ESV 1 Timothy 5:20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.
In 1 Timothy chapter 5, Paul explains that pastors should be protected from false accusations. For a pastor to be found guilty of sin there should be at least 2 or 3 witnesses (1 Timothy 5:19). In this blog post, I’m not focusing on the important steps and related issues involved in receiving and investigating an accusation against a pastor. Here, I’m focusing on the issue of what a church or ministry should do if a pastor or similar ministry leader is rightly found to be in serious sin.
If they are found to be in sin, Paul tells us to “rebuke them in the presence of all.” But what does that mean? The word rebuke in English might bring to mind several images and possibilities:
*
Tell them that they have been really bad
*
Yell at them
* Point a finger at them while correcting them
I don’t think Paul had in mind any of those. We can learn what Paul did have in mind by studying the Greek word translated “rebuke.” That Greek word is elegchō. Like most words in all languages, elegchō has a range of related meanings rather than just one precise meaning. The intended meaning within that range must be determined by the context.
At the bottom of this blog post I include an appendix with a list of all the verses in the New Testament that use the word elegchō. For each verse I give the Greek (for those who have studied Greek) and three translations of the Greek into English (CSB, ESV, and NIV). I include that appendix for the convenience of those who like to study the data for themselves. Here, I want to highlight several verses out of that list that I think can help us the most to understand what Paul meant by “rebuke” in 1 Timothy 5:20:
ESV John 3:20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed [Greek: elegchō]
ESV Matt. 18:15 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault [Greek: elegchō], between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
ESV 1 Cor. 14:24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted [Greek: elegchō] by all, he is called to account by all,
ESV Eph. 5:11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose [Greek: elegchō] them.
ESV Eph. 5:13 But when anything is exposed [Greek: elegchō] by the light, it becomes visible,
In the above verses elegchō is used to refer to exposing sin. I think this fits the context of 1 Timothy 5 very well. Paul is not saying that we need to yell at a pastor caught in serious sin or point our finger at him while telling him how bad he is. Paul is telling us that if a pastor is proven to be in serious sin, then his sin should be revealed to the whole church. This fits the context well. Paul had just mentioned the need for 2 or 3 witnesses. In Matthew 18, Jesus mentions the need to have 2 or 3 witnesses before someone’s sin is told to the church (the exact application is slightly different, but there are a lot parallels and common principles between the Matthew 18 and 1 Timothy 5).
This meaning of elegchō is also supported by some excellent Greek lexicons. Friberg’s lexicon gives this definition (I think that the second definition is carried out by doing the first definition, in other words, the way to reprove is to bring someone’s sin to light):
ἐλέγχω . . . (1) in the NT, generally as showing someone that he has done something wrong and summoning him to repent bring to light, expose (JN 3.20); convince, convict (JA 2.9); (2) in the sense of setting right reprove, correct (1T 5.20); in an intensified sense rebuke, discipline, punish (HE 12.5)
And Louw-Nida’s Lexicon gives this definition:
ἐλέγχω . . . to state that someone has done wrong, with the implication that there is adequate proof of such wrongdoing - 'to rebuke, to reproach, rebuke, reproach.'
Based on the above study, I think we could paraphrase 1 Timothy 5:20 like this:
“As for those who persist in sin, expose their sin, stating what they did in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear” (My paraphrase of 1 Timothy 5:20).
Churches and Ministries Often Fail to Obey 1 Timothy 5:20
Sadly, there have been many churches and ministries which have failed to obey 1 Timothy 5:20. They have covered up the sins of ministry leaders instead of exposing them. This was one of the huge problems in the massive Roman Catholic scandal that involved the sexual abuse of children by priests. In many cases, a priest was moved to a new location if caught in sin, but his sins were not revealed. In some cases, they went on to abuse more children. There have been many cases where the serious sins of pastor were not exposed in evangelical churches also. Sometimes even if a pastor is fired after being caught in serious sin, the congregation is still not told why. This practice is nothing less than disobedience to God’s Word.
