Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
I charge thee—rather as Greek, "I adjure thee"; so it ought to be translated (II Timothy 4:1).
before—"in the presence of God."
Lord—omitted in the oldest manuscripts God the Father, and Christ the Son, will testify against thee, if thou disregardest my injunction. He vividly sets before Timothy the last judgment, in which God shall be revealed, and Christ seen face to face with His angels
elect angels—an epithet of reverence. The objects of divine electing love (I Peter 2:6). Not only "elect" (according to the everlasting purpose of God) in contradistinction to the reprobate angels (II Peter 2:4), but also to mark the excellence of the angels in general (as God's chosen ministers, "holy angels," "angels of light"), and so to give more solemnity to their testimony [CALVIN] as witnesses to Paul's adjuration. Angels take part by action and sympathy in the affairs of the earth (Luke 15:10; I Corinthians 4:9).
these things—the injunctions, I Timothy 5:19-20.
without preferring one before another—rather as Greek, "prejudice"; "judging before" hearing all the facts of a case. There ought to be judgment, but not prejudging. Compare "suddenly," I Timothy 5:22, also I Timothy 5:24.
partiality—in favor of a man, as "prejudice" is bias against a man. Some of the oldest manuscripts read, "in the way of summoning (brethren) before a (heathen) judge." But Vulgate and other good authorities favor the more probable reading in English Version.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing 1 Timothy 5:21:
Ecclesiastes 5:6
Daniel 7:9
Ephesians 5:5
1 Timothy 5:19
2 Timothy 2:14
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