The Seventh Sunday of Easter (NTA)

1 Timothy 5:17-25

17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” 19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. 21 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. 22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. 23 (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) 24 The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. 25 So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (1 Ti 5:17–25). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Everything must be affirmed by two or three witnesses.  When Jesus sends out his disciples he sends them out in pairs because they can confirm each other's witness.  St Paul reminds Timothy about his duty of preaching and teaching the Gospel.  He also reminds him about the laborer deserving his wages.

But just as St Paul had Timothy follow him around and eventually sent him out on his own.  St Paul tells Timothy that he will need to send other people out.  This has been the process of sending people out into the world to teach the Gospel.  They are taught and then eventually they are sent out.  Likewise, all Christians need to be taught and then we need to teach others what we have been taught.

St Paul has left this message with St Timothy to raise up other people in the true faith.  These people will then be in charge of raising up other people to take their place.  So we learn from those people have gone before us.

But everything must still be founded on more than one witness.  Could you image if the Bible was only written by one person.  One person writes four Gospels.  One person wrote all those letters.  No but four different people each wrote a Gospel.  You have letters from St Paul, St Peter, St James, St John, and even Jude (along with whoever wrote Hebrews).  But all these bear witness about one great thing.

You have life in Jesus Christ.  He suffered for the forgiveness of our sins.  He sent us out into the world to call sinners to hear the Gospel.