I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
I (solemnly) charge thee, х diamarturomai (G1263)] (2 Timothy 4:1).
Before - `in the presence of God.'
Lord. Omitted in 'Aleph (') A Delta G f g, Vulgate. God the Father, and Christ the Son, who will be revealed with His angels at the last judgment, will testify against thee, if thou disregardest my injunction.
Elect angels - the objects of divine electing love, in contrast to the reprobate angels, "who kept not their first estate" (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6). "Elect" also marks the excellence of the angels (as God's chosen ministers, 'holy angels,' 'angels of light'), and so gives more solemnity to their testimony (Calvin) to Paul's adjuration. Angels take part, by action and sympathy, in our affairs (Luke 15:10; 1 Corinthians 4:9), and will hereafter witness the judgment.
These things - the injunctions (1 Timothy 5:19-20).
Without preferring one before another, х prokrimatos (G4299)] - 'without prejudice:' 'judging before' hearing all the facts. There ought to be judgment, but not pre-judging. (Compare "suddenly," 1 Timothy 5:22; also 1 Timothy 5:24).
Partiality - in favour of one, as 'prejudice' is bias against one. A Delta read [proskleesin] 'in the way of summoning (brethren) before a (pagan) judge.' But 'Aleph (') G f g, Vulgate, Lucifer, favour х prosklisin (G4346)] "partiality."