Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
Do not harshly rebuke an elder man, but exhort him as you would your father. Correction is medicine and always bitter; respect for age makes him more willing to bear reproof. Yet this does not mean sparing old men to sin without correction, only that you moderate your tone so they may hear you.
AI summary
Commenting on 1 Timothy 5:1-25
Here are directions, I. Concerning the supporting of ministers. Care must be taken that they be honourably maintained (Ti1 5:17): Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour (that is, of double maintenance, double to what they have had, or to what others have), especially those who labour in the word and doctrine, those who are more laborious than others.
Commenting on 1 Timothy 5:17-25
Them that sin rebuke before all,.... This the apostle adds to the above rule, to show that he was far from screening wicked ministers, or elders, guilty of flagitious crimes, and gross enormities: for these words, though they may be applied unto, and may hold good of all offenders, that are members of churches; yet they seem chiefly to regard elders, even such who sin...