1 Timothy 4:11-16

¹¹ “Prescribe and teach these things. ¹² Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. ¹³ Until I come, give your attention to the public reading, to exhortation, and teaching.¹⁴ Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was granted to you through words of prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. ¹⁵ Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. ¹⁶ Pay close attention to yourself and to the teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”

Verse 11: Paul instructs Timothy to command and teach the truths and principles he has been sharing. This highlights the importance of boldly proclaiming and instructing others in the gospel message and the teachings of the New Covenant while staying free of false gospels.

Verse 12: Paul encourages Timothy not to allow others to disregard or underestimate him because of his youth. Instead, he is to set an example for the believers in various areas of life, including speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. This reminds us that our actions and character should reflect the transformative power of the gospel, regardless of our age or experience.

Verse 13: Paul instructs Timothy to devote himself to the public reading of Scripture, preaching, and teaching. This emphasizes the importance of sharing and proclaiming the Word of God, allowing it to be the foundation and guide for the believers.  In contrast to the modern Christian world, which sometimes focuses worship services on showing off bells and whistles, Paul was focused on content. A healthy worship service included reading from the Scriptures and seeking to better understand the gospel of grace. The gospel is the only message that can change lives.

Verse 14: Paul is likely not talking about something mystical or overly supernatural. He is likely talking about laying on hands as a way of commissioning Timothy. The church was visibly identifying Timothy as a leader and a pastor. The church was also prophesying to Timothy about his gifting. Here prophecy is not some form of fortune telling but rather words of encouragement for Timothy. They are recognizing his giftedness and encouraging him to live from this giftedness. Paul reminds Timothy not to neglect the spiritual gift he has received. This gift was given to him through prophecy and the laying on of hands by the body of elders. This highlights the importance of recognizing and utilizing the gifts and abilities that God has bestowed upon us for the benefit of the church.

Verse 15: Paul is telling Timothy to essentially be obsessed with the gospel. As Timothy focuses on God’s grace he will mature in Christ. This maturation will be evident to all who will then continue to see Timothy’s calling to ministry clearly. The same is true for Christians. The more we know God’s love the more we will mature in all that we have in Christ. Paul encourages Timothy to be diligent in his responsibilities and to give himself wholly to them. By doing so, Timothy’s progress and growth will be evident to everyone. This reminds us of the importance of wholeheartedly pursuing our calling and continually growing in our understanding and application of the gospel.

Verse 16: Paul urges Timothy to watch his life and doctrine closely, emphasizing the importance of aligning his beliefs and actions with the truth of the gospel. By persevering in these areas, Timothy will not only experience his salvation in daily living but also have a positive impact on those who hear his message. Salvation can also be defined in two different ways. When we believe in Jesus we are spiritually saved in Christ. However, salvation can also speak of a saving of our experiences in life. If we keep pure our theology, then we will save ourselves from all types of bad theology, and consequently, earthly consequences. Paul wanted Timothy to maintain a pure theology about the gospel so that his earthly experience will be one of victory over bad doctrine.