Why do churches and ministries fail to follow God’s instruction in this case? It’s hard to know their motives. In some cases, they might be afraid that revealing the sin will damage their church or ministry. In other cases, the pastor or ministry leader who is guilty of the sin might have a lot of influence and influential friends who work to suppress the revelation of the sin. Whatever their motive, it is wrong to cover up the sin. Paul seemed to know (inspired by the Holy Spirit!) that churches and ministries would often not want to expose serious sins of their leaders, even when those sins are proven. That explains why right after 1 Timothy 5:20 Paul wrote 1 Timothy 5:21:
ESV 1 Timothy 5:21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.
That is strong language! It is not
ok to ignore Paul’s Holy Spirit inspired instructions.
Up to this point, I have focused on 1 Timothy 5:20-21. I would like to finish this blog post by sharing some pastoral counsel based on other Bible passages and also on my 28 years of full-time ministry experience. Some of the most painful and difficult ministry experiences in all those years have involved a few occasions where I was involved in revealing the serious and proven sins of ministry leaders. It was tough. In one case, there was a lot of resistance to doing what the Bible tells us to do. I learned a lot, and I would like to pass on some of that to you.
Pastoral Counsel Related to Ministry Leaders Caught in Serious Sin
1. Not every sin committed by a ministry leader calls for public rebuke. Ministry leaders are people and like all people, we sin. We probably commit some type of sin every week (or even every day). It was not Paul’s intention that we attempt to expose every sin. That would be impossible and also contrary to other biblical principles such as “love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8 ESV). There is no precise rule or list of sins that tells us when sin needs to be publicly revealed. In general, I would say that if a sin is serious enough that a ministry leader needs to be asked to step down or step aside or moved to a different position, then the sin is serious enough that 1 Timothy 5:20 applies.
2. The cost of exposing the sin may be high. In the long run, the cost of not exposing it will be higher.
3. If the sin involves abuse of a minor, then in addition to applying Paul’s directions in 1 Timothy, it should be immediately reported to the police. In this case it is both a sin and a crime. The police have authority to do things that a church cannot do like exercise search warrants, seize computers and other materials, and if called for lock someone up in order to protect the community.
4. Paul does not tell us what actions in addition to the sins being revealed should be taken. In many cases, the pastor or ministry leader should be removed from their position. But exactly how and when this should be done requires a lot of wisdom and Holy Spirit guidance. If the sin is publicly revealed to the church, it is far less likely that a person will be allowed to continue in ministry who shouldn’t. The people in the church won’t put up with it.
5. In some cases, a church or ministry will benefit greatly by calling in outside resources to investigate and make recommendations regarding serious allegations from multiple witnesses.
6. In applying all of this, we must remember grace and mercy. Grace and mercy should not be used as excuses to not reveal serious proven sin and grace and mercy does not mean that the guilty pastor should always keep his position. But there will be other ways in which grace and mercy should be applied.
7. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Be very careful when appointing someone as an elder or to other ministry leadership positions. Do your best to ensure they meet the qualifications given in 1 Timothy 3.
8. If you find yourself in a church or ministry that has failed to rightly expose the serious proven sin of leaders, pray for wisdom. God may lead you to stay despite this serious error, but in many cases, it will be best to move to another church or ministry.
9. If a church or ministry fails to expose the serious, proven sin of ministry leaders sometimes (not always – this is a tough call), it will be right to expose the sin in other ways. An example of a ministry that does this is The Roys Report. I think that ministry helps to protect the Body of Christ. If it is proven that a minor has been abused, it is vital that in one way or another this information is widely revealed in order to protect more abuse of others in the future.
10.
Pray! You will need wisdom and courage and inner strength if you have to deal
with something like this. All of those things are available from God. I just
stopped and prayed for you.
