1 Timothy 5:25
in 1 Timothy 5In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even the ones that are inconspicuous cannot remain hidden.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
In like manner also there are good works that are evident; and such as are otherwise cannot be hid.
KJV
Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.
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This verse in 1 Timothy 5
Commentary
12 notes on this verseThe words mean this: Certain persons sin so deliberately and flagrantly that you no sooner see them than you know them at once to be sinners. But the defects of others are so cunningly concealed that we only learn them from subsequent information. Similarly the good deeds of some people are public property, while those of others we come to know only through long intimacy with them.
This site's exposition
The sins of some men are obvious
on 1 Timothy 5:24-25
The sins of some men are obvious, while others do not surface until later, which is why verse 22 urges care in ordination. Good deeds run the same two ways, and character is read over time.
This site's exposition
good deeds are obvious
Jerome explains the pairing with verse 24: some sins are plain at once while others come to light only later. Good deeds follow the same pattern.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
The sins of certain people are obvious, leading to judgment; and for some, they also follow. Likewise, good deeds are evident; and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden. Since he said above, "nor share in the sins of others," (1 Tim. 5:22) he resolves …
"Going before to judgment." This he had said, implying that of evil actions here some are concealed, and some are not; but there neither the good nor the bad can be concealed. And what is that going before to judgment? When one commits offenses that already condemn him, or when he is incorrigible, and when one thinks to set him right and cannot succeed. What then? What is the use of mentioning this? Because if here any escape detection, they will not hereafter. There all things are laid open; and this is the greatest consolation to those who do well.
The Medieval Church2 voices
The greatest consolation for the righteous consists in the fact that good and evil deeds are known even here, but especially there, where all things are laid bare.
Second, he says, do not impose hands lightly on any man, and he explains that this applies to men who are not evidently good, because in like manner also good deeds of some are manifest: that they may see your good works and glorify your …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
3 Honour widows that are widows indeed. 4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. 5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:98%@v3-5
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Likewise also the good works of some are manifest before hand,....
And those that are otherwise, whose good works do not appear, their wickedness cannot be hid, and so it will be easy to discern who are to be absolved, and who are not. There are secret, and there are open sins; some men's sins are open beforehand, and going unto judgment, and some they follow after. Sinners must be differently dealt with by the church.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand - The character of some people is clear, and accurately understood. There can be no doubt, from their works, that they are good people. We need not wait for the day of judgment to determine that, but may treat them here as good men, and introduce them to offices which only good men can fill. The idea here is that their character may be so certain and undoubted that there need be no hesitation in setting them apart to the office of the ministry.
Likewise also the good works of some - Though those who are very holy and very useful in the Church cannot be unknown, yet there are others not less holy who need to be brought forward; who do much good in private; and their character and good works are not fully known till after diligent inquiry. These are they who do not let their left hand know what their right doeth. 1. After so long and minute an examination of the subjects in this chapter, little remains to be said in the way of farther and more satisfactory explanation. The whole account concerning the widows, who they were, and what their provision, and what their occupation, and how supported, are to me questions of considerable difficulty. In the notes I have given the best account of the different subjects in my power. If the reader be satisfied and edified, I have gained my end. 2. On the subject of the imposition of hands, or what is vulgarly but improperly called ordination, I have not said much here, having given my views of the subject elsewhere in these notes. See on 1Ti 3:1 (note), etc. I must again state my conviction that what is said on this subject in this chapter, and indeed in the epistle, is rather to be understood prophetically; and to have been intended for a much lower age of the Christian Church. That any person should, from impure or secular motives, desire to be appointed to the ministerial office at such a time, when poverty and persecution were the least they would reasonably expect, to me seems altogether inexplicable. But that many, after the Church got accredited and established, and an ample revenue appointed for its ministers by emperors and kings, should wish to get into the priesthood for its emoluments, is a melancholy truth, which every year’s experience testifies. […]
The words behind it
14 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὡσαύτως | hosautos | Likewise | G5615 → | 17 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὰ | ta | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἔργα | erga | works | G2041 → | 168 times |
| τὰ | ta | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| καλὰ | kala | good | G2570 → | 101 times |
| πρόδηλα | prodela | evident | G4271 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and even | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὰ | ta | those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἄλλως | allos | otherwise | G247 → | |
| ἔχοντα | echonta | being | G2192 → | 707 times |
| κρυβῆναι | krubenai | to be concealed | G2928 → | |
| οὐ | ou | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| δύνανται.¶ | dunantai | are able. | G1410 → | 207 times |
ὡσαύτωςLikewise
hosautosG5615 →17 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὰthe
taG3588 →19766 times
ἔργαworks
ergaG2041 →168 times
τὰ<the>
taG3588 →19766 times
καλὰgood
kalaG2570 →101 times
πρόδηλαevident
prodelaG4271 →
καὶand even
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὰthose
taG3588 →19766 times
ἄλλωςotherwise
allosG247 →
ἔχονταbeing
echontaG2192 →707 times
κρυβῆναιto be concealed
krubenaiG2928 →
οὐnot
ouG3756 →1664 times
δύνανται.¶are able.
dunantaiG1410 →207 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 10:9He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.
it leads to
- Proverbs 28:18
He who walks with integrity will be kept safe, but whoever is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.
- Matthew 10:26
So do not be afraid of them. For there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.
- Psalms 26:11–12
But I will walk with integrity; redeem me and be merciful to me.
- Isaiah 33:15–16
He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, who refuses gain from extortion, whose hand never takes a bribe, who stops his ears against murderous plots and shuts his eyes tightly against evil—
- 1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each…
- Proverbs 28:18
Through
Luke 11:33No one lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a basket. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.
it leads to
- Luke 8:16–17
No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.
- Mark 4:21–22
Jesus also said to them, “Does anyone bring in a lamp to put it under a basket or under a bed? Doesn’t he set it on a stand?
- Matthew 5:15–16
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
- Luke 8:16–17
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 1 Timothy
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, LETTERS 54.8; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Timothy 16; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, COMMENTARY ON 1 TIMOTHY; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Timothy and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Timothy.