The complete phrase is
“ axioō presbyteros proïstēmi kalōs
axioō”, and
by the double use of the word “ axioō”
we can perceive Paul's emphasis upon this idea. Paul desired for “the
elders”
who were “advanced in life and senior” and were usually the
“overseers and ones who presided over the assemblies” “that
rule”
or “are over, superintend, preside over, give attention to and care
for” “well”
which means “beautifully, finely, excellently, rightly, honorably,
truly and without blame” “be
counted worthy”
which once again means “to think meet, fit, right, to judge worthy
and deem deserving” “of
double honor”
or “deference, reverence, value and price”. Those men who were
older in the church setting were to be given “great value and
honor” among the others within the congregation.
The verse goes on to
say, “...especially they who labour in the word and
doctrine.” Paul desired to
give a special recognition of the “elders”
“especially” or
“chiefly, most of all and above all” “they who labor”
which means “grow weary, tired, exhausted (with toil or
burdens or grief), to labour with wearisome effort and toil” “in
the word” or “doctrine, speaking, teaching and uttering of
the sayings of God” “and doctrine” which is the
“teachings, instructions and precepts” of God. There was to be
special attention and honor to those who taught the principles and
doctrine of the word of God, and particularly the ones who were
“advanced in life and senior”.
As we meditate
upon the words of Paul, our minds should be drawn to those who are
“elders” among us. Are we inclined to give them “double
honor” as Paul wrote, or are we subject to have them “move
aside” that our agendas may be performed? The “elders”
within the church of Ephesus were not only to be noted, but also to
be given “deference, reverence and honor” as they dwelt among the
other believers within the church. In other words, they were to be
“doubly valued” and especially if they taught the word of God.
Too often rather than value and honor the “elders”,
younger generations, such as the one to whom Timothy belonged, would
rather have the older generations move out of the way, and rather
than “honor” them, they despised the older generation.
This was not to be so among the church in Ephesus, and Paul wanted
“young Timothy” to rather give “double honor” to the
“elders” who attended the fellowship. Perhaps the Lord
Jesus will help us to note the words of Paul and apply them to our
lives when we encounter those who are more advanced in age than we.
We must always remember, the Lord knows and is concerned with every
person within the church, and we must learn to care for everyone as
He does.
Next
time Paul tells Timothy a laborer is “worthy of his
reward”, so read ahead, and
we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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