Related
Resources from my Blog and YouTube channel:
Video: What to do if a pastor sins
Video: Mike Bickle and Solomon; IHOPKC and the
Temple
Video: Thoughts and Biblical Principles Related to
Sexual Abuse in Churches
Video: How to Choose a Pastor
Blog Post: The
Many Ways We Mess Up Putting Matthew 18 into Practice
Blog Post: The
Ravi Zacharias Sexual Sin Case
Blog Post: Sexual
Abuse in Southern Baptist Churches
Appendix: All
verses in the New Testament with the Greek word ἐλέγχω, elechō
BGT Matt. 18:15 Ἐὰν δὲ ἁμαρτήσῃ [εἰς σὲ] ὁ ἀδελφός σου, ὕπαγε ἔλεγξον αὐτὸν μεταξὺ σοῦ καὶ αὐτοῦ μόνου. ἐάν σου ἀκούσῃ, ἐκέρδησας τὸν ἀδελφόν σου·
CSB Matt. 18:15 "If your brother sins against you, go and rebuke him in private. If he listens to you, you have won your brother.
ESV Matt. 18:15 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
NIV Matt. 18:15 "If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.
BGT Lk. 3:19 Ὁ δὲ Ἡρῴδης ὁ τετραάρχης, ἐλεγχόμενος ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ περὶ Ἡρῳδιάδος τῆς γυναικὸς τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ καὶ περὶ πάντων ὧν ἐποίησεν πονηρῶν ὁ Ἡρῴδης,
CSB Lk. 3:19 But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him about Herodias, his brother's wife, and about all the evil things Herod had done,
ESV Lk. 3:19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done,
NIV Lk. 3:19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother's wife, and all the other evil things he had done,
CSB Jn. 3:20 For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed.
BGT Jn. 3:20 πᾶς γὰρ ὁ φαῦλα πράσσων μισεῖ τὸ φῶς καὶ οὐκ ἔρχεται πρὸς τὸ φῶς, ἵνα μὴ ἐλεγχθῇ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ·
ESV Jn. 3:20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
NIV Jn. 3:20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
BGT Jn. 8:46 τίς ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐλέγχει με περὶ ἁμαρτίας; εἰ ἀλήθειαν λέγω, διὰ τί ὑμεῖς οὐ πιστεύετέ μοι;
CSB Jn. 8:46 Who among you can convict Me of sin? If I tell the truth, why don't you believe Me?
ESV Jn. 8:46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?
NIV Jn. 8:46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me?
BGT Jn. 16:8 Καὶ ἐλθὼν ἐκεῖνος ἐλέγξει τὸν κόσμον περὶ ἁμαρτίας καὶ περὶ δικαιοσύνης καὶ περὶ κρίσεως·
CSB Jn. 16:8 When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment:
ESV Jn. 16:8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
NIV Jn. 16:8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment:
BGT 1 Cor. 14:24 ἐὰν δὲ πάντες προφητεύωσιν, εἰσέλθῃ δέ τις ἄπιστος ἢ ἰδιώτης, ἐλέγχεται ὑπὸ πάντων, ἀνακρίνεται ὑπὸ πάντων,
CSB 1 Cor. 14:24 But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or uninformed person comes in, he is convicted by all and is judged by all.
ESV 1 Cor. 14:24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,
NIV 1 Cor. 14:24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all,
BGT Eph. 5:11 καὶ μὴ συγκοινωνεῖτε τοῖς ἔργοις τοῖς ἀκάρποις τοῦ σκότους, μᾶλλον δὲ καὶ ἐλέγχετε.
CSB Eph. 5:11 Don't participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them.
ESV Eph. 5:11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
NIV Eph. 5:11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
BGT Eph. 5:13 τὰ δὲ πάντα ἐλεγχόμενα ὑπὸ τοῦ φωτὸς φανεροῦται,
CSB Eph. 5:13 Everything exposed by the light is made clear,
ESV Eph. 5:13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,
NIV Eph. 5:13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible-- and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.
