1 Timothy 5:18

the scripture saith The quotation is from Deuteronomy 25:4, and goes to the end of the clause only, -thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn;" or, as Dr Farrar renders, -thou shalt not muzzle a threshing ox." The argument from God's care of oxen has been used by St Paul before, 1 Corinthians 9:9, where see Mr Lias's note.

And, The labourer is worthy of his reward Bp Wordsworth prints the Greek of these words in such a way that they are to be included under -the Scripture saith," and a common view both in ancient and modern times considers that our Lord's words as recorded Luke 10:7 are here quoted as Scripture. The R.V. by its full-stop after -corn" regards the words as the citation only of the proverb, in the same way as it is cited by our Lord -as a popular and well-known saying." This is quite a sufficient view, especially since it is more than doubtful whether by this time the Gospels could be thus authoritatively quoted. They are not quoted even in the Apostolic Fathers.

reward Better, wages or hire.