Worthy.Bible » STRONG » 1 Timothy » Chapter 4 » Verse 12

1 Timothy 4:12 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

12 Let G2706 no man G3367 despise G2706 thy G4675 youth; G3503 but G235 be thou G1096 an example G5179 of the believers, G4103 in G1722 word, G3056 in G1722 conversation, G391 in G1722 charity, G26 in G1722 spirit, G4151 in G1722 faith, G4102 in G1722 purity. G47

Cross Reference

2 Peter 1:5-8 STRONG

And G2532 G1161 beside G846 this, G5124 giving G3923 all G3956 diligence, G4710 add G2023 to G1722 your G5216 faith G4102 virtue; G703 and G1161 to G1722 virtue G703 knowledge; G1108 And G1161 to G1722 knowledge G1108 temperance; G1466 and G1161 to G1722 temperance G1466 patience; G5281 and G1161 to G1722 patience G5281 godliness; G2150 And G1161 to G1722 godliness G2150 brotherly kindness; G5360 and G1161 to G1722 brotherly kindness G5360 charity. G26 For G1063 if these things G5023 be G5225 in you, G5213 and G2532 abound, G4121 they make G2525 you that ye shall neither G3756 be barren G692 nor G3761 unfruitful G175 in G1519 the knowledge G1922 of our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ. G5547

1 Corinthians 16:10-11 STRONG

Now G1161 if G1437 Timotheus G5095 come, G2064 see G991 that G2443 he may be G1096 with G4314 you G5209 without fear: G870 for G1063 he worketh G2038 the work G2041 of the Lord, G2962 as G5613 I G1473 also G2532 do. Let G1848 no G3361 man G5100 therefore G3767 despise G1848 him: G846 but G1161 conduct G4311 him G846 forth G4311 in G1722 peace, G1515 that G2443 he may come G2064 unto G4314 me: G3165 for G1063 I look for G1551 him G846 with G3326 the brethren. G80

2 Corinthians 6:4-17 STRONG

But G235 in G1722 all G3956 things approving G4921 ourselves G1438 as G5613 the ministers G1249 of God, G2316 in G1722 much G4183 patience, G5281 in G1722 afflictions, G2347 in G1722 necessities, G318 in G1722 distresses, G4730 In G1722 stripes, G4127 in G1722 imprisonments, G5438 in G1722 tumults, G181 in G1722 labours, G2873 in G1722 watchings, G70 in G1722 fastings; G3521 By G1722 pureness, G54 by G1722 knowledge, G1108 by G1722 longsuffering, G3115 by G1722 kindness, G5544 by G1722 the Holy G40 Ghost, G4151 by G1722 love G26 unfeigned, G505 By G1722 the word G3056 of truth, G225 by G1722 the power G1411 of God, G2316 by G1223 the armour G3696 of righteousness G1343 on the right hand G1188 and G2532 on the left, G710 By G1223 honour G1391 and G2532 dishonour, G819 by G1223 evil report G1426 and G2532 good report: G2162 as G5613 deceivers, G4108 and G2532 yet true; G227 As G5613 unknown, G50 and G2532 yet well known; G1921 as G5613 dying, G599 and, G2532 behold, G2400 we live; G2198 as G5613 chastened, G3811 and G2532 not G3361 killed; G2289 As G5613 sorrowful, G3076 yet G1161 alway G104 rejoicing; G5463 as G5613 poor, G4434 yet G1161 making G4148 many G4183 rich; G4148 as G5613 having G2192 nothing, G3367 and G2532 yet possessing G2722 all things. G3956 O ye Corinthians, G2881 our G2257 mouth G4750 is open G455 unto G4314 you, G5209 our G2257 heart G2588 is enlarged. G4115 Ye are G4729 not G3756 straitened G4729 in G1722 us, G2254 but G1161 ye are straitened G4729 in G1722 your own G5216 bowels. G4698 Now G1161 for a recompence G489 in the same, G846 (I speak G3004 as G5613 unto my children,) G5043 be G4115 ye G5210 also G2532 enlarged. G4115 Be ye G1096 not G3361 unequally yoked together G2086 with unbelievers: G571 for G1063 what G5101 fellowship G3352 hath righteousness G1343 with G2532 unrighteousness? G458 and G1161 what G5101 communion G2842 hath light G5457 with G4314 darkness? G4655 And G1161 what G5101 concord G4857 hath Christ G5547 with G4314 Belial? G955 or G2228 what G5101 part G3310 hath he that believeth G4103 with G3326 an infidel? G571 And G1161 what G5101 agreement G4783 hath the temple G3485 of God G2316 with G3326 idols? G1497 for G1063 ye G5210 are G2075 the temple G3485 of the living G2198 God; G2316 as G2531 God G2316 hath said, G2036 G3754 I will dwell G1774 in G1722 them, G846 and G2532 walk in G1704 them; and G2532 I will be G2071 their G846 God, G2316 and G2532 they G846 shall be G2071 my G3427 people. G2992 Wherefore G1352 come out G1831 from G1537 among G3319 them, G846 and G2532 be ye separate, G873 saith G3004 the Lord, G2962 and G2532 touch G680 not G3361 the unclean G169 thing; and G2504 I will receive G1523 you, G5209

