In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.
Paul had just told Timothy to correct wrongdoing in front of everyone. Why does he then call God, Christ Jesus and the elect angels as witnesses, and warn of two faults?
The three witnesses
The charge names three witnesses. One writer links each of them to the house of God.
Hamilton SmithOffenders, whether elders or not, are to be rebuked in front of everyone, so that others may fear. Their faults must first be fully proved by enough witnesses. But a rebuke is not given only before other people. It is given before God, whose house we are; before the Lord Jesus Christ, who is Son over God's house; and before the elect angels, who serve those who form the house.
The appeal itself shows how hard the task was. Timothy had to act where human opinion carried no weight.
Numerical Bible NotesTimothy was to keep these things as in the presence of God and Christ and the elect angels. This solemn appeal makes the difficulty plain. He had to act in the presence of those before whom men were as nothing!
God and Christ joined, angels set apart
The three are not all on one footing. In the Greek, one article covers God and Christ Jesus together. A second article introduces the angels. That small detail carries weight.
William KellyThe one article identifies the two persons in a common object. The article that follows marks off the "elect angels". However exalted they are, they have no title to be identified in that way. Christ Jesus could be, and is, put with God on the same ground. The elect angels are not. They are brought in alongside, yet kept apart, as witnesses now and not only in the future scene of glory.
Why the angels are called "elect"
Why call angels "elect"? One writer points to what happened when some angels fell and others did not.
James BoydGod placed them where they were to keep their standing by obeying His decree. He did not bring about the fall of any of them. He allowed that fall to happen where the creature revolted against his Creator. Countless others were upheld by His power, and not allowed to fall. Such angels are called elect.
Prejudice and partiality
Two rare words close the verse. One names a verdict reached too early. The other names a leaning toward one side.
William KellyThe Authorized Version seems to lose the distinction between the two words. In the New Testament they are found only here. The first refers to "prejudice". It condemns a case before hearing it, or before hearing it properly. The second means an undue leaning, or "favour", toward one side, even if a person has heard both. Timothy is warned by the most sacred associations to watch against a bias either way.
How favouritism creeps in
This bias hides itself. It comes dressed as admiration, or as a grudge that feels fair.
Leslie M. GrantIt is far too easy to let strong feelings sway us in any matter. A person's godly qualities might attach us to him so much that we favour him even when he is wrong in a case. Or I may disagree with someone over some matter. Then I am quick to hold him in disfavour without a truly fair reason. How subtle the flesh is in every one of us!
Family ties pull the same way. One writer finds an example in Barnabas.
A J PollockPerhaps the family tie made Barnabas partial to his nephew. Natural affection is surely right, and to be without it is a sign of the last times. But we may learn a useful lesson here. Natural affection must not sway our spiritual judgment. It must not shape our actions in the things of God.
Who carries this today
Timothy held a commission no one holds now. The written instruction still stands.
Raymond K. CampbellHe was to rebuke any who deserved it, regardless of age, place, or standing in the assembly, even an elder. Today no one has Timothy's authority from an apostle. But we have the apostle's words in Scripture, and the assembly must carry out this instruction without partiality.
Summary
- Witnessed — every rebuke happens before God whose house we are, before Christ the Son over that house, and before the angels who serve those in it.
- Ranked — the wording puts God and Christ Jesus on one level. The angels, however exalted, stand apart.
- Elect — God's power upheld these angels when others fell. That is why they are called elect.
- Two-sided — prejudice judges before the hearing; partiality leans after it. Timothy must guard both ends, not just one.
- Ours — no one today holds Timothy's commission from an apostle. The charge still stands. The flesh still hides favouritism behind admiration, grudges and family ties.