1 Timothy– Chapter Five XX

by Ed Urzi

“For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,’ and, ‘The laborer deserves his wages'” (1 Timothy 5:18 ESV).

To grasp the significance behind 1 Timothy 5:18, it’s important to note the three-fold structure of this passage…

  • …the Scripture says.
  • You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.
  • The laborer deserves his wages.

Notice that 1 Timothy 5:18 quotes an Old Testament passage (“Do not muzzle an ox…” [Deuteronomy 25:4]) alongside the words of Jesus as recorded in Luke 10:7.  It then refers to both as Scripture. This brief passage thus informs us that God’s inspiration of the Bible covers both the Old and New Testaments. The following authors also alert us to the true significance of this passage…

“Writing sometime between A.D. 62-65, Paul quotes from Luke 10:7 and calls it ‘Scripture’ (1 Tim. 5:18). Therefore, Luke’s Gospel must have been in circulation long enough before that time in order for both Paul and Timothy to know its contents and regard it as Scripture. (By the way, this was no minor claim for Paul to make. In effect, he was making the bold assertion that Luke’s Gospel was just as inspired as the Holy Jewish Bible-the Old Testament he treasured so much!)” (1)

“This reference is a remarkable testimony to the divine inspiration of the gospel of Luke, with Paul quoting Luke 10:7 as authoritative Scripture. Paul had been accompanied by Luke on some of his earlier missionary voyages. Luke would even be with him in his last days (II Timothy 4:11). Paul probably had frequent contact with his physician throughout his later life. He must have had ample opportunity to read Luke’s gospel, perhaps even helping him with its composition. He realized not only that it was truly a product of the Spirit’s inspiration, but also that these particular words had been spoken by the Lord Jesus, and thus were of special importance in this connection.” (2)

“Thus Paul here quoted from the Christian gospels, extending to them the full authority and status of Scripture. As 1 Timothy was written during that period shortly before Paul’s second imprisonment, the bearing of this on the date of Luke’s gospel, which he here quoted, should not be overlooked. Here is an insurmountable denial of the late dating of Luke. ‘The conclusion is inevitable that the writer of this epistle was acquainted with and quoted from the gospel of Luke.'” (3)

(1) Norman L. Geisler, Frank Turek, I Don’t Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist [pg 241]

(2) Institute for Creation Research, New Defender’s Study Bible Notes [1 Timothy 5:18] https://www.icr.org/bible/1Tim/5/18/

(3) A. C. Hervey, The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 21, 1Timothy (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1950) [p.99] quoted in Coffman, James Burton. “Commentary on 1 Timothy 5:18”. “Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament”. “https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bcc/1-timothy-5.html“. Abilene Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. 1983-1999.