2 Thessalonians 3:7-9 STRONG

For G1063 yourselves G846 know G1492 how G4459 ye ought G1163 to follow G3401 us: G2248 for G3754 we behaved G812 not G3756 ourselves disorderly G812 among G1722 you; G5213 Neither G3761 did we eat G5315 any man's G3844 G5100 bread G740 for nought; G1432 but G235 wrought G2038 with G1722 labour G2873 and G2532 travail G3449 night G3571 and G2532 day, G2250 that G4314 we might G1912 not G3361 be chargeable G1912 to any G5100 of you: G5216 Not G3756 because G3754 we have G2192 not G3756 power, G1849 but G235 to G2443 make G1325 ourselves G1438 an ensample G5179 unto you G5213 to G1519 follow G3401 us. G2248

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Timothy 4

Commentary on 1 Timothy 4 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 4

Paul here foretels,

  • I. A dreadful apostasy (v. 1-3).
  • II. He treats of Christian liberty (v. 4, 5).
  • III. He gives Timothy divers directions with respect to himself, his doctrine, and the people under his care (v. 6-16).

1Ti 4:1-5

We have here a prophecy of the apostasy of the latter times, which he had spoken of as a thing expected and taken for granted among Christians, 2 Th. 2.

  • I. In the close of the foregoing chapter, we had the mystery of godliness summed up; and therefore very fitly, in the beginning of this chapter, we have the mystery of iniquity summed up: The Spirit speaks expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith; whether he means the Spirit in the Old Testament, or the Spirit in the prophets of the New Testament, or both. The prophecies concerning antichrist, as well as the prophecies concerning Christ, came from the Spirit. The Spirit in both spoke expressly of a general apostasy from the faith of Christ and the pure worship of God. This should come in the latter times, during the Christian dispensation, for these are called the latter days; in the following ages of the church, for the mystery of iniquity now began to work. Some shall depart from the faith, or there shall be an apostasy from the faith. Some, not all; for in the worst of times God will have a remnant, according to the election of grace. They shall depart from the faith, the faith delivered to the saints (Jude 3), which was delivered at once, the sound doctrine of the gospel. Giving heed to seducing spirits, men who pretended to the Spirit, but were not really guided by the Spirit, 1 Jn. 4:1. Beloved, believe not every spirit, every one who pretends to the Spirit. Now here observe,
    • 1. One of the great instances of the apostasy, namely, giving heed to doctrines of demons, or concerning demons; that is, those doctrines which teach the worship of saints and angels, as a middle sort of deities, between the immortal God and mortal men, such as the heathen called demons, and worshipped under that notion. Now this plainly agrees to the church of Rome, and it was one of the first steps towards that great apostasy, the enshrining of the relics of martyrs, paying divine honours to them, erecting altars, burning incense, consecrating images and temples, and making prayers and praises to the honour of saints departed. This demon-worship is paganism revived, the image of the first beast.
    • 2. The instruments of promoting and propagating this apostasy and delusion.
      • (1.) It will be done by hypocrisy of those that speak lies, the agents and emissaries of Satan, who promote these delusions by lies and forgeries and pretended miracles, v. 2. It is done by their hypocrisy, professing honour to Christ, and yet at the same time fighting against all his anointed offices, and corrupting or profaning all his ordinances. This respects also the hypocrisy of those who have their consciences seared with a red-hot iron, who are perfectly lost to the very first principles of virtue and moral honesty. If men had not their consciences seared as with a hot iron, they could never maintain a power to dispense with oaths for the good of the catholic cause, could never maintain that no faith is to be kept with heretics, could never divest themselves of all remains of humanity and compassion, and clothe themselves with the most barbarous cruelty, under pretence of promoting the interest of the church.
      • (2.) Another part of their character is that they forbid to marry, forbid their clergy to marry, and speak very reproachfully of marriage, though an ordinance of God; and that they command to abstain from meats, and place religion in such abstinence at certain times and seasons, only to exercise a tyranny over the consciences of men.
    • 3. On the whole observe,
      • (1.) The apostasy of the latter times should not surprise us, because it was expressly foretold by the Spirit.
