1 Timothy 4:12

4:11-16 Men's youth will not be despised, if they keep from vanities and follies. Those who teach by their doctrine, must teach by their life. Their discourse must be edifying; their conversation must be holy; they must be examples of love to God and all good men, examples of spiritual-mindedness. Ministers must mind these things as their principal work and business. By this means their profiting will appear in all things, as well as to all persons; this is the way to profit in knowledge and grace, and also to profit others. The doctrine of a minister of Christ must be scriptural, clear, evangelical, and practical; well stated, explained, defended, and applied. But these duties leave no leisure for wordly pleasures, trifling visits, or idle conversation, and but little for what is mere amusement, and only ornamental. May every believer be enabled to let his profiting appear unto all men; seeking to experience the power of the gospel in his own soul, and to bring forth its fruits in his life.

{14} Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (14) Now he returns to that exhortation, showing what are the true virtues of a pastor, by which he may come to be reverenced even though he is young, that is, such speech and life as are witnesses of charity, zeal, faith, and purity. But here there is no mention made of the hooked staff, ring, cloak, and such other foolish and childish toys.

1 Timothy 4:12-13 . Let no man despise thy youth — That is, let no one have reason to despise it, but conduct thyself with such gravity, wisdom, and steadiness, as, instead of exposing thee to contempt, will rather gain thee respect and reverence. In particular, be thou an example of the believers — A pattern worthy of their imitation; in word — In prudent and edifying discourse, whether public or private; in conversation — Greek, αναστροφη , in behaviour; in charity — Or love, rather, namely to God, his people, and all mankind; in spirit — In thy whole temper; in faith — In thy sincere and constant belief of, and adherence to, the truth as it is in Jesus; in thy profession of it, and faithfulness to thy trust in the execution of thy office. When faith is placed in the midst of several other Christian graces, it generally means fidelity, or faithfulness; in purity — Of heart and life. Till I come — To take thee along with me; give attendance to reading — Both publicly and privately. Study the Scriptures diligently, and read and expound them to the people, whose instructer thou art appointed to be. “Enthusiasts, observe this!

expect no end without the means.” — Wesley. “Besides reading the Jewish Scriptures to the brethren in their assemblies for worship, after the example of the synagogue, Timothy was here directed to read these Scriptures in private likewise for his own improvement, ( 1 Timothy 4:15 ,) that he might be able to confute the Jews and Judaizers, who founded their errors on misinterpretations of them. Thus understood, the direction, as the ancient commentators observe, is a useful lesson to the ministers of the gospel in all ages. For if a teacher, who possessed the spiritual gifts, was commanded to read the Scriptures for improving himself in the knowledge of the doctrines of religion, how much more necessary is that help to those teachers who must derive all their knowledge of the gospel from the Scriptures, and who cannot, without much study, be supposed to know the customs, manners, and opinions alluded to in these writings.” — Macknight.

Let no man despise thy youth; so carry thyself in thy office, as not to give occasion to any to despise thee because thou art but a young man. But be thou an example of the believers: which thou wilt do if thou so livest as to be a just pattern unto Christians, imitable by them in word, in thy common and ordinary discourse, (for he speaks not of his being a pattern only to other ministers, but to believers in the generality), not talking frothily or profanely, or idly and impertinently, but seriously and gravely, but things that are good, to the use of edifying, that it may administer grace to the hearers. In conversation; and in all thy converse with men behaving thyself justly, and comelily, and gravely. In charity; performing also to all, all offices of charity and brotherly love. In spirit; in zeal, and warmth of spirit, truly inflamed with the love of Christ, and for his glory. In faith; in a steady confession and profession of the doctrine of the gospel; and in purity; in all cleanness and holiness of life and conversation. This is the way for the ministers of the gospel not to be despised: let them use what other methods they will, they will find what God said of Hophni and Phinehas will be made good, 1 Samuel 2:30 : Them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed; nor will any titles, or habits, or severities secure them from that curse, which will cleave to them.

