Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader. Do not 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.
- BSB Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself 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.
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 unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them.
- 1 Tim 3:10Let them also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless.
- 1 Tim 3:6not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
- 1 Tim 4:14Don’t neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the elders.
- Acts 6:6whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
- 2 Jn 1:11for he who welcomes him participates in his evil deeds.
- 2 Tim 2:2The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
- 2 Tim 1:6For this cause, I remind you that you should stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
- Heb 6:2of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
- Acts 13:3Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
- 1 Tim 4:12Let no man despise your youth; but be an example to those who believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.
- Rev 18:4I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, that you have no participation in her sins, and that you don’t receive of her plagues,
- Acts 20:26Therefore I testify to you today that I am clean from the blood of all men,
- Acts 18:6When they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook out his clothing and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on, I will go to the Gentiles!”
- Titus 1:5–9I left you in Crete for this reason, that you would set in order the things that were lacking, and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you;
- Josh 9:14The men sampled their provisions, and didn’t ask counsel from Yahweh’s mouth.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.