Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
Parallel translations
- WEB Lay hands hastily on no one, neither be a participant in other men’s sins. Keep yourself pure.
- KJV Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.
- NKJV Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.
- NASB Do not lay hands upon anyone too quickly and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.
- NLT Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader. Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Timothy should not ordain anyone hastily, lest he share in their sins, and must keep himself pure. Care in appointing leaders guards the church and the minister.
Overview
Laying on of hands likely refers to ordaining or restoring leaders; doing so rashly makes one complicit in their failures. Paul urges careful discernment and personal purity in the one who appoints. The charge reminds every leader that holiness and prudence go together, and that Christ's church deserves leaders set apart with care.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Eph 5:11Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
- 1 Tim 3:10Additionally, they must first be tested. Then, if they are above reproach, let them serve as deacons.
- 1 Tim 3:6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil.
- 1 Tim 4:14Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given you through the prophecy spoken over you at the laying on of the hands of the elders.
- Acts 6:6They presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
- 2 Jn 1:11Whoever greets such a person shares in his evil deeds.
- 2 Tim 2:2And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well.
- 2 Tim 1:6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
- Heb 6:2instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
- Acts 13:3And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
- 1 Tim 4:12Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
- Rev 18:4Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins or contract any of her plagues.
- Acts 20:26Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
- Acts 18:6But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
- Titus 1:5–9The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.
- Josh 9:14Then the men of Israel sampled their provisions, but did not seek the counsel of the LORD.
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Christ at the center
There is 'one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all' — the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh.
How 1 Timothy 5:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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