When Paul wrote his first epistle to the young evangelist Timothy, he charged him with various responsibilities toward the elders of the church (5:17-25). Note this one in particular: “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses” (5:19). Apparently it would have been common in the first century for someone to come “to the preacher” with “an accusation against an elder.” (If only that problem was limited to the first century!)
The instruction to Timothy was clear: “Do NOT receive” it or “entertain” (NIV) it! That is the general rule! There is one and only one exception: If the accusation comes from two or three witnesses. Does that have any application to us today?
The principle of “two or three witnesses” was a long-standing divine policy. Under the Law of Moses, “One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established” (Deut. 19:15). The death penalty could only be enforced “on the testimony of two or three witnesses” (Deut. 17:6), for “one witness is not sufficient testimony against a person” (Num. 35:30).
Jesus established that same principle in the New Testament (see John 8:17-18). He specifically applied it to conflict between brethren. Ideally and initially, an issue is to be handled in private, one-on-one. If that fails to resolve the matter, Jesus said, “Take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established’” (Matt. 18:16).
Connect First Timothy 5:19 with Matthew 18:15-16. The words of Paul to Timothy not only apply to one person bringing an accusation against an elder. The words apply to any one person bringing an accusation against anyone else. We have no right to “receive” or “entertain” accusations against others! Although that juicy piece of “information” about another person “seems right” (Prov. 18:17), we have heard only “one side” of the matter, and it would be “folly” for us to speak or act in that situation (18:13).
“Death” is “in the power of the tongue” (Prov. 18:21). If the death penalty could not be enforced unless two or three witnesses established the validity of a matter, then our tongue must not be engaged to promote one’s demise, when we have heard only one side of the story!
Psalm 15 affirms that to dwell in the presence of God, one must not “slander with his tongue” or “take up a reproach against his friend” (v. 3). We have no right to “entertain” accusations against others! Agape “love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8) and practices “The Golden Rule” (Luke 6:31)!