1 Timothy 5:22
1 Timothy 5:22
“Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Timothy should not be hasty in appointing leaders, lest he share in their sins, but keep himself pure.
What Does 1 Timothy 5:22 Mean?
Paul warns Timothy not to lay hands too quickly in appointing someone to office. Haste could place an unworthy person in leadership.
To rush such a choice would make Timothy share responsibility for that person's failings. The closing words, 'keep thyself pure,' sum up the call: a leader must guard his own integrity even as he weighs the fitness of others.