1 Timothy 4:6 - Meaning and Application

Paul wanted Timothy to teach Christians truths that would keep them from being led astray by the Judaizing teachers, who tried to force Jewish customs on believers. Good ministers of Jesus Christ do their work faithfully, not by chasing new ideas, but by reminding people of what they have already heard and received. That is why Peter said, “I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them” (2 Peter 1:12), and again, “I want to stir you up by reminding you” (2 Peter 3:1). Jude said the same thing, “I want to remind you” (Jude 1:5). The apostles knew that reminding people was a big part of ministry, because we are quick to forget the things of God and slow to learn them well.

Paul says Timothy was “nourished in the words of faith and good doctrine,” meaning he had been brought up and strengthened in the truths of the gospel. Even ministers themselves must keep growing in their knowledge of Christ and his teaching. One of the best ways for them to grow is by reminding others, because while we teach others, we also teach ourselves. And those they teach are to be treated as brothers and sisters, not as servants under a master, because ministers are not rulers over God’s people.

Paul then presses godliness on Timothy and on all believers. He says to reject “profane and old wives’ sayings,” that is, empty and worldly stories, including Jewish traditions that some people were using wrongly. Instead, Timothy must “exercise yourself unto godliness,” meaning he must give himself to practical religion and train himself in holy living. Godliness takes constant effort. Bodily exercise, like strict fasting or abstaining from marriage and certain foods, may seem like self-denial, but it helps very little and only for a short time. What good is it to weaken the body if sin is left untouched?

Godliness brings great profit, because it helps us through this life and also carries the promise of the life to come. The promise of godliness reaches into both lives, but especially into the life that is coming. Under the old covenant, many promises were about earthly blessings, but under the new covenant they are mainly spiritual and eternal. So even if godly people have little of this world’s good, they will be made up for in the world to come.

Paul also reminds Timothy that even the best Christian leaders need this warning: refuse empty and foolish myths, and keep training yourself for godliness. It is not enough to stop doing wrong. We must also learn to do right (Isaiah 1:16-17) and keep practicing it. Those who are truly godly will not lose in the end, no matter what becomes of people who settle for only outward discipline.

Paul then gives encouragement to keep going in godliness, even when it is hard. He had already said it is profitable for all things, with promise for this life (1 Timothy 4:8). The question is whether the gain will make up for the cost. Paul answers yes. This is another of his trustworthy sayings, worthy of full acceptance: all our labor and losses in God’s service will be richly repaid, so that if we lose for Christ, we will not lose by him. That is why we labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God (1 Timothy 4:10).

Believers must expect both work and hardship. In this world, they are called to do good and often to suffer for it. But those who labor and suffer in God’s service can depend on the living God and know they will not be cheated. It matters that our paymaster is the living God, who lives forever and gives life to all who serve him. He is also the Savior of all men in a general sense, because by his providence he preserves human life and keeps people from the full ruin they deserve. He also shows a general goodwill by not wanting sinners to perish, but to come to repentance. He is the Savior of all men in that he leaves none in the hopeless state of fallen angels. Therefore, if he is so kind to all, he will much more reward those who seek and serve him, especially those who are new creatures and born again.

He is the Savior of all men, but especially of those who believe. The salvation he has prepared for believers is enough to repay them for all they do and suffer for him. So the Christian life is a life of labor and suffering. The most we should expect from this world for doing right is reproach for our faith, our love, and our work. True Christians trust in the living God, not in man, because anyone who trusts in anything else is under a curse. Those who trust in God will never be put to shame. God is the Savior of all in the sense that he has placed all people in a state where salvation is possible, but he is especially the Savior of believers in a saving and personal way. There is a general redemption, and there is also a special redemption.

Paul closes by urging Timothy to command and teach these things. He must tell people to train themselves for godliness, explain its profit, and show them that when they serve God, they serve one who will support them and stand by them. He must also live with the seriousness and wisdom that will earn respect, even though he is young. “Let no one despise your youth” means, do nothing that gives people a reason to look down on your age. Young people are not despised if they avoid childish vanity and foolish behavior; and older people can make themselves despised too, if they act foolishly, and then only have themselves to blame. Finally, Timothy must make his teaching stronger by his own example and become a model for believers.

Those who teach by what they believe must also teach by how they live. Otherwise, they pull down with one hand what they build up with the other. They should be examples in both speech and conduct. Their talk should help others grow, and their lives should be upright. They should also be examples in love for God and for good people, in spiritual-mindedness and spiritual worship, in faith, meaning a clear profession of Christian faith, and in purity, or chastity.

He also urges Timothy to work hard at his calling: “Until I come, devote yourself to reading, to exhortation, to teaching” (1 Timothy 4:13). Even though Timothy had unusual gifts, he still had to use ordinary means. This may also refer to the public reading of Scripture. He was to read, then exhort, meaning apply and press what he read on the people. He was to explain it both as encouragement and as teaching, showing them what to do and what to believe.

Ministers must teach and command the things they themselves have been taught and commanded to do. They must teach people to obey everything Christ has commanded (Matthew 28:20). The best way for ministers to avoid contempt is to teach and practice the things entrusted to them. It is no surprise if ministers are despised when they do not teach these things, or when they become poor examples and act against the doctrine they preach. Ministers are meant to be examples to their flock.

Even those who are well fitted for their work must still keep learning, so they can grow in knowledge. They must also keep at their work. They are to give attention to reading, exhortation, and teaching.

He next warns Timothy against neglect: “Do not neglect the gift you have” (1 Timothy 4:14). God’s gifts fade if they are not used. This may mean either the office Timothy was given, or the gifts that qualified him for it. If it means the office, then it was ordination in an ordinary way. If it means the gifts, then they were extraordinary. It seems more likely to refer to the office, because it was given by the laying on of hands.

Here we see the Scripture pattern for ordination, it was done by the laying on of hands, and by the laying on of the hands of the presbytery, that is, a group of church elders. Timothy was ordained by men already in office. He did receive extraordinary gifts elsewhere through Paul’s laying on of hands (2 Timothy 1:6), but his ministry office was given by the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. This gives enough support for ordination by presbyters, since Paul does not appear to have been the only one involved. If Paul was involved, the presbytery was still not left out, since they are named in a special way. This makes it quite clear that the presbytery has the proper authority to ordain.

Since this work had been given to him, Timothy was to give himself fully to it, so that his progress would be clear to all. He was a wise and capable man, yet he still had to keep growing and show that growth. Ministers should spend much time in meditation. They should think ahead about what they will say and how they should say it. They should reflect on the great trust given to them, the value of immortal souls, and the account they must give at the end.

They must be wholly engaged in these things. This is their main work and business, so they should give themselves fully to it. In this way, their growth will be seen by everyone. This is how they grow in knowledge and grace, and also how they help others grow.

Finally, he urges Timothy to be very careful: “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching” (1 Timothy 4:16). He should think carefully about what he preaches and continue in the truths he has received. This is the way to save both himself and those who hear him. Ministers are involved in the work of saving souls, and that makes their work a good work. Their first concern should be to save themselves. Then they can be used to save those who hear them. In preaching, they should aim at the salvation of their hearers, after caring for their own souls. The best way to do both is to watch themselves closely and to watch their doctrine.