Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Them that sin rebuke before all that others also may fear. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. He is merely reminding Timothy of the re-quirement of the law. Several tendencies serve to necessitate a guard against false accusations against elders.
Godly men are especially susceptible to slander.
In a sinful age, insults and put-downs are considered trivial and humorous. The godly, by setting a higher standard before men, are more susceptible to character assassination by mere rumor or slander. The charge alone harms the minister and the church. Certainly this, rather than justice, is often the goal. Prudence dictates we recognize this.