The first part of this verse deals with one of the functions of Timothy, that of the laying on of hands, for which see discussion in 4.14. The function of consecration into a particular office or function seems to be in focus here as well, except that here the office of elder is certainly what is meant. How elders were chosen and commissioned, and who has the right to commission elders, are questions about which the text is silent.

In some languages the laying on of hands is sometimes used in connection with arresting someone. A literal translation then would create some difficulty for the reader. In such cases a functional equivalent may be used; for example, “commissioning,” “consecrating”; it is also possible to add the function description to the literal translation; for example, “consecrating elders by laying your hands on them,” or “commissioning church leaders by laying your hands on them,” or even “laying your hands on people to dedicate them to the Lord as church leaders.”

Timothy is urged not to be hasty in commissioning elders. The word used here refers to an extremely short span of time, hence “quick,” “swift,” “hurried.” The intention here is perhaps to make sure that the candidates for the office of elder are screened carefully, in order to avoid the problem of erring elders that is mentioned in verses 19-20.

The second part of the verse is an admonition to Timothy not to participate in another man’s sins and to keep himself pure. The word participate is literally “to have fellowship with” or “to share in,” whereas the word for pure signifies the absence of any moral defects; in the present context it can be understood negatively as abstaining from anything that can be considered immoral and sinful, and positively as behaving in an honest, sincere, and acceptable manner.

While some hold that this second part of the verse is unrelated to the first part, it is quite clear from the Greek text that the two parts are directly related. This is especially evident in the use of the connective nor that in the Greek never begins a new topic but always introduces something that is directly connected to what has immediately preceded. This would mean that, in hastily ordaining elders without first ascertaining whether they are qualified for the office or not, and especially without ascertaining their moral standing, Timothy would in a real sense be participating in and accepting responsibility for their sins. So Timothy is urged to keep himself morally pure and blameless by making sure that those whom he ordains to the office of elder are morally blameless as well.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• Do not be in a hurry to lay your hands on someone to dedicate them to the Lord’s service as a church leader, for you may in a sense be participating in (or, sharing in) their sins. You must, on the other hand, keep yourself free of moral defects (or, abstain from doing immoral things).

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to Timothy. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .