1 Timothy 5:24

“The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment”: The term “evident” means “open, manifest, known to all”. In the context, the “sins” under consideration may be specifically the sins of elders (1 Timothy 5:20), yet the principle in this verse would apply to all men. “Paul explains that the wise choosing of elders is not an impossible task” (Kent p. 188). The true character of. man will manifest itself sooner or later. “These principles would aid Timothy in judging character, to avoid the danger mentioned in verse 22. In testing men as to their fitness for office, he must remember that there are two classes of sins, open and hidden” (Hiebert p. 105).

1 Timothy 5:24 “For others, their sins follow after”: To follow close upon, “dog their steps” (Deuteronomy 28:15; Numbers 2:23). “There are obvious sinners, whose sins are clearly leading to their own disaster and to their own punishment; and there are secret sinners who behind. front of unimpeachable rectitude live. life that is in essence evil and ugly. What man cannot see, God does see, as someone said, ‘God does not pay every Friday night'” (Barclay p. 139).

The application would be that Timothy does not need to feel guilty if an elder turns out to be less that he appeared. God does not demand omniscience of Timothy, thus he would not be devastated when what appeared to be. faithful Christian is anything but that.