1 Timothy 4:6

4:6-10 Outward acts of self-denial profit little. What will it avail us to mortify the body, if we do not mortify sin? No diligence in mere outward things could be of much use. The gain of godliness lies much in the promise; and the promises to godly people relate partly to the life that now is, but especially to the life which is to come: though we lose for Christ, we shall not lose by him. If Christ be thus the Saviour of all men, then much more will he be the Rewarder of those who seek and serve him; he will provide well for those whom he has made new creatures.

{9} If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast {f} attained. (9) The conclusion with an exhortation to Timothy, to propound these things diligently to the churches, which he had gotten from the apostle even as though he were being fed. (f) Never departing from it in the least.

1 Timothy 4:6-7 . If thou put the brethren in remembrance, &c. — Ταυτα υποτιθεμενος τοις αδελφοις , suggesting these things to the brethren, concerning the lawfulness of all sorts of meats, and concerning the corrupt doctrines and practices which are to arise in the church; thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ — And shalt act as may be expected from one who has been nourished up — From his very childhood; in the words of faith — Words laying a foundation for faith, and the means of producing it in men’s hearts; and good doctrine — True, genuine, gospel doctrine; whereunto — That is, to the knowledge of which, thou hast attained — So η παρηκολουθηκας may be properly translated. See Luke 1:3 , where the same verb is rendered, having perfect understanding. It is a just remark of Macknight here, that, “If any prejudices, with respect to the distinction of meats, remained in Timothy’s mind, through the strictness of his education in the Jewish religion, the clear and express manner in which the apostle here asserted the lawfulness of eating all kinds of meats, must have entirely freed him from these pre-possessions.” But refuse profane and old wives’ fables — This, says Dr.

Doddridge, “undoubtedly signifies Jewish traditions; and if they were such as those with which the rabbinical writers abound, nothing ever better deserved the name, they being not only the most incredible, but the most insipid and senseless tales anywhere to be met with.” In Bishop Newton’s opinion, however, the apostle intended here to signify, that all the things which the lying teachers would preach, during the above-mentioned apostacy, concerning the worship of angels, abstinence from meats, and the miracles said to be performed by the saints and their relics, in confirmation of the superstitions which they inculcated, are no better than profane and old wives’ fables, told to amuse children. And exercise thyself (the word γυμναζε , so rendered, is used in allusion to the exercises by which the contenders prepared themselves for the combats in the Grecian games) unto godliness — Train thyself up in holiness of heart and life with the utmost vigour and diligence.

If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things; if by thy preaching publicly, and by thy more private instructions of Christians at Ephesus, thou teachest them these things. Thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ; thou shalt faithfully discharge the office of him who is a servant of Jesus Christ, not of men merely. The ministers of the gospel are in the first place ministers or servants to Christ. Secondarily, ministers (that is, servants) of the church; as a nobleman’s servant employed to distribute wages or meat to inferior servants, is a minister to those to whom he so distributeth food or wages, but in the first place a servant to his lord. Nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine; such a minister of the gospel ought to be one bred up in the true faith, and persevering in it. Whereunto thou hast attained; whereto thou art not a stranger, only I would have thee go on and persevere in it.

1 Timothy 4:6 . Ὑποτιθέμενος ) bringing under the notice, suggesting mildly. Eustathius says, νοεῖν on the one hand implies perceiving at once and spontaneously; ὑποθέσθαι , on the other, to cause to perceive, by admonition .— καλὸς διάκυνος , a good minister ) 2 Timothy 2:15 . ἐιτρεφόμενος ) The present combined with reference to the preterite, nourished up , 2 Timothy 1:5 ; 2 Timothy 3:15 . Continued nourishment .— τῆς πίστεως , of the faith ) in thy behalf [for thine own good].— τῆς καλῆς διδασκαλίας , of good doctrine ) in behalf of others [for the good of others].— ᾗ παρηκολοὑθηκας ) which thou hast commenced (undertaken) to follow up ( i.e. in all its details). Concerning this word, see Luke 1:3 , note.

If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things (ταῦτα ὑποτιθέμενος τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς) The verb only here and Romans 16:4. Lit. to put under; so almost without exception in lxx. See, for instance, Genesis 28:18; Genesis 47:29; Exodus 17:12. So Romans 16:4. Hence, metaphorically, to suggest, which is, literally, to carry or lay under. Ταῦτα these things are those mentioned 1 Timothy 4:4, 1 Timothy 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 2 Timothy 4:21, they are the Christians of the church from which the letter comes; in 1 Timothy 6:2, Christians in general; and in 1 Timothy 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 1 Timothy 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 2 Corinthians 11:23; Colossians 1:7; and comp. Romans 1:1; Galatians 1:10; Philippians 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. Hebrews 5:12-14.

In the words of faith The words in which the faith - the contents of belief - finds expression. Comp. 1 Timothy 6:3; 2 Timothy 1:13. The phrase only here. Paul has τὸ ῥῆμα τῆς πίστεως the word of the faith, Romans 10:8. Whereunto thou hast attained (ᾗ παρηκολούθηκας) Wrong. Rend., which thou hast closely followed. Comp. 2 Timothy 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 Luke 1:3. oP. The writer means that Timothy, as a disciple, has closely attended to his course of Christian instruction.

