1 Timothy 5:20

Them that sin A connecting particle has some authority here but not enough for adoption. The absence need not (see note above) make us think the subject is changed from offending presbytersto sinners generally. This would require more support from the context than is given, the main thought being still Timothy's official and personal bearing towards presbyters. The article with the present participle is nearly the equivalent of a substantive. Cf. Winer, § 47, 7. The same article and present participle occur in 1 John 3:6, where the force of the present is of the utmost importance. -It describes a character, "a prevailing habit," and not primarily an act." Bp Westcott. So here, -those who are living in sin" among the presbyters. Bp Wordsworth gives a special character to these sins: -He is speaking specially of Presbyters whose sins, particularly in doctrine, are public and notorious. And this exposition is confirmed by the application of the word "sins" to them here and in 1 Timothy 5:24, and Titus 3:11, where he says of a heretical teacher that he "sinneth being self-condemned." St Paul thus declares the moral guilt of false doctrine." And he quotes St Paul's prophecy to the Athenian presbyters of such -grievous wolves," -speaking perverse things" among them, Acts 20:29.

rebuke before all The word is sometimes -convict," sometimes -condemn." In its use in these Epistles, here and 2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9; Titus 1:13; Titus 2:15, it seems always to have reference to false teachingand its consequent evil living, and to unite the sharp convincing proof of the error and the sharp condemning reproof of the vice.

that others also may fear Rather, as R.V., that the rest also may be in fear; -the rest," i.e. those who have heard and perhaps approved of the false teaching and its vicious morals; -may be in fear," the longer expression being used to denote the state of abiding -godly fear."