12 let no one despise thy youth, but a pattern become thou of those believing in word, in behaviour, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity;
And this same also -- all diligence having brought in besides, superadd in your faith the worthiness, and in the worthiness the knowledge, and in the knowledge the temperance, and in the temperance the endurance, and in the endurance the piety, and in the piety the brotherly kindness, and in the brotherly kindness the love; for these things being to you and abounding, do make `you' neither inert nor unfruitful in regard to the acknowledging of our Lord Jesus Christ,
And if Timotheus may come, see that he may become without fear with you, for the work of the Lord he doth work, even as I, no one, then, may despise him; and send ye him forward in peace, that he may come to me, for I expect him with the brethren;
but in everything recommending ourselves as God's ministrants; in much patience, in tribulations, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in insurrections, in labours, in watchings, in fastings, in pureness, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned, in the word of truth, in the power of God, through the armour of the righteousness, on the right and on the left, through glory and dishonour, through evil report and good report, as leading astray, and true; as unknown, and recognized; as dying, and lo, we live; as chastened, and not put to death; as sorrowful, and always rejoicing; as poor, and making many rich; as having nothing, and possessing all things. Our mouth hath been open unto you, O Corinthians, our heart hath been enlarged! ye are not straitened in us, and ye are straitened in your `own' bowels, and `as' a recompense of the same kind, (as to children I say `it',) be ye enlarged -- also ye! Become not yoked with others -- unbelievers, for what partaking `is there' to righteousness and lawlessness? and what fellowship to light with darkness? and what concord to Christ with Belial? or what part to a believer with an unbeliever? and what agreement to the sanctuary of God with idols? for ye are a sanctuary of the living God, according as God said -- `I will dwell in them, and will walk among `them', and I will be their God, and they shall be My people, wherefore, come ye forth out of the midst of them, and be separated, saith the Lord, and an unclean thing do not touch, and I -- I will receive you,
for yourselves have known how it behoveth `you' to imitate us, because we did not act disorderly among you; nor for nought did we eat bread of any one, but in labour and in travail, night and day working, not to be chargeable to any of you; not because we have not authority, but that ourselves a pattern we might give to you, to imitate us;
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Timothy 4
Commentary on 1 Timothy 4 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 4
Paul here foretels,
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.
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,