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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - 1 Timothy 4:11 - 4:16
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1Ti_4:11-16
11Prescribe and teach these things. 12Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. 13Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. 14Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. 15Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. 16Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
1Ti_4:11 "Prescribe" This is a present active imperative of a term meaning "strict military orders" (cf. 1Ti_1:3; 1Ti_1:18).
▣ "and teach these things" This is another present active imperative. Paul is encouraging Timothy to take charge. This church was disrupted by false teachers and their surrogates (i.e. possibly younger widows, cf. 2Ti_3:6-7, or older women, cf. 1Ti_4:7).
1Ti_4:12 "Let no one look down on your youthfulness" This is a present active imperative with a negative particle which usually means to stop an act already in process. The term "young" in Roman and Greek culture could refer to a person up to the age of 40. Possibly the false teachers were picking up on Timothy's age as a way of attacking or depreciating his teachings (cf. 1Co_16:11). Timothy was Paul's apostolic surrogate. Paul encourages Titus in much the same way in Tit_2:15.
▣ "but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity" Timothy was to show (present middle [deponent] imperative) his equipment for leadership by his lifestyle (cf. 1Ti_4:6 c and 7b). He was to live exactly opposite of the false teachers!
There is a Greek manuscript variant in this phrase. The Textus Receptus adds after "in love," "in spirit." This is found in the uncial manuscripts K, L, and P and also most later minuscule manuscripts. However, it is absent in MSS à , A, C, D, F, G, and the Vulgate, Syrian, and Coptic translations, which implies it was added by a later scribe.
▣ "example"
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1Ti_4:13 "Until I come" (cf. 1Ti_3:14)
▣ "give attention to" This is another present active imperative. Paul emphasizes three public functions for Timothy as the official leader in corporate worship.
1. public reading of Scripture
2. preaching
3. teaching
The Early church took the basic form of worship from the Synagogue (cf. Act_13:15; Act_15:21).
1Ti_4:14 "Do not neglect" This is a Present imperative with a negative particle which usually means to stop an act already in process. Does this verse imply that Timothy had neglected his giftedness or that he should not neglect his giftedness? I think the latter.
▣ "the spiritual gift within you" Every believer is given a spiritual gift at conversion (cf. 1Co_12:7; 1Co_12:11; 1Co_12:18). In this context, Timothy's spiritual gift became recognized by local church leaders at Lystra (cf. Act_16:2) and affirmed at a special commitment service (cf. 1Ti_1:18). Spiritual giftedness is given by the Triune God (cf. 1Co_12:4-6) to individual believers for the common good of the body of Christ (cf. 1Co_12:7; 1Co_12:11). The exact time of the giftedness is not explicitly stated, the exact number of gifts is not delineated, and the exact mechanism is not revealed. What is obvious is that all believers are gifted for ministry (cf. Eph_4:12).
▣ "with the laying on of hands" This seems to be a dedication practice of the NT Church (cf. Act_6:6; Act_13:3; 2Ti_1:6), which they took from the OT (cf. Num_8:10; Deu_34:9).
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▣ "which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance" Does this imply that Timothy's spiritual gift was given to him
1. at the time of his being set apart for service (cf. 1Ti_1:14)
2. by means of prophecy and laying on of hands (cf. 2Ti_1:6)
3. that the prophets acknowledged his giftedness and the elders set him apart for service (cf. 1Ti_1:18)
I think #3 is best.
NASB, NKJV "by the presbytery"
NRSV "by the council of elders"
TEV "the elders"
NJB, NIV"the body of elders"
I must admit that I bring some frustration to this text. I have a theological bias against the "clergy/laity" dichotomy that has developed in Christianity. I believe that all believers are called and gifted for maturity and ministry (cf. 1 Corinthians 12; Eph_4:11-12). Believers are saints and ministers!
The Reformation concept of "the priesthood of the believer," first articulated by Martin Luther, misses the biblical point — all believers are to function as priests (cf. Exo_19:5-6; Num_16:3). Biblically it must be "the priesthood of believers"!
Now in saying this I also realize that God calls believers to lead believers. There is no question that some are called and equipped to direct, guide, motivate, exhort, and organize the people of God.
However, these leaders are not special believers, or privileged believers, but servant leaders (cf. Mat_18:1-4; Mat_20:20-28; Mat_23:11). Modern ordination tends to depreciate several biblical truths:
1. all believers are servant ministers
2. all believers are gifted for ministry
Ordination has developed from an unofficial affirmation of giftedness and a prayerful commitment to a specific ministry task into an elaborate, high-walled elitism! This concept must be changed; this paradigm must be reevaluated; this unbiblical development must be challenged. Modern Christianity has based so much tradition and elitism on such a small biblical base. So where is the authority, in clear NT passages or in denominational traditions?
1Ti_4:15
NASB "Take pains with these things"
NKJV "meditate on these things"
NRSV "put these things into practice"
TEV "practice these things"
NJB "Let this be your care"
This is another present active imperative. In the Septuagint this term was used of meditating (cf. Isa_33:18; Act_4:25). In the NT is seems to have an active sense of strenuous exercise.
NASB "be absorbed in them"
NKJV "give yourself entirely to them"
NRSV, TEV "devote yourself to them"
NJB "your occupation"
This is another present imperative. It means "put yourself into these teachings." Let them be priority in your life and ministry. God's truth needs to clearly and evidently mold our lives in such a way that others can clearly see Christ in us!
▣ "so that your progress will be evident to all" Remember that Timothy is to live before believers and nonbelievers so that they will have no handle for criticism of the gospel or his ministry (cf. 1Ti_3:2; 1Ti_3:7; 1Ti_3:10; 1Ti_5:7-8; 1Ti_5:14; 1Ti_6:14). The exact opposite of this progress in godliness is seen in the false teachers (cf. 2Ti_2:16; 2Ti_3:9).
1Ti_4:16 "Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching" Here is yet another present active imperative. Timothy is to take time for his own spiritual maturing and nurturing. This is a good word for pastors in our day (cf. 1Ti_4:6 c; 7b; 12b).
▣ "persevere in these things" This is yet another present active imperative. Timothy is to be an example of perseverance because the false teachers and their followers have obviously not persevered. Salvation is linked not only to an initial confession of repentance, faith and godliness, but also to continuance in these things. Perseverance is evidence of true salvation! In true biblical Christianity the way one starts, the way one lives, and the way one finishes are all crucial!
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▣ "for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you" This can relate to 1Ti_4:10 or to the false teachers (cf. 1Ti_2:15). Paul was always concerned that he guard himself lest he become disqualified (cf. 1Co_9:27).
See hyperlink at 2Ti_1:9.
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