{"author":null,"canonical_references":[],"database_sha256":"8cfbe7284c6936871d57c02dc6aa63ebbdfd4722422d539dd9f716e46e91112e","date_end":null,"date_start":null,"edition_year":null,"id":"sermonindex-ecf-1686","native_reference":{"book_number":610,"chapter_from":5,"chapter_to":5,"system":"MyBible module coordinates (mapping unverified)","verse_from":17,"verse_to":17},"public_import_allowed":false,"record_kind":"verse-keyed-module-record","review_required":["English edition and exact text","author/work attribution","dating","verse mapping and citation kind","reuse and attribution","split author quotations and deduplicate"],"review_status":"unreviewed","source_html":"<p><b>Ambrosiaster</b>: Effective presbyters should be rewarded not only with sublime honor but with earthly as well, that they not be burdened with poverty.<br/><i>— COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST LETTER TO TIMOTHY</i></p><p><b>John Chrysostom</b>: In preaching the word there is some toil, and this Paul declares when he says, \"Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.\" Yet it is in your power to make this labor light or heavy; for if you reject our words, or if without actually rejecting them you do not show them forth in your works, our toil will be heavy, because we labor uselessly and in vain: while if ye heed them and give proof of it by your works, we shall not even feel the toil, because the fruit produced by our labor will not suffer the greatness of that labor to appear. So that if you would rouse our zeal, and not quench or weaken it, show us, I beseech you, your fruit, that we may behold the fields waving with corn, and being supported by hopes of an abundant crop, and reckoning up your riches, may not be slothful in carrying on this good traffic.<br/><i>— Homily on John 22</i></p><p><b>John Chrysostom</b>: But when he speaks of priests he says, \"Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word, and in teaching.\" For this is the perfection of teaching when the teachers both by what they do, and by what they say as well, bring their disciples to that blessed state of life which Christ appointed for them. For example alone is not enough to instruct others. Nor do I say this of myself; it is our Saviour's own word. \"For whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great.\" Now if doing were the same as teaching, the second word here would be superfluous; and it had been enough to have said \"whosoever shall do\" simply. But now by distinguishing the two, he shows that practice is one thing, and doctrine another, and that each needs the help of the others in order to complete edification.<br/><i>— On the Priesthood, Book 4</i></p><p><b>John Chrysostom</b>: The \"honor\" of which he here speaks is attention to them, and the supply of their necessities, as is shown by his adding, \"Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn\"; and, \"The laborer is worthy of his reward.\" So when he says, \"Honor widows,\" he means, \"support\" them in all that is necessary. Thus he says, \"That it may relieve those that are widows indeed\"; and again, \"Honor widows that are widows indeed,\" that is, who are in poverty, for the greater their poverty, the more truly are they widows. He alleges the Law, he alleges the words of Christ, both agreeing herein. For the Law says, \"Thou shall not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn.\" See how he would have the teacher labor! For there is not, indeed there is not, any other labor such as his. But this is from the Law. But how does he quote from Christ? \"The laborer is worthy of his reward.\" Let us not then look only to the reward, but to the terms of the commandment. \"The laborer,\" he says, \"is worthy of his reward.\" So that if any one lives in sloth and luxury, he is unworthy of it. Unless he is as the ox treading out the corn, and bearing the yoke, in spite of heat and thorns, and ceases not till he has carried the corn into the granary, he is not worthy. Therefore to teachers should be granted a supply of their necessities without grudging, that they may not faint nor be discouraged, nor by attention to inferior things deprive themselves of greater; that they may labor for spiritual things, paying no regard to worldly things.</p><p>And what is double support? Double that of the widows, or of the deacons, or simply, liberal support. Let us not then think only of the double maintenance granted them, but of what is added, \"Those who rule well.\" And what is it to rule well? Let us hear Christ, Who says, \"The good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep.\" Thus to rule well is, from our concern for them, never to spare ourselves.</p><p>\"Especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.\" Where then are those who say that there is no occasion for the word and doctrine? Whereas he says to Timothy, \"Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them\"; and, \"Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself, and them that hear thee.\" These are the men whom he wishes to be honored most of all, and he adds the reason, for they sustain great labor.<br/><i>— Homily on 1 Timothy 15</i></p><p><b>Oecumenius</b>: The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, \"Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,\" and, \"The worker deserves his wages.\"</p><p>Who then are the ones who lead well, Christ declared. \"The good Shepherd,\" he says, \"lays down his life for the sheep.\" (Jn. 10:11)</p><p>are to be considered worthy of double honor. Paul calls the necessary provision an honor, or rather a contribution. \"Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,\" and, \"The worker deserves his wages.\"</p><p>double. But truly, with a double comparison made to widows, not to elders who do not rule well. For they do not even deserve simple honor, but rather must be expelled. Or he says double means much.</p><p>those who labor in preaching. Preach, not the boastful kind, but that which has the power to nourish spiritually. But where now are those who say that the leader does not need words or teaching, but life? Let them now hear how Paul honors the word [λόγον], especially preaching. For even this, if from some other. For when the word is about doctrines, where then does life have power? And see the contrast to, \"Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.\" For indeed, one who is threshing must be muzzled.</p><p>The worker deserves his wages. Even Christ speaks in accordance with the law. By wages, he means food, and by worker, he means the one who labors, namely that one who does not labor is unworthy of food. This, however, Paul says to teachers who do not labor in teaching.<br/><i>— COMMENTARY ON 1 TIMOTHY</i></p><p><b>Tertullian</b>: The apostle has given them \"double honor\" as being both brothers and officers.<br/><i>— ON FASTING 17</i></p><p><b>Tertullian</b>: To the indictment of your appetite pertains (the charge) that \"double honour\" is with you assigned to your presiding (elders) by double shares (of meat and drink); whereas the apostle has given them \"double honour\" as being both brethren and officers. Who, among you, is superior in holiness, except him who is more frequent in banqueting, more sumptuous in catering, more learned in cups? Men of soul and flesh alone as you are, justly do you reject things spiritual.<br/><i>— On Fasting</i></p>","source_html_sha256":"4586b2cea342a64fddff5ec5e20232e650e433107d032dc5cba7d8b3c51195cf","source_module":"ECF","source_row_id":1686,"source_url":"https://www.sermonindex.net/commentary/ecf/","text_sha256":"95c0ea0f4806f1102b21383cbb2e85574ded80622fb790b6b1dc7f27ba1adc8e","translator":null,"work":null}