1 Timothy 5:17

The work of the elders was to take the lead in the assemblies of God's people. They are responsible to keep godly order in public and private. Honour was due to an elder as such. Those who did their work well deserved double honour. This was true above all of those who, besides caring for the saints, laboured in word and teaching.

Presiding is a delicate and difficult task. It demands tact and moral courage more than public teaching does. Steady perseverance, in the face of frequent discouragement and trial as well as opposition, calls for that kind of "labour" — not for moving from place to place like an apostle, prophet, or evangelist. Eldership is quite distinct from all of those.

Where elders exist, those who preside well were to be counted worthy of double honour. Honour was due to an elder as such, and double honour if he did his work well. There is no comparison with any preceding class. And "honour" means what it says, though it would be strange honour that could neglect their wants. But there is a special value, beyond that double honour, due to those who labour in word and doctrine. Ruling was the aim of their appointment. If they also laboured in word and teaching, that had a peculiar worth in the apostle's eyes. Not all of them did so. They were not "teachers," though aptness to teach was looked for in anyone eligible for the office.

This verse supposes that some overseers have not only office but gift, and that they set themselves to labour in word and doctrine. "Labour" is a strenuous word. Acts 20:28 speaks of such men feeding the church of God.

A pastor is a gift from Christ for the whole Church everywhere. A bishop, or overseer, was a local officer. The apostles appointed him by their own authority, and he was a bishop only in the assembly where they ordained him.

Whatever gifts they had, they used, as all did. So the apostle directs that elders who rule well are to be counted worthy of double honour, and above all those who labour in the word and doctrine. But they might rule, and rule well, without this.

The elders, whose business it was to rule, were in danger of being despised, even if they were not teachers. They were to be honoured as a class.

In every case, whether they were in need or well provided for, those who rule well are to be held worthy of double honour. If such an elder were wealthy, or had enough to live on, would a salary or even a gift of money really honour him? … Here it was important to show this: an elder who rules well deserves such honour as would neither leave him in want nor turn him aside from his absorbing work to earn the bread that perishes.

The next verse — about not muzzling the ox that treads out the grain, and the labourer deserving his wages — points to their receiving material things in recognition of the spiritual things they gave. But it does not mean a fixed salary. It means a loving, grateful thank-you for spiritual benefits received.

Before there was any such official relationship, there were those who laboured among the saints, took the lead among them in the Lord, and warned them. The apostle holds these up as entitled to more than recognition in their work. They were to be esteemed very highly in love because of it.