BGT 1 Tim. 5:20 Τοὺς ἁμαρτάνοντας ἐνώπιον πάντων ἔλεγχε, ἵνα καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ φόβον ἔχωσιν.
CSB 1 Tim. 5:20 Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will also be afraid.
ESV 1 Tim. 5:20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.
NIV 1 Tim. 5:20 But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.
BGT 2 Tim. 4:2 κήρυξον τὸν λόγον, ἐπίστηθι εὐκαίρως ἀκαίρως, ἔλεγξον, ἐπιτίμησον, παρακάλεσον, ἐν πάσῃ μακροθυμίᾳ καὶ διδαχῇ.
CSB 2 Tim. 4:2 Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.
ESV 2 Tim. 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
NIV 2 Tim. 4:2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-- with great patience and careful instruction.
BGT Tit. 1:9 ἀντεχόμενον τοῦ κατὰ τὴν διδαχὴν πιστοῦ λόγου, ἵνα δυνατὸς ᾖ καὶ παρακαλεῖν ἐν τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ τῇ ὑγιαινούσῃ καὶ τοὺς ἀντιλέγοντας ἐλέγχειν.
CSB Tit. 1:9 holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it.
ESV Tit. 1:9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
NIV Tit. 1:9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
BGT Tit. 1:13 ἡ μαρτυρία αὕτη ἐστὶν ἀληθής. δι᾽ ἣν αἰτίαν ἔλεγχε αὐτοὺς ἀποτόμως, ἵνα ὑγιαίνωσιν ἐν τῇ πίστει,
CSB Tit. 1:13 This testimony is true. So, rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith
ESV Tit. 1:13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
NIV Tit. 1:13 This saying is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith
BGT Tit. 2:15 Ταῦτα λάλει καὶ παρακάλει καὶ ἔλεγχε μετὰ πάσης ἐπιταγῆς· μηδείς σου περιφρονείτω.
CSB Tit. 2:15 Say these things, and encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
ESV Tit. 2:15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
NIV Tit. 2:15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
BGT Heb. 12:5 καὶ ἐκλέλησθε τῆς παρακλήσεως, ἥτις ὑμῖν ὡς υἱοῖς διαλέγεται· υἱέ μου, μὴ ὀλιγώρει παιδείας κυρίου μηδὲ ἐκλύου ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἐλεγχόμενος·
CSB Heb. 12:5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: My son, do not take the Lord's discipline lightly or faint when you are reproved by Him,
ESV Heb. 12:5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.
NIV Heb. 12:5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
BGT Jas. 2:9 εἰ δὲ προσωπολημπτεῖτε, ἁμαρτίαν ἐργάζεσθε ἐλεγχόμενοι ὑπὸ τοῦ νόμου ὡς παραβάται.
CSB Jas. 2:9 But if you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
ESV Jas. 2:9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
NIV Jas. 2:9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
BGT Jude 1:15 ποιῆσαι κρίσιν κατὰ πάντων καὶ ἐλέγξαι πᾶσαν ψυχὴν περὶ πάντων τῶν ἔργων ἀσεβείας αὐτῶν ὧν ἠσέβησαν καὶ περὶ πάντων τῶν σκληρῶν ὧν ἐλάλησαν κατ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἀσεβεῖς.
CSB Jude 1:15 to execute judgment on all and to convict them of all their ungodly acts that they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things ungodly sinners have said against Him.
ESV Jude 1:15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him."
NIV Jude 1:15 to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him."
BGT Rev. 3:19 ἐγὼ ὅσους ἐὰν φιλῶ ἐλέγχω καὶ παιδεύω· ζήλευε οὖν καὶ μετανόησον.
CSB Rev. 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be committed and repent.
ESV Rev. 3:19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
NIV Rev. 3:19 Those whom I love I rebuke and
discipline. So be earnest and repent.
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