Lay hands hastily on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep yourself pure.
All Commentaries on 1 Timothy 5:22 Go To 1 Timothy 5
John Chrysostom
AD 407
What does Paul say? If one who I have ordained has sinned, do I share his blame and punishment? Yes, says he. One who authorizes evil is blameworthy. It is just as in the case of any one entrusting into the hands of a raging and insane person a sharply pointed sword, with which the madman commits murder, that one who gave the sword incurs the blame. So anyone that gives the authority that arises from this office to a man living in evil, draws down on his own head all the fire of that man’s sins and audacity. Homilies on S. Ignatius and S. Babylas, Eulogion for Ignatius