6. If thou put … in remembrance—rather as Greek, "If thou suggest to (bring under the notice of) the brethren," &c. these things—namely, the truths stated in 1Ti 4:4, 5, in opposition to the errors foretold, 1Ti 4:1-3. minister—"servant." nourished up—The Greek is present, not past: "continually being nourished in" (2Ti 1:5; 3:14, 15). the words of faith—rather, "the words of the faith" (compare 1Ti 4:12). good doctrine—"the good teaching." Explanatory of "the faith," in opposition to the "teachings of demons" (English Version, "doctrines of devils," 1Ti 4:1) which Timothy was to counteract. Compare "sound doctrine" (1Ti 1:10; 6:3; Tit 1:9; 2:1). whereunto thou hast attained—"the course of which thou hast followed"; hast followed along by tracing its course and accompanying it [Alford]. Thou hast begun to follow up [Bengel]. The same Greek occurs, "thou hast fully known" (2Ti 3:10), "having had perfect understanding" (Lu 1:3). It is an undesigned coincidence that the Greek verb is used only by Paul and Paul's companion, Luke.

Verse 6. - Mind for remembrance , A.V.; Christ Jesus for Jesus Christ , A.V. and T.R.; nourished for nourished up , A.V.; the faith for faith , A.V.; the good for good , A.V.; which thou hast followed until now for whereunto thou hast attained , A.V. If thou put the brethren in mind of these things ( παῦτα ὑποτιθέμενος τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ); if thou suggest these things to the brethren, lay them down as principles upon which their conduct is to be based; or, enjoin them (Liddell and Scott). It only occurs in this metaphorical sense here in the New Testament, but is very common in classical Greek, and not infrequent in the LXX. It has often the meaning of "to advise" or" counsel." Of course, "hypothesis," the assumed basis from which you start, is the same root. The brethren ( τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ). The distinctive name for the members of Christ's Church, throughout the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles. The whole body is called ἡ ἀδελφότης "the brotherhood" ( 1 Peter 2:17 ; 1 Peter 5:9 ). A good minister ( διάκονος ). The application of this term to Timothy, like that of ἐπίσκοπος to presbyters ( 1 Timothy 3:2 ), is an indication of the early date of the Epistle, before the distinctive names of the Church officers had quite hardened down into a technical meaning. Nourished ( ἀντρεφόμενος ); here only in the New Testament, and not used in the LXX.; but in classical Greek not uncommon in the sense of "brought up in," "trained in from childhood." In Latin, innutritus .

The phrase, "nourished in the words of the faith," etc., explains the καλὸς διάκονος , and shows what a man must be to deserve the appellation - one, viz., who is nourished in the words of the faith, etc. The faith ; here again objective, as in ver. 6 (see note). The good doctrine , etc. In opposition to the "doctrines of devils" in ver. 1. The different epithets of this true Christian doctrine are ἡ καλή (as here); ὑγιαίνουσα ( 1 Timothy 1:10 ; Titus 1:9 ; Titus 2:1 ); ἡ κατ εὐσεβείαν διδασκαλία ( 1 Timothy 6:3 ); and in 1 Timothy 6 . I we have simply ηδιδασκαλία , without any epithet. In like manner, ἡ πίστις ἡ , ἀληθεία ἡ εὐσεβεία , severally denote the Christian religion. Which thou hast followed until now ( η΅ι παρηκολουθήκας ). This is a rather more faithful rendering than that of the A.V.; it is, literally, which thou hast kept close to , either for the purpose of imitating it, or, as 2 Timothy 3:10 , for the purpose of observing it. Or, to put it differently, in one case so as to teach it identically, and in the other so as to know it perfectly. In this last aspect it is also used in Luke 1:3 . The classical use is "to follow closely any one's steps," or "the course of events," when used literally; or, metaphorically, "to follow with one's thoughts," "to understand." 1 Timothy 4:6

6–16 . Timothy’s own hold of right doctrine and right discipline 6 . in remembrance ] R.V. has in mind , the Greek not so strongly implying a re-presentation of these points as a ‘representation’ in our modern sense; Chrysostom, ‘as one giving counsel let him present these things.’ these things] Taking up 1 Timothy 4:15 of ch. 3 which introduced the statement following ( 1 Timothy 3:15 to 1 Timothy 4:5 ) of the faith and the good doctrine . Observe the articles in this latter clause. Jesus Christ ] Again with mss. transpose, Christ Jesus . nourished ] Compare the Prayer-Book Collect for 2nd Sun. in Advent, ‘Grant that we may in such wise hear (all Holy Scriptures), read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest .’ Alford, ‘to grow up amongst or be trained in,’ comparing Eur. Phoen . 368, ‘the gymnasia, in which I was brought up.’ whereunto thou hast attained ] Rather, which thou hast always closely followed : ‘hast always’ rendering the idea of the perfect, the settled permanent state, better than ‘until now’ of the R.V.; ‘closely’ rendering the preposition in the compound verb as in the preface of St Luke’s Gospel, 1 Timothy 1:3 , ‘having traced the course;’ cf. 2 Timothy 3:10 .