      • (2.) The Spirit is God, otherwise he could not certainly foresee such distant events, which as to us are uncertain and contingent, depending on the tempers, humours, and lusts of men.
      • (3.) The difference between the predictions of the Spirit and the oracles of the heathen is remarkable; the Spirit speaks expressly, but the oracles of the heathen were always doubtful and uncertain.
      • (4.) It is comfortable to think that in such general apostasies all are not carried away, but only some.
      • (5.) It is common for seducers and deceivers to pretend to the Spirit, which is a strong presumption that all are convinced that this is the most likely to work in us an approbation of what pretends to come from the Spirit.
      • (6.) Men must be hardened, and their consciences seared, before they can depart from the faith, and draw in others to side with them.
      • (7.) It is a sign that men have departed from the faith when they will command what God has forbidden, such as saint and angel or demon-worship; and forbid what God has allowed or commanded, such as marriage and meats.
  • II. Having mentioned their hypocritical fastings, the apostle takes occasion to lay down the doctrine of the Christian liberty, which we enjoy under the gospel, of using God's good creatures,-that, whereas under the law there was a distinction of meats between clean and unclean (such sorts of flesh they might eat, and such they might not eat), all this is now taken away; and we are to call nothing common or unclean, Acts 10:15. Here observe,
    • 1. We are to look upon our food as that which God has created; we have it from him, and therefore must use it for him.
    • 2. God, in making those things, had a special regard to those who believe and know the truth, to good Christians, who have a covenant right to the creatures, whereas others have only a common right.
    • 3. What God has created is to be received with thanksgiving. We must not refuse the gifts of God's bounty, nor be scrupulous in making differences where God has made none; but receive them, and be thankful, acknowledging the power of God the Maker of them, and the bounty of God the giver of them: Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, v. 4. This plainly sets us at liberty from all the distinctions of meats appointed by the ceremonial law, as particularly that of swine's flesh, which the Jews were forbidden to eat, but which is allowed to us Christians, by this rule, Every creature of God is good, etc. Observe, God's good creatures are then good, and doubly sweet to us, when they are received with thanksgiving.-For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer, v. 5. It is a desirable thing to have a sanctified use of our creature-comforts. Now they are sanctified to us,
      • (1.) By the word of God; not only his permission, allowing us the liberty of the use of these things, but his promise to feed us with food convenient for us. This gives us a sanctified use of our creature-comforts.
      • (2.) By prayer, which blesses our meat to us. The word of God and prayer must be brought to our common actions and affairs, and then we do all in faith. Here observe,
        • [1.] Every creature is God's, for he made all. Every beast in the forest is mine (says God), and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are mine, Ps. 50:10, 11.
        • [2.] Every creature of God is good: when the blessed God took a survey of all his works, God saw all that was made, and, behold, it was very good, Gen. 1:31.
        • [3.] The blessing of God makes every creature nourishing to us; man lives not by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Mt. 4:4), and therefore nothing ought to be refused.
        • [4.] We ought therefore to ask his blessing by prayer, and so to sanctify the creatures we receive by prayer.

1Ti 4:6-16

The apostle would have Timothy to instil into the minds of Christians such sentiments as might prevent their being seduced by the judaizing teachers. Observe, Those are good ministers of Jesus Christ who are diligent in their work; not that study to advance new notions, but that put the brethren in remembrance of those things which they have received and heard. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you knew them, 2 Pt. 1:12. And elsewhere, I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance, 2 Pt. 3:1. And, says the apostle Jude, I will therefore put you in remembrance, Jude 5. You see that the apostles and apostolical men reckoned it a main part of their work to put their hearers in remembrance; for we are apt to forget, and slow to learn and remember, the things of God.-Nourished up in the words of faith and good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. Observe,

