1 Timothy 5:19

Some Latin MSS. known to Jerome seem to have omitted the words ἐκτὸς … μαρτύρων; and it is possible that we have a trace of this in Cyprian Test. iii. 76; but the variant is only a curiosity of criticism.

19. κατὰ πρεσβυτέρου κατηγορίαν κ.τ.λ. Against a presbyter receive not an accusation except &c. κατηγορία and παραδέχομαι are not found in St Paul’s writings outside the Pastorals, but they are common words, although the former does not happen to occur in the LXX. We have κατήγορος, κατηγορεῖν frequently in the Greek Bible (e.g. Romans 2:15).

ἐκτὸς εἰ μή. We have this pleonastic form of negation at 1 Corinthians 14:5; 1 Corinthians 15:2; it is fairly common in late writers such as Plutarch[532].

[532] See Deissmann, Bibelstudien, p. 115, who points out that ἐκτὸς εἱ μή is found in an inscription of Mopsuestia in Cilicia.

ἐπὶ δύο ἤ τριῶν μαρτύρων. Words taken in substance from Deuteronomy 19:15; cp. Deuteronomy 17:6. The general principle is appealed to by St Paul in 2 Corinthians 13:1, by our Lord in John 8:17, and also in Hebrews 10:28. The force of ἐπὶ is hardly doubtful. The analogy of 2 Corinthians 13:1 confirms the translation of the R.V. at the mouth of, which is the meaning of the precept in its original place in Deuteronomy 19:15 ἐπὶ στόματος δύο μαρτύρων κ.τ.λ. And we adopt this rendering, although στόματος is omitted in the verse before us, and although ἐπὶ with the gen. (as in 1 Corinthians 6:1) gives a good sense, in the presence of, coram. The precept is here interesting, as marking the beginnings of presbyteral discipline. Timothy is directed, in order to avoid any slightest injustice, to follow the precedents of the old law in his supervision of the Church at Ephesus. Two witnesses at least must give evidence if charges against a presbyter are to be entertained.