Elders who are sinning

1 Timothy 5:19–20—Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.

Paul was giving Timothy guidance for maintaining integrity and order among church leaders. It’s worth pausing on what he’s saying before connecting it to our modern situation.

In the first century, “elders” (presbyteroi) were the spiritual overseers of local congregations. They carried teaching authority and moral responsibility. Paul is warning Timothy not to accept rumors or unverified accusations against them—leadership can make someone a target for gossip or resentment—but if an elder is indeed found guilty of open sin, then the rebuke should be public so the rest of the community understands that leadership doesn’t place anyone above accountability. The principle is justice combined with transparency.

Now, we’re writing publicly to confront those who “divide the church” over issues like Bible versions or KJV Onlyism, the same Pauline balance applies. We’re right to be concerned about arrogance, factionalism, and quarrels over translations—Paul warns elsewhere that “knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Cor 8:1). His method of correction always aimed at restoration, not humiliation.

• Our goal is healing the body, not winning an argument.

• We try to speak truthfully with language that invites repentance rather than fuels another round of division.

• We are keeping the focus on the behaviors and attitudes—pride, quarrelsomeness, exclusivism.

• We anchor our critique in Scripture’s larger vision: humility, unity, and love for the truth rather than ownership of it.

Paul’s idea of reproving before everyone isn’t license for public shaming; it’s a call for accountable leadership, discipline for the sake of restoration, not condemnation.

Public correction is biblical, truth spoken in love, aimed at repentance, guarding the unity of the faith rather than fracturing it further.