NOTES for Ti1 5:17-25
Paul holds the ministry of presbyters, or elders, in high esteem, especially those engaged in the “ministry of the word,” the ministry of a teacher or rabbi. Such people quite often became members of the council of elders: a teacher's ministry involved more than studying the sacred books and teaching others to do so. Its chief purpose was to gain experience of living according to the inner Torah, as well as experience of the process of shaping that inner Torah itself.
This was very serious and demanding spiritual work. A person who wished to acquire the inner Torah and learn to live by it first had to become aware of themselves and their intentions, and then learn to govern those intentions with the same awareness.
Moreover, a true teacher had to be ready to share their experience of life in the Torah and of the Torah's path with anyone wishing to learn. This meant always being open to conversation and to any questions concerning spiritual life and the spiritual path. Such a ministry was far from easy, and the experience it provided was truly priceless for the Church. That is why teachers often became members of the council of elders, sometimes at a relatively young age, like Timothy himself.
Naturally, such a teacher, constantly in the public eye while leading an intense inner life, could easily become the victim of slander or false accusation: it is impossible to be good in everyone's eyes and to please everybody. Discontented people could emerge easily and did so quickly, but Paul urges Timothy to examine their testimony critically. Understandably so: any accusation, if true, in fact showed that the teacher was unfit for his ministry.
For many, removal from ministry was equivalent to spiritual death. So the apostle advises that every accusation against a presbyter, especially a presbyter who teaches, be examined as the Torah prescribes for accusations that may lead to a death sentence. In such cases, the Torah requires an accusation to be confirmed by at least two witnesses, whose testimony, after detailed examination and cross-examination, must be established beyond all doubt. Paul extends this rule to every presbyter, especially those who teach: the responsibility of those who decide about them and their ministry is no less than that of those who confirm a death sentence.