1 Timothy 5:19

“Against an elder receive not an accusation, etc.] A charge of any crime: but before two or three witnesses; good sufficient ones, who are capable of well attesting the fact: a charge against a pastor of a church is not to be easily received; it should not be listened to privately, unless it clearly appears by such a number of witnesses; nor should it be brought publicly before the church, until it is privately and previously proved, by a sufficient number of credible witnesses, that it is really fact. The sense is, not that judgment shall not pass against him but by such a number of witnesses, or that the evidence upon his trial shall consist of such a number; for this is no other than what…”

“Against an elder--a presbyter of the Church. receive not--"entertain not" [ALFORD]. but before two or three witnesses--A judicial conviction was not permitted in Deu 17:6; Deu 19:15, except on the testimony of at least two or three witnesses (compare Mat 18:16; Joh 8:17; Co2 13:1; Jo1 5:6-7). But Timothy's entertaining an accusation against anyone is a different case, where the object was not judicially to punish, but to admonish: here he might ordinarily entertain it without the need of two or three witnesses; but not in the case of an elder, since the more earnest an elder was to convince gainsayers (Tit 1:9), the more exposed would he be to vexatious and false accusations. How important…”

“Against an elder - The word “elder” here seems to be used in the sense in which it is in the previous verse as relating to “office,” and not in the sense of an aged man, as in 1 Timothy 5:1. The connection demands this interpretation. Receive not an accusation - He was not to regard such a charge as well founded unless sustained by two or three witnesses. It is clear from this, that Paul supposed that Timothy would be called on to hear charges against others who were in the ministerial office, and to express his judgment on such cases. There is no reason, however, to suppose that he meant that he should hear them alone, or as a “bishop,” for this direction does not make the supposition…”

“Against an elder - Or presbyter. Do not even receive an accusation, unless by two or three witnesses - By the Mosaic law, a private person might be cited (though not condemned) on the testimony of one witness; but St. Paul forbids an elder to be even cited on such evidence, his reputation being of more importance than that of others. 1 Timothy 5:20”

“5:19-21 The climate created by the false teachers may have led to spurious charges against the leaders of the community. This passage follows the outline of Deut 19:15-21. • two or three witnesses: See Deut 17:6; 19:15; Matt 18:16; 2 Cor 13:1; Heb 10:28.”

“receive: Joh 18:29; Act 24:2-13, Act 25:16; Tit 1:6 before: or, under two: Deu 17:6, Deu 19:15, Deu 19:18, Deu 19:19; Mat 18:16; Joh 8:17; Co2 13:1; Heb 10:28 1 Timothy 5:20”