Vincent Word Studies - 1 Timothy 4:6 - 4:6

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Vincent Word Studies - 1 Timothy 4:6 - 4:6


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things (ταῦτα ὑποτιθέμενος τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς)

The verb only here and Rom 16:4. Lit. to put under; so almost without exception in lxx. See, for instance, Gen 28:18; Gen 47:29; Exo 17:12. So Rom 16:4. Hence, metaphorically, to suggest, which is, literally, to carry or lay under. Ταῦτα these things are those mentioned 1Ti 4:4, 1Ti 4:5. In the Pastorals it is only here that ἀδελφοί brethren means the members of the church to whose superintendent the letter is addressed. In 2Ti 4:21, they are the Christians of the church from which the letter comes; in 1Ti 6:2, Christians in general; and in 1Ti 5:1, without any ecclesiastical sense.

Minister of Jesus Christ (διάκονος Χριστοῦ Ἱησοῦ)

Rendering Christ himself a service by setting himself against ascetic errors. For διάκονος minister see on 1Ti 3:8. Here in the general sense of servant, without any official meaning. Paul's more usual phrase is servant of God: servant (διάκονος) of Christ twice, and διάκονος Ἱησοῦ Χριστοῦ not at all. Paul uses δοῦλος bond-servant with Jesus Christ. See 2Co 11:23; Col 1:7; and comp. Rom 1:1; Gal 1:10; Phi 1:1.

Nourished up (ἐντρεφόμενος)

Better, nourishing thyself. N.T.o. olxx. The participle indicates the means by which Timothy may become a good minister. Comp. Heb 5:12-14.

In the words of faith

The words in which the faith - the contents of belief - finds expression. Comp. 1Ti 6:3; 2Ti 1:13. The phrase only here. Paul has τὸ ῥῆμα τῆς πίστεως the word of the faith, Rom 10:8.

Whereunto thou hast attained (ᾗ παρηκολούθηκας)

Wrong. Rend., which thou hast closely followed. Comp. 2Ti 3:10. The verb means, primarily, to follow beside, to attend closely. In this literal sense not in N.T. To attend to or follow up, as a disease. So Plato, Rep. 406 B, παρακολουθῶν τῷ νοσήματι θανασίμῳ perpetually tending a mortal disease. To follow up a history or a succession of incidents, as Luk 1:3. oP. The writer means that Timothy, as a disciple, has closely attended to his course of Christian instruction.