Fathers

1 Timothy 5

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Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brothers; the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity. Honor widows who are widows indeed. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety toward their own family and to repay their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God. Now she who is a widow indeed and desolate, has her hope set on God, and continues in petitions and prayers night and day. But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives. Also command these things, that they may be without reproach. But if anyone doesn’t provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. Let no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, being approved by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, and if she has diligently followed every good work. But refuse younger widows, for when they have grown wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge. Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for insulting. For already some have turned away after Satan. If any man or woman who believes has widows, let them relieve them, and don’t let the assembly be burdened, that it might relieve those who are widows indeed. Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain.” And, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” Don’t receive an accusation against an elder, except at the word of two or three witnesses. Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear. I command you in the sight of God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the chosen angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality. Lay hands hastily on no one. Don’t be a participant in other people’s sins. Keep yourself pure. Be no longer a drinker of water only, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities. Some men’s sins are evident, preceding them to judgment, and some also follow later. In the same way also there are good works that are obvious, and those that are otherwise can’t be hidden.

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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 ↗