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1Ti_4:6. After describing the heretics, the apostle turns again to Timothy, exhorting him, in the first place, with special regard to the matters last under discussion, and then more generally in regard to the duties of his office.
ταῦτα ὑποτιθέμενος τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ] ταῦτα does not, as Heydenreich supposes, pass over all intermediate matter and go back to the christological doctrines expressed in 1Ti_3:16. It is more correct, with Hofmann, to refer it to the whole section from 1Ti_3:16 to 1Ti_4:5 (so Chrysostom); but possibly also Paul had in view only the prohibitions of the heretics (Wiesinger; van Oosterzee doubtfully).
ὑποτίθεσθαι (the middle only here, the act. in Rom_16:4), properly: “put under the hand or foot,” may also mean “instruct” (Josephus, Antiq. i. 14), as much as “advise” or “command” (Josephus, Bell. Jud. ii. 8. 7); here it stands more in the latter sense; Luther: “point out.”
Hofmann wrongly explains it as equivalent to “take as a theme,” and—against the natural structure of the sentence—connects it with what follows, though in this way it becomes tolerably superfluous.
καλὸς ἔσῃ διάκονος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ ] Paul here uses διάκονος , inasmuch as Timothy was formally appointed to serve in the work of Christ; it has the same meaning as “so wilt thou well occupy the office committed to thee ( διακονία , 2Ti_4:5).” To this is attached the participial clause: ἐντρεφόμενος τοῖς λόγοις τῆς πίστεως κ . τ . λ .] The present participle does not stand for the perfect participle, but brings out how Timothy is to behave at all times, in order to fulfil his commission as a καλὸς διάκονος Ἰ . Χρ . It declares that he is to be one who makes the words of faith his nourishment. It is inaccurate, therefore, to translate ἐντρεφόμενος by innutritus (Bengel[157]), or “reared” (Luther). As to the meaning of the word ἐντρέφεσθαι (in N. T. a ἅπαξ λεγ .), see Philo, Leg. ad Caj.: ἐνετράφης τοῖς ἱεροῖς γράμμασιν , and Plato, Leg. vii. 798a: οἷς γὰρ ἂν ἐντραφῶσι νόμοις .
The λόγοι τῆς πίστεως are the words in which faith expresses itself. The added words: καὶ τῆς καλῆς διδασκαλίας (see 1Ti_1:10), make the contrast with the heretics more decided, and the further clause: ᾗ ( ἧς ) παρηκολούθηκας , shows that Timothy had hitherto been faithful to pure doctrine. This latter perfect stands in apt contrast with the present participle ἐντρεφόμενος . The original meaning of the verb: “follow near any one,” furnishes naturally for the present context the meaning: “which thou hast faithfully followed, to which thou hast remained faithful.” The translation; “according to which thou hast formed thyself,” is inaccurate; the word occurs in the N. T. only here and in 2Ti_3:10, as well as in Luk_1:3 and Mar_16:17.
[157] Bengel, however, did not overlook the signification of the present altogether, since he explains thus: Praesens cum respectu praeteriti, innutritus; nutrimentum perpetuum. Chrysostom remarks τὸ διηνεκὲς τῆς εἰς τὰ τοιαῦτα προσοχῆς δηλῶν . Winer says: “ ἐντρεφόμενος shows that the λόγοι τῆς πίστεως are to Timothy a permanent means of nourishment and culture.”