1 Timothy 5:21

Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ. So אAD2*G, the Latin and the Egyptian Vss.; rec. text has κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ with D2cKLPF and the Syriac.

πρόσκλισιν. This spelling is supported by אGK and the Latin versions; AD2LP have πρόσκλησιν which gives no tolerable sense and might readily have arisen through itacistic interchange of ι and η. See note in loc.

21. διαμαρτύρομαι ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ. We have this formula again in 2 Timothy 2:14; 2 Timothy 4:1; the only other place in St Paul where the compound διαμαρτύρεσθαι occurs is 1 Thessalonians 4:6. διά has an intensive force: I solemnly charge thee.

τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ Χρ. Ἰησοῦ. It is plain that here, as in 2 Timothy 4:1, Granville Sharp’s canon as to the non-repetition of the definite article does not hold; for it cannot be doubted that θεός the Eternal Father is invoked as distinct from Χρ. Ἰησοῦς, the Judge of all judges (John 5:27; Acts 17:31, and 2 Corinthians 5:10). But, as has been observed, such quasi-official words as Χριστός are often used without the article, like proper names.

τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν�. The commentators cite the apposite parallel from Josephus (B. J. II. 16. 4): μαρτύρομαι δʼ ἐγὼ μὲν ὑμῶν τἀ ἅγια, καὶ τοὺς ἱεροὺς�. The force of ἐκλεκτῶν has been variously explained. It is quite unnecessary to bring in the idea of (a) guardian angels of particular churches, as e.g. at Revelation 2:1. Nor (b) can we suppose that ἐκλεκτῶν is introduced to distinguish the angels who are in the thought of the writer from the fallen spirits of evil (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6); ἄγγελος without any qualifying epithet is consistently used throughout the N.T. for the holy angels, and the addition of ἐκλεκτῶν for the purpose of such a distinction would be in this context otiose and gratuitous. It seems better (c) to regard ἐκλεκτῶν as a natural and fitting epithet of angels who are the chosen ministers of God, and who watch with tender interest over the affairs of men (1 Corinthians 4:9; 1 Timothy 3:16).

ἵνα ταῦτα φυλάξῃς, that thou observe these things, sc. the precepts about the trial of presbyters in 1 Timothy 5:19-20.

χωρὶς προκρίματος, μηδὲν ποιῶν κ.τ.λ. πρόκριμα and πρόσκλισις are both ἅπ. λεγ. in the Greek Bible; the former is strictly a vox media, but is here used to express preconceived judgement against the accused or prejudice, as πρόσκλισις indicates undue partiality towards either side. The solemnity of the adjuration with which the verse opens marks the importance which the writer attaches to the jurisdiction that Timothy is to exercise being fulfilled with an open mind and without respect of persons.