The Meaning of 1 Timothy 5:15 Explained

1 Timothy 5:15

KJV: For some are already turned aside after Satan.

YLT: for already certain did turn aside after the Adversary.

Darby: For already some have turned aside after Satan.

ASV: for already some are turned aside after Satan.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  some  are  already  turned aside  after  Satan. 

What does 1 Timothy 5:15 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Timothy 5:9-16 - Home-Keeping Industry Enjoined
The sphere of the younger woman must be in the home. This is the noblest work of all, and wherever it exists, it has the prior claim; yet even during the years of early motherhood there may still be opportunities of offering hospitality to strangers, ministering to the children of God who need refreshment and comfort, and diligently assisting in good work. These offices lovingly and humbly performed, will serve as a gracious opening for further ministries of the same description in the later period of life.
The Apostle says nothing about remarriage in general, but simply refers to the fact that young women who have become widows are likely to accept the offer of a second marriage, and so abjure that first faith, in which they had pledged themselves to the service of the church. Unless there is great watchfulness, the practice of going from house to house, ostensibly on church business, may degenerate into gossip-mongering. Therefore it was wiser not to put young women on the church service roll. If they did not marry a second time, they might at least work for the maintenance of others, widows like themselves, but less able to help themselves. There must be no idling. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Timothy 5

1  Rules to be observed in reproving
3  Of widows
17  Of elders
23  A precept for Timothy's health
24  Some men's sins go before unto judgment, and some men's follow after

Greek Commentary for 1 Timothy 5:15

Are turned aside [εχετραπησαν]
Second aorist (effective) passive indicative of εκτρεπω — ektrepō See note on 1 Timothy 1:6. [source]
After Satan [οπισω του Σατανα]
“Behind Satan.” Late use of οπισω — opisō (behind) as a preposition. Used by Jesus of disciples coming behind (after) him (Matthew 16:24). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Timothy 5:15

1 Timothy 5:1 Rebuke not an elder [πρεσβυτέρῳ μὴ ἐπιπλήξῃς]
The verb N.T.oolxx. originally to lay on blows; hence to castigate with words. Πρεσβύτερος elderoP., but frequent in Gospels, Acts, and Revelation. Modern critical opinion has largely abandoned the view that the original Christian polity was an imitation of that of the Synagogue. The secular and religious authorities of the Jewish communities, at least in purely Jewish localities, were the same; a fact which is against the probability that the polity was directly transferred to the Christian church. The prerogatives of the Jewish elders have nothing corresponding with them in extent in the Christian community. Functions which emerge later in the Jewish-Christian communities of Palestine do not exist in the first Palestinian-Christian society. At the most, as Weizsäcker observes, it could only be a question of borrowing a current name. Modern criticism compels us, I think, to abandon the view of the identity of Bishop and Presbyter which has obtained such wide acceptance, especially among English scholars, through the discussions of Lightfoot and Hatch. The testimony of Clement of Rome (Ep. ad Corinth.) goes to show that the Bishops ( ἡγούμενοι or προηγούμενοι ) are distinguished from the Presbyters, and that if the Bishops are apparently designated as Presbyters, it is, because they have been chosen from the body of Presbyters, and have retained the name even when they have ceased to hold office. for this reason deceased Bishops are called Presbyters. In Clement, Presbyters signify a class or estate - members of long standing and approved character, and not office-bearers regularly appointed. Among these the Bishops are to be sought. Bishops are reckoned as Presbyters, not because the Presbyter as such is a Bishop, but because the Bishop as such is a Presbyter. In the Pastorals, Bishops and Deacons are associated without mention of Presbyters (1 Timothy 3:1-13). Presbyters are referred to in 1 Timothy 5:17-19, but in an entirely different connection. The qualifications of Bishops and Deacons are detailed in the former passage, and the list of qualifications concludes with the statement that this is the ordering of the church as the house of God (1 Timothy 5:14, 1 Timothy 5:15). The offices are exhausted in the description of Bishops and Deacons. Nothing is said of Presbyters until ch. 5, where Timothy's relations to individual church-members are prescribed; and in Titus 2:2ff. these members are classified as old men ( πρεσβύτας ) old women, young men, and servants. In 1 Timothy 5:17are mentioned elders who rule well ( οἱ καλῶς προεστῶτες πρεσβύτεροι ). Assuming that Presbyters and Bishops were identical, a distinction would thus be implied between two classes of Bishops - those who rule well and those who do not: where as the distinction is obviously between old and honored church-members, collectively considered, forming the presbyterial body, and certain of their number who show their qualifications for appointment as overseers. Presbyters as such are not invested with office. There is no formal act constituting a Presbyter. The Bishops are reckoned among the Elders, but the elders as such are not officers. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
Thus are to be explained the allusions to appointed Elders, Titus 1:5; Acts 14:23. Elders are to be appointed as overseers or Bishops, for the overseers must have the qualifications of approved Presbyters. The ordination of Presbyters is the setting apart of Elders to the position of Superintendents. The Presbyterate denotes an honorable and influential estate in the church on the ground of age, duration of church membership, and approved character. Only Bishops are appointed. There is no appointment to the Presbyterate. At the close of Clement's letter to the Corinthians, the qualifications of a Presbyter are indicated in the description of the three commissioners from the Roman church who are the bearers of the letter, and to whom no official title is given. They are old, members of the Roman church from youth, blameless in life, believing, and sober. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
[source]