  • 1. Even ministers themselves have need to be growing and increasing in the knowledge of Christ and his doctrine: they must be nourished up in the words of faith.
  • 2. The best way for ministers to grow in knowledge and faith is to put the brethren in remembrance; while we teach others, we teach ourselves.
  • 3. Those whom ministers teach are brethren, and are to be treated like brethren; for ministers are not lords of God's heritage.
    • I. Godliness is here pressed upon him and others: Refuse profane and old wives' sayings, v. 7, 8, The Jewish traditions, which some people fill their heads with, have nothing to do with them. But exercise thyself rather unto godliness; that is, mind practical religion. Those who would be godly must exercise themselves unto godliness; it requires a constant exercise. The reason is taken from the fain of godliness; bodily exercise profits little, or for a little time. Abstinence from meats and marriage, and the like, though they pass for acts of mortification and self-denial, yet profit little, they turn to little account. What will it avail us to mortify the body if we do not mortify sin? Observe,
      • 1. There is a great deal to be got by godliness; it will be of use to us in the whole of our life, for it has the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
      • 2. The gain of godliness lies much in the promise: and the promises made to godly people relate to the life that now is, but especially they relate to the life that is to come. Under the Old Testament the promises were mostly of temporal blessings, but under the New Testament of spiritual and eternal blessings. If godly people have but little of the good things of the life that now is, yet it shall be made up to them in the good things of the life that is to come.
      • 3. There were profane and old wives' fables in the days of the apostles; and Timothy, though an excellent man, was not above such a word of advice, Refuse profane, etc.
      • 4. It is not enough that we refuse profane and old wives' fables, but we must exercise ourselves to godliness; we must not only cease to do evil, but we must learn to do well (Isa. 1:16, 17), and we must make a practice of exercising ourselves to godliness. And,
      • 5. Those who are truly godly shall not be losers at last, whatever becomes of those who content themselves with bodily exercise, for godliness has the promise, etc.
    • II. The encouragement which we have to proceed in the ways of godliness, and to exercise ourselves to it, notwithstanding the difficulties and discouragements that we meet with in it. He had said (v. 8) that it is profitable for all things, having the promise of the life which now is. But the question is, Will the profit balance the loss? For, if it will not, it is not profit. Yes, we are sure it will. Here is another of Paul's faithful sayings, worthy of all acceptation-that all our labours and losses in the service of God and the work of religion will be abundantly recompensed, so that though we lose for Christ we shall not lose by him. Therefore we labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, v. 10. Observe,
      • 1. Godly people must labour and expect reproach; they must do well, and yet expect at the same time to suffer ill: toil and trouble are to be expected by us in this world, not only as men, but as saints.
      • 2. Those who labour and suffer reproach in the service of God and the work of religion may depend upon the living God that they shall not lose by it. Let this encourage them, We trust in the living God. The consideration of this, that the God who has undertaken to be our pay-master is the living God, who does himself live for ever and is the fountain of life to all who serve him, should encourage us in all our services and in all our sufferings for him, especially considering that he is the Saviour of all men.
        • (1.) By his providences he protects the persons, and prolongs the lives, of the children of men.
        • (2.) He has a general good-will to the eternal salvation of all men thus far that he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. He desires not the death of sinners; he is thus far the Saviour of all men that none are left in the same desperate condition that fallen angels are in. Now, if he be thus the Saviour of all men, we may hence infer that much more he will be the rewarder of those who seek and serve him; if he has such a good-will for all his creatures, much more will he provide well for those who are new creatures, who are born again. He is the Saviour of all men, but especially of those that believe; and the salvation he has in store for those that believe is sufficient to recompense them for all their services and sufferings. Here we see,
          • [1.] The life of a Christian is a life of labour and suffering: We labour and suffer.
          • [2.] The best we can expect to suffer in the present life is reproach for our well-doing, for our work of faith and labour of love.
          • [3.] True Christians trust in the living God; for cursed is the man that trusts in man, or in any but the living God; and those that trust in him shall never be ashamed. Trust in him at all times.
          • [4.] God is the general Saviour of all men, as he has put them into a salvable state; but he is in a particular manner the Saviour of true believers; there is then a general and a special redemption.
    • III. He concludes the chapter with an exhortation to Timothy,
      • 1. To command and teach these things that he had now been teaching him. "Command them to exercise themselves unto godliness, teach them the profit of it, and that if they serve God they serve one who will be sure to bear them out.'