Youth (νεότητος) oP. See Luke 18:21. Acts 26:4. See Introduction, VII. Timothy was probably from 38 to 40 years old at this time. In word (ἐν λόγῳ) Including teaching and verbal intercourse of every kind. Conversation (ἀναστροφῇ) Comp. Galatians 1:13; Ephesians 4:22; James 3:13. A favorite word with Peter. See on 1 Peter 1:15. In spirit Omit. Purity (ἁγνίᾳ) Only here and 1 Timothy 5:2. Ἁγνός pure, 1 Timothy 5:22; Titus 2:5. In Paul, 2 Corinthians 8:11; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Philippians 4:8. Also in James, Peter, and 1 John. #x391;̔γνότης purity, 2 Corinthians 6:6; 2 Corinthians 11:3. olxx, oClass. Ἁγνός always with a moral sense; not limited to sins of the flesh, but covering purity in motives as well as in acts. In 1 John 3:3, of Christ. In 2 Corinthians 11:2, of virgin purity. In James 3:17, as a characteristic of heavenly wisdom. Ἁγνῶς purely (Philippians 1:17), of preaching the gospel with unmixed motives. The verb ἁγνίζειν to purify, which in lxx is used only of ceremonial purification, has that meaning in four of the seven instances in N.T. (John 11:55; Acts 21:24, Acts 21:26; Acts 24:18). In the others (James 4:8; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:3) it is used of purifying the heart and soul.

1 Timothy 4:12 . Μηδεὶς , no man ) Conduct thyself so, that no one can despise thee on the ground of being a young man. Worthless old men are glad to do so.— τύπος , a type, an example ) The way of obtaining true authority.— ἐν λόγῳ , in word ) public and private.— ἐν ἀναστροφῇ ) in daily intercourse or conversation .— ἐν ἀγάτῃ — ἐν πνεύματι , in love—in the Spirit ) 2 Corinthians 6:6 , note.[38]— ἐν πίστει , in faith ) Faith, considered apart from its office in justification, enters often into the middle of an enumeration of this kind, and denotes sincerity of the mind trusting in God, in prosperity and adversity: ch. 1 Timothy 6:11 ; 2 Timothy 2:22 : comp. Galatians 5:22 , which passage has faith likewise in the middle of the enumeration.— ἐν ἁγνείᾳ , in purity ) ch. 1 Timothy 5:2 . [38] “By the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned.” Love follows immediately after mention of the Spirit , as being its principal fruit, and that which governs the use of spiritual gifts.—ED.

12. Let no man despise thy youth—Act so as to be respected in spite of thy youth (1Co 16:11; Tit 2:15); compare "youthful" as to Timothy (2Ti 2:22). He was but a mere youth when he joined Paul (Ac 16:1-3). Eleven years had elapsed since then to the time subsequent to Paul's first imprisonment. He was, therefore, still young; especially in comparison with Paul, whose place he was filling; also in relation to elderly presbyters whom he should "entreat as a father" (1Ti 5:1), and generally in respect to his duties in rebuking, exhorting, and ordaining (1Ti 3:1), which ordinarily accord best with an elderly person (1Ti 5:19). be thou an example—Greek, "become a pattern" (Tit 2:7); the true way of making men not to despise (slight, or disregard) thy youth. in word—in all that thou sayest in public and private. conversation—that is, "behavior" the Old English sense of the word. in charity … faith—the two cardinal principles of the Christian (Ga 5:6). The oldest manuscripts omit, "in spirit." in purity—simplicity of holy motive followed out in consistency of holy action [Alford] (1Ti 5:22; 2Co 6:6; Jas 3:17; 4:8; 1Pe 1:22).