1 Timothy 1:6 Have turned aside [ἐξετράπησαν]
oP. Comp. 1Timothy href="/desk/?q=1ti+5:15&sr=1">1 Timothy 5:15; 1 Timothy 6:20; 2 Timothy 4:4; Hebrews 12:13. [source]
1 Timothy 1:3 Some [τισὶν]
Note the indefinite designation of the errorists, and comp. 1 Timothy 1:6; 1 Timothy 4:1; 1 Timothy 5:15, 1 Timothy 5:24; 1 Timothy 6:21. The expression is contemptuous. It is assumed that Timothy knows who they are. This is after the Pauline manner. See Galatians 1:7; Galatians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 4:18; 1 Corinthians 15:12; 2 Corinthians 3:1; Colossians 2:4, Colossians 2:8. [source]
1 Timothy 6:20 Turning away from [εκτρεπομενος]
Present middle participle of εκτρεπω — ektrepō for which see note on 1 Timothy 1:6; 1 Timothy 5:15. Babblings (κενοπωνιας — kenophōnias). From κενοπωνος — kenophōnos uttering emptiness. Late and rare compound, in N.T. only here and 2 Timothy 2:16. Oppositions Old word “Of the falsely named knowledge.” Old word (pseudēsonoma). Our “pseudonymous.” Only here in N.T. [source]
Hebrews 12:13 Be turned out of the way [ἐκτραπῇ]
Rend. “be put out of joint.” The A.V. is according to the more usual meaning of the verb, which, in N.T., is confined, with this exception, to the Pastoral Epistles. See 1 Timothy 1:6; 1 Timothy 5:15; 2 Timothy 4:4. lxx only Amos 5:8. But it is also used by medical writers in the passive, with the meaning to be wrenched or dislocated. There is nothing strange in the use of this word in a medical sense by our writer, whose work bears the stamp of Alexandria. The Greeks received their knowledge of surgery from the Egyptians, and mural paintings and documents, and even hieroglyphic symbols, prove that that people had attained remarkable proficiency in the science. Herodotus (ch. iii. 131) mentions a medical school at Cyrene in Africa, and says that the pupils of that school were regarded as the second best physicians in all Greece. At the time of Galen (163 a.d.) the medical school of Alexandria was the most famous in the world, and Galen himself studied there. Celsus (first half of the first century a.d.), in the 7th book of his treatise De Artibius, treats of surgical operations according to the views of the Alexandrian schools. The commonly accepted rendering of the A.V., besides giving a conception which is very tame, presents two incongruities: the association of going astray with lameness, and of healing with straying. The other rendering gives a lively and consistent image. Make the paths smooth and even, so that the lame limb be not dislocated by stones or pitfalls. Do everything to avoid aggravating the weakness of a fellow-Christian. Rather try to heal it. Τὸ χωλὸν may refer either to an individual or to a section of the church which is weak and vacillating. [source]
2 Peter 2:10 After the flesh [οπισω σαρκος]
Hebraistic use of οπισω — opisō as with αμαρτιων — hamartiōn (sins) in Isaiah 65:2. Cf. Matthew 4:19; 1 Timothy 5:15.Of defilement (μιασμου — miasmou). Old word (from μιαινω — miainō Titus 1:15), here only in N.T.Despise dominion Κυριοτης — Kuriotēs is late word for lordship (perhaps God or Christ) (from Κυριος — Kurios), in Colossians 1:16; Ephesians 1:21; Judges 1:8. Genitive case after καταπρουντας — kataphrountas (thinking down on, Matthew 6:24).Daring (τολμηται — tolmētai). Old substantive (from τολμαω — tolmaō to dare), daring men, here only in N.T.Self-willed Old adjective (from αυτος — autos and ηδομαι — hēdomai), self-pleasing, arrogant, in N.T. only here and Titus 1:7.They tremble not to rail at dignities (δοχας ου τρεμουσιν βλασπημουντες — doxas ou tremousin blasphēmountes). “They tremble not blaspheming dignities.” Τρεμω — Tremō is old verb (Mark 5:33), used only in present as here and imperfect. Here with the complementary participle βλασπημουντες — blasphēmountes rather than the infinitive βλασπημειν — blasphēmein See Judges 1:8. Perhaps these dignities (δοχας — doxas) are angels (εςιλ — evil). [source]
