1 Timothy 5 · Verse 24

1 Timothy 5:24

Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.

1 Timothy 5:24, King James Version

1 Timothy 5:24 in other translations

BSB	The sins of some men are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment; but the sins of others do not surface until later.
WEB	Some men’s sins are evident, preceding them to judgment, and some also follow later.
ASV	Some men’s sins are evident, going before unto judgment; and some men also they follow after.
YLT	of certain men the sins are manifest beforehand, leading before to judgment, and certain also they follow after;
DARBY	Of some men the sins are manifest beforehand, going before to judgment, and some also they follow after.
BBE	The sins of some men are clearly seen, going before them to be judged; but with others, their sins go after them.
Webster	Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment: and some men they follow after.

What does 1 Timothy 5:24 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

24. Two kinds of sins are specified: those palpably manifest (so the Greek for "open beforehand" ought to be translated; so in He 7:14, it is translated "evident"; literally, "before" the eyes, that is, notorious), further explained as "going before to judgment"; and those which follow after the men ("some men they, that is, their sins, follow after"), namely, not going beforehand, loudly accusing, but hidden till they come to the judgment: so 1Ti 5:25, the good works are of two classes: those palpably manifest (translate so, instead of "manifest beforehand") and "those that are otherwise," that is, not palpably manifest. Both alike "cannot be hid"; the former class in the case of bad and good are manifest already; the latter class in the case of both are not manifest now, but shall be so at the final judgment. going before to judgment--as heralds; crying sins which accuse their perpetrator. The connection seems to me this: He had enjoined Timothy, 1Ti 5:20, "Rebuke them that sin before all": and in 1Ti 5:22, "Neither be partaker of other men's sins," by ordaining ungodly men; having then by a digression at the clause, "keep thyself pure," guarded against an ascetical error of Timothy in fancying purity consisted in asceticism, and having exhorted him to use wine for strengthening him in his work, he returns to the subject of his being vigorous as an overseer in rebuking sin, whether in presbyters or people, and in avoiding participation in men's sins by ordaining ungodly candidates. He says, therefore, there are two classes of sins, as there are two classes of good works: those palpably manifest, and those not so; the former are those on which thou shouldest act decidedly at once when called on, whether to rebuke in general, or to ordain ministers in particular; as to the latter, the final judgment alone can decide; however hidden now they "cannot be hid" then. This could only be said of the final judgment (1Co 4:5; therefore, Alford's reference of this verse to Timothy's judgment in choosing elders must be wrong); all judgments before then are fallible. Thus he implies that Timothy can only be responsible if he connive at manifest, or evident sins; not that those that are otherwise shall escape judgment at last: just as in the case of good works, he can only be responsible for taking into account in his judgments those which are patent to all, not those secret good works which nevertheless will not remain hidden at the final judgment.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 24. Some men's sins are open beforehand. This declaration, though it assumes a general form, is to be taken evidently in connection with the general subject of introducing men to the ministry 1Timm 5:22 5:23 is to be regarded as a parenthesis. The apostle had given Timothy a charge 1Timm 5:22 respecting the character of those whom he should ordain. He here says, in reference to that, that the character of some men was manifest. There was no disguise. It was evident to all what it was, and there could be no danger of mistake respecting it. Their conduct was apparent to all. About such men he ought not to hesitate a moment, and, no matter what their talents, or learning, or rank in the community, he ought to have no participation in introducing them to the ministry.

Going before to judgment. Their character is well understood. There is no need of waiting for the day of judgment to know what they are. Their deeds so precede their own appearance at the judgment-bar, that the record and the verdict can be made up before they arrive there, and there will be scarcely need even of the formality of a trial. The meaning here is, that there could be no doubt about the character of such men, and Timothy should not be accessory to their being introduced into the office of the ministry.

And some men they follow after. That is, their character is not fully understood here. They conceal their plans. They practise deception. They appear different from what they really are. But the character of such men will be developed, and they will be judged according to their works. They cannot hope to escape with impunity. Though they have endeavoured to hide their evil deeds, yet they will follow after them to the judgment-bar, and will meet them there. The meaning, in this connection, seems to be, that there ought to be circumspection in judging of the qualifications of men for the office of the ministry. It ought not to be inferred from favourable appearances at once, or on slight acquaintance, that they are qualified for the office--for they may be of the number of those whose characters, now concealed or misunderstood, will be developed only on the final trial.

(b) "open beforehand" Gal 5:19

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 24 Some men's sins are open beforehand - In appointing men to sacred offices in the Church, among the candidates Timothy would find, 1. Some of whom he knew nothing, but only that they professed Christianity; let such be tried before they are appointed. 2. Some of whose faith and piety he had the fullest knowledge, and whose usefulness in the Church was well known. 3. Some whose lives were not at all or but partially reformed, who were still unchanged in their hearts, and unholy in their lives. The sins of these latter were known to all; they go before to judgment; with them he could have no difficulty. With the first class he must have more difficulty; there might have been hypocrites among them, whose sins could not be known till after they were brought into the sacred office. The characters of all should be fully investigated. The sins of some, before this investigation, might be so manifest as to lead at once εις κρισιν to condemnation. The sins of others might be found out after, or in consequence of, this investigation; and those that were otherwise could not be long hid from his knowledge, or the knowledge of the Church. On all these accounts the exhortation is necessary: Lay hands suddenly on no man.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Timothy 5:17-25

Care must be taken that ministers are maintained. And those who are laborious in this work are worthy of double honour and esteem. It is their just due, as much as the reward of the labourer. The apostle charges Timothy solemnly to guard against partiality. We have great need to watch at all times, that we do not partake of other men's sins. Keep thyself pure, not only from doing the like thyself, but from…

Read the full comment on 1 Timothy 5:17-25 →

1 Timothy 5:24 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

τινῶνtinōnOf someG5100

ἀνθρώπωνanthrōpōnmenG444

αἱhaitheG3588

ἁμαρτίαιhamartiaisinsG266

πρόδηλοίprodēloimanifestG4271

εἰσινeisinareG1510

προάγουσαιproagousaigoing before [them]G4254

εἰςeistoG1519

κρίσιν·krisinjudgment;G2920

τισὶνtisinof someG5100

δὲdehoweverG1161

καὶkaialsoG2532

ἐπακολουθοῦσιν.epakolouthousinthey appear later.G1872

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Timothy 5:24

2 Timothy 4:10
For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
Acts 8:18
And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
2 Peter 2:20-21
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
Acts 5:1-11
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. …
Galatians 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Acts 1:16-20
Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. …
Jeremiah 2:34
Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jer 2:34; Ac 1:16-20; 5:1-11; 8:18; Ga 5:19-21; 2Ti 4:10
2Pe 2:20,21

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

1 Timothy 5:23
Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.
1 Timothy 5:24
Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
1 Timothy 5:25
Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

Read all of 1 Timothy 5

1 Timothy 5:24 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Los pecados de algunos hombres, antes que vengan ellos á juicio, son manifiestos; mas á otros les vienen después.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Les péchés de quelques hommes sont manifestes d’avance et vont devant pour le jugement; mais ceux d’autres hommes aussi les suivent après.
German Elberfelder 1871	Von etlichen Menschen sind die Sünden vorher offenbar und gehen voraus zum Gericht, etlichen aber folgen sie auch nach.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Quorumdam hominum peccata manifesta sunt, præcedentia ad judicium: quosdam autem et subsequuntur.