5:17-18 Are there two classes of elders in the church - ruling and teaching?
5:17-18 Are there two classes of elders in the church - ruling and teaching?
No, this does not mean as some Christians believe, that there are two classes of elders in the church - ruling and teaching.
God has committed the oversight of the New Testament church to the plurality of elders co-equally (CP Ac 11:27, 20:17, 28; Eph 4:11-16; 1Ti 3:1-7; 1Pe 5:1-3).
What Paul is saying in 1Ti 5:17-18 is that the elders who are totally committed to the oversight of their assembly, and especially those who direct so much time and effort into teaching and instruction in the word are doubly worthy of honour, which doubtless means that they should also be paid more generously than those who are not so committed (CP Ac 20:17-31; 1Cor 15:10; 1Th 5:12-13; 2Ti 4:2-3).
See also comments on 1Cor 9:1-2 and 2Cor 9:6.