      • 2. To conduct himself with that gravity and prudence which might gain him respect, notwithstanding his youth: "Let no man despise thy youth; that is, give no man an occasion to despise thy youth.' Men's youth will not be despised if they do not by youthful vanities and follies make themselves despicable; and this men may do who are old, who may therefore thank themselves if they be despised.
      • 3. To confirm his doctrine by a good example: Be thou an example of the believers, etc. Observe, Those who teach by their doctrine must teach by their live, else they pull down with one hand what they build up with the other: they must be examples both in word and conversation. Their discourse must be edifying, and this will be a good example: their conversation must be strict, and this will be a good example: they must be examples in charity, or love to God and all good men, examples in spirit, that is, in spiritual-mindedness, in spiritual worship,-in faith, that is, in the profession of Christian faith,-and in purity or chastity.
      • 4. He charges him to study hard: Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine, to meditation upon these things, v. 13. Though Timothy had extraordinary gifts, yet he must use ordinary means. Or it may be meant of the public reading of the scriptures; he must read and exhort, that is, read and expound, read and press what he read upon them; he must expound it both by way of exhortation and by way of doctrine; he must teach them both what to do and what to believe. Observe,
        • (1.) Ministers must teach and command the things that they are themselves taught and commanded to do; they must teach people to observe all things whatsoever Christ has commanded, Mt. 28:20.
        • (2.) The best way for ministers to avoid being despised is to teach and practise the things that are given them in charge. No wonder if ministers are despised who do not teach these things, or who, instead of being examples of good to believers, act directly contrary to the doctrines they preach; for ministers are to be ensamples of their flock.
        • (3.) Those ministers that are the best accomplished for their work must yet mind their studies, that they may be improving in knowledge; and they must mind also their work; they are to give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
      • 5. He charges him to beware of negligence: Neglect not the gift that is in thee, v. 14. The gifts of God will wither if they be neglected. It may be understood either of the office to which he was advanced, or of his qualifications for that office; if of the former, it was ordination in an ordinary way; if of the latter, it was extraordinary. It seems to be the former, for it was by laying on of hands, etc. Here see the scripture-way of ordination: it was by the laying on of hands, and the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Observe, Timothy was ordained by men in office. It was an extraordinary gift that we read of elsewhere as being conferred on him by the laying on of Paul's hands, but he was invested in the office of the ministry by the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
        • (1.) We may note, The office of the ministry is a gift, it is the gift of Christ; when he ascended on high, he received gifts for men, and he gave some apostles, and some pastors and teachers (Eph. 4:8, 11), and this was a very kind gift to his church.
        • (2.) Ministers ought not to neglect the gift bestowed upon them, whether by gift we are here to understand the office of the ministry or the qualifications for the office; neither the one nor the other must be neglected.
        • (3.) Though there was a prophecy in the case of Timothy (the gift was given by prophecy), yet this was accompanied by the laying on of the hands of the presbytery, that is, a number of presbyters; the office was conveyed to him this way; and I should think here is a sufficient warrant for ordination by presbyters, since it does not appear that Paul was concerned in Timothy's ordination. It is true, extraordinary gifts were conferred on him by the laying on of the apostle's hands (2 Tim. 1:6), but, if he was concerned in his ordination, the presbytery was not excluded, for that is particularly mentioned, whence it seems pretty evident that the presbytery have the inherent power of ordination.
      • 6. Having this work committed to him, he must give himself wholly to it: "Be wholly in those things, that thy profiting may appear.' He was a wise knowing man, and yet must still be profiting, and make it appear that he improved in knowledge. Observe,
        • (1.) Ministers are to be much in meditation. They are to consider beforehand how and what they must speak. They are to meditate on the great trust committed to them, on the worth and value of immortal souls, and on the account they must give at the last.
        • (2.) Ministers must be wholly in these things, they must mind these things as their principal work and business: Give thyself wholly to them.
        • (3.) By this means their profiting will appear in all things, as well a to all persons; this is the way for them to profit in knowledge and grace, and also to profit others.
      • 7. He presses it upon him to be very cautious: "Take heed to thyself and to the doctrine, consider what thou preachest; continue in them, in the truths that thou hast received; and this will be the way to save thyself, and those that hear thee.' Observe,
        • (1.) Ministers are engaged in saving work, which makes it a good work.
        • (2.) The care of ministers should be in the first place to save themselves: "Save thyself in the first place, so shalt thou be instrumental to save those that hear thee.'
        • (3.) Ministers in preaching should aim at the salvation of those that hear them, next to the salvation of their own souls.
        • (4.) The best way to answer both these ends is to take heed to ourselves, etc.