Verse 12. - An ensample to them that believe for an example of the believers , A.V.; manner of fife for conversation , A.V.; love for charity , A.V.; R.T. omits in spirit , A.V. and T.R. Let no man despise thy youth (comp. 1 Corinthians 16:11 ; Titus 2:15 ). The construction of the sentence is manifestly that adopted in the A.V. and followed in the R.V. Timothy would certainly be under forty years at this time, and might be not above thirty-five. Either age would be decidedly early for so responsible an office - one in which he would have many elders ( πρεσβύτεροι ) under him ( 1 Timothy 5:1, 17, 19 ). An ensample ( τύπος ); properly the original "pattern" or "model" after which anything is made or fashioned; hence a "pattern" or "example." It is used in the same sense as here in Philippians 3:17 ; I These. 1:7; 2 Thessalonians 3:9 ; Titus 2:7 ; 1 Peter 5:3 . Them that believe. The R.V. has apparently so translated τῶν πιστῶν in order to assimilate it with the πιστῶν in ver. 10. But οἱ πιστοί are simply "believers," or "Christians" - "the flock," as St. Peter has it, and had better be so rendered. Timothy is exhorted to make it impossible for any one to question his authority on the score of his youth by being a model of the Christian graces required in believers. In word. Specially in his teaching. The exhortation to Titus (Titus 2:1, 7, etc.) is very similar, "Speak thou the things which befit the sound doctrine.

In all things showing thyself an ensample of good works; in thy doctrine showing uncorrupt-ness, gravity, sound speech ( λόγον ὑγιῆ )" etc. (comp. too 1 Timothy 5:17 ; 2 Timothy 1:13 ). Manner of life ( ἀναστροφῇ ; see 1 Timothy 3:15 , note). Purity ( ἁγνείᾳ ); elsewhere in the New Testament only in 1 Timothy 5:2 , where it has the same special sense (compare ἀγνός , 2 Corinthians 11:2 ; 1 Timothy 5:22 ; Titus 2:5 ; 1 Peter 3:2 ). 1 Timothy 4:12

12 . in conversation ] In behaviour ; the verb occurs above 1 Timothy 3:15 ; see note. It is an especial favourite of St Peter’s, noun and verb occurring 10 times in his short Epistles. The five words describe five stages, from the most defined external to the most defined internal characteristics—speech, behaviour, love, faith, purity; love as it were belonging equally to the inner and the outer self, and combining all. ‘The greatest is love.’ Yet the special emphasis is on ‘purity,’ the word itself occurring only here and in 1 Timothy 5:2 , though another form of the word is used in the similar catalogue, 2 Corinthians 6:6 . The same connexion of ‘youth’ and ‘purity’ is in St Paul’s mind in 2 Timothy 2:22 , ‘flee also youthful lusts.’ Timothy, at 36 years, was young compared with St Paul and the presbyters. See Introd. pp. 56 sqq. Cf. also the use of the Latin iuvenis , for military service up to 40 years; e.g. Liv. i. 43. in charity, in spirit, in faith ] There is no sufficient ms. authority for ‘in spirit’; it is curious that A reads ‘in spirit’ instead of ‘in faith’ in 1 Timothy 2:7 . The phrase, most common in St Paul’s earlier Epistles, has left his latest language.

1 Timothy 4:12 . μηδείς — καταφρονείτω (“ Libenter id faciunt senes inanes ,” Bengel). Many, probably, of the Ephesian presbyters were older than Timothy. For μηδείς in this position, cf. 1 Corinthians 3:18 ; 1 Corinthians 10:24 ; Ephesians 5:6 ; Colossians 2:18 ; Titus 2:15 ; Jam 1:13 . καταφρονέω connotes that the contempt felt in the mind is displayed in injurious action. (See Moulton and Milligan, Expositor , vi., viii. 432). The meaning of this direction is qualified by the following ἀλλὰ τύπος γίνου , κ . τ . λ . It means, Assert the dignity of your office even though men may think you young to hold it. Let no one push you aside as a boy . Compare the corresponding direction Titus 2:15 , μηδείς σου περιφρονείτω . On the other hand, St. Paul shows Timothy “a more excellent way” than self-assertion for the keeping up of his dignity: Give no one any ground by any fault of character for despising thy youth. σου depends on τῆς νεότητος . Field supports this by an exact parallel from Diodorus Siculus. The two genitives do not, in strict grammar, depend on καταφρον ., despise thee for thy youth . τῆς νεότητος : St. Paul had met Timothy on the second missionary journey, dated by Harnack in A.D. 47, and by Lightfoot in A.D. 51. About the year 57, St. Paul says of Timothy, “Let no man despise him” ( 1 Corinthians 16:11 ). 1 Tim. may be dated not more than a year before St. Paul’s martyrdom, which Harnack fixes in A.D. 64, and Lightfoot in A.D. 67.