Note 8 at 1 Tim. 5:19: Paul gives Timothy instructions that deal with allegations against elders. The first thing Paul tells Timothy to do is to reject unsubstantiated accusations. If the charges cannot be attested to by more than one person, then the matter should be dropped. This is a reference back to the Old Testament law of collaborating everything in the mouths of at least two or three witnesses (see Parallel Scriptures for this v.). If this simple rule was followed, many church problems would evaporate.

Note 9 at 1 Tim. 5:19: The Greek word that was translated "receive" in this verse is "PARADECHOMAI" meaning "to accept near, i.e. admit, or by implication delight in" (Strong). This means allegations that don't have the support of more than one person are not to be considered, and certainly aren't to be investigated.

Any charge against an elder that doesn't have more than one person making the accusation is to be ignored. An elder who has two or three people bringing charges against him is to be investigated. In the next verse, Paul tells what to do with the elders who are found guilty.