Fathers

1 Timothy 5

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Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. Honour widows that are widows indeed. But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some are already turned aside after Satan. If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

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What the Fathers say

1 Timothy 5:20

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

Do not, he says, hastily cut them off, but carefully enquire into all the circumstances, and when thou hast thoroughly informed thyself, then proceed against the offender with rigor, that others may take warning. For as it is wrong to condemn hastily and rashly, so not to punish manifest offenses is to open the way to others, and embolden them to offend. "Rebuke," he says, to show that it is not to be done lightly, but with severity. For thus others will be deterred. …

Homily on 1 Timothy 15 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

That is, those who persist in sin and whom you find after thorough investigation, rebuke strongly and strictly, not to satisfy your own anger, but so that the rest may be instructed through fear. For a bishop must also be fearsome. For just as it is harmful to condemn thoughtlessly, so it is destructive not to rebuke the guilty, because through this the disease of sin spreads to many. But how then did the Lord say in the Gospel: "If your brother sins against you, go and rebuke him between you and him alone" (Matt. 18:15)? …

Commentary on 1 Timothy ↗

Cyprian

That the sinner must be publicly reproved. In the first Epistle of Paul to Timothy: "Rebuke them that sin in the presence of all, that others also may be afraid."

Treatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

What, then, is the path of duty, seeing that it often happens that if you inflict punishment on one he goes to destruction; whereas, if you leave him unpunished, another is destroyed? I confess that I make mistakes daily in regard to this, and that I know not when and how to observe the rule of Scripture: "Them that sin rebuke before all, that others may fear;" and that other rule, "Tell him his fault between thee and him alone;" and the rule, "Judge nothing before the time;" "Judge not, that ye be not judged."

Letters 95 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Then when he says, reprove those who sin, he shows how they are to be punished, if proved guilty: first, he shows that they must be punished publicly; second, he adjures him to observe this, at I charge you, before God. He says, therefore: reprove those who sin, whether they be priests or not, before all. Why? So that the rest also may have fear. Yet the procedure in such cases is not the same as that in fraternal correction; because the judge is a public person. …

Commentary on 1 Timothy ↗