Revelation 13:3 Wondered after the beast [εταυμαστη οπισω του τηριου]
First aorist passive (deponent) indicative of ταυμαζω — thaumazō to wonder at, to admire, as in Revelation 17:8. For this pregnant use of οπισω — opisō see John 12:9; Acts 5:37; Acts 20:30; 1 Timothy 5:15. “All the earth wondered at and followed after the beast,” that is Antichrist as represented by Domitian as Nero redivivus. But Charles champions the view that Caligula, not Nero, is the head that received the death-stroke and recovered and set up statues of himself for worship, even trying to do it in Jerusalem. [source]
Revelation 13:3 As though it had been smitten [ως εσπαγμενην]
Perfect passive participle of σπαζω — sphazō as in Revelation 5:6, accusative singular agreeing with μιαν — mian (one of the heads), object of ειδον — eidon understood, “as though slain” (so the word means in seven other instances in the book). There is a reference to the death and new life of the Lamb in Revelation 5:6.And his death-stroke was healed (και η πληγη αυτου ετεραπευτη — kai hē plēgē autou etherapeuthē). First aorist passive indicative of τεραπευω — therapeuō “The stroke of death” (that led to death). Apparently refers to the death of Nero in June 68 a.d. by his own hand. But after his death pretenders arose claiming to be Nero redivivus even as late as 89 (Tacitus, Hist. i. 78, ii. 8, etc.). John seems to regard Domitian as Nero over again in the persecutions carried on by him. The distinction is not always preserved between the beast (Roman Empire) and the seven heads (emperors), but in Revelation 17:10 the beast survives the loss of five heads. Here it is the death-stroke of one head, while in Revelation 13:12, Revelation 13:14 the beast himself receives a mortal wound.Wondered after the beast First aorist passive (deponent) indicative of ταυμαζω — thaumazō to wonder at, to admire, as in Revelation 17:8. For this pregnant use of οπισω — opisō see John 12:9; Acts 5:37; Acts 20:30; 1 Timothy 5:15. “All the earth wondered at and followed after the beast,” that is Antichrist as represented by Domitian as Nero redivivus. But Charles champions the view that Caligula, not Nero, is the head that received the death-stroke and recovered and set up statues of himself for worship, even trying to do it in Jerusalem. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Timothy 5:15 mean?

Already for some have turned aside after - Satan
ἤδη γάρ τινες ἐξετράπησαν ὀπίσω τοῦ Σατανᾶ

ἤδη  Already 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἤδη  
Sense: now, already.
τινες  some 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Feminine Plural
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
ἐξετράπησαν  have  turned  aside 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἐκτρέπω  
Sense: to turn or twist out.
ὀπίσω  after 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ὀπίσω 
Sense: back, behind, after, afterwards.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Σατανᾶ  Satan 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Σατανᾶς  
Sense: adversary (one who opposes another in purpose or act), the name given to.