1 Timothy 4:12

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. LET NO MAN DESPISE THY YOUTH - Act so as to be respected in spite of thy youth (1 Corinthians 16:11; Titus 2:15): cf. "youthful," 2 Timothy 2:22: thy gravity maketh up for thy juvenility. He was but a mere youth when he joined Paul (Acts 16:1). Eleven years had elapsed since. Now, after Paul's first imprisonment, he was still young (about thirty-five probably), especially in comparison with Paul (whose place he was filling), and with elder...

12_Let no man despise thy youth _He says this, both in regard to others, and to Timothy himself. As to others, he does not wish that the age of Timothy should prevent him from obtaining that reverence which he deserves, provided that, in other respects, he conduct himself as becomes a minister of Christ. And, at the same time, he instructs Timothy to supply by gravity of demeanor what is wanting in his age. As if he had said, “Take care that, by gravity of demeanor, thou procure for thyself so great reverence, that thy youthful age, which, in other respects lays one open to contempt, may take nothing from thy authority.” Hence we learn that Timothy was still young, though he held a place of distinguished excellence among many pastors; and that it is a grievous mistake to estimate by the number of years how much is due to a person. _But be an example of the believers _(78) He next informs...

11-16 Men's youth will not be despised, if they keep from vanities and follies. Those who teach by their doctrine, must teach by their life. Their discourse must be edifying; their conversation must be holy; they must be examples of love to God and all good men, examples of spiritual-mindedness. Ministers must mind these things as their principal work and business. By this means their profiting will appear in all things, as well as to all persons; this is the way to profit in knowledge and grace, and also to profit others. The doctrine of a minister of Christ must be scriptural, clear, evangelical, and practical; well stated, explained, defended, and applied. But these duties leave no leisure for wordly pleasures, trifling visits, or idle conversation, and but little for what is mere amusement, and only ornamental. May every believer be enabled to let his profiting appear unto all men;...

Verse 12. _LET NO MAN DESPISE THY YOUTH_] Act with all the _gravity_ and decorum which become thy situation in the Church. As thou art in the place of an _elder_, act as an _elder_. Boyish playfulness ill becomes a minister of the Gospel, whatever his age may be. Concerning Timothy's age see the conclusion of the preface to this epistle. _BE THOU AN EXAMPLE OF THE BELIEVERS_] It is natural for the flock to follow the shepherd; if _he_ go wrong, they will go wrong also. "Himself a wanderer from the narrow way, His silly sheep, no wonder if they stray." Though, according to the just judgement of God, they who die in their sins have their blood on their own head; yet, if they have either gone into sin or _continued_ in it through the watchman's fault, their blood will God require at...

LET NO MAN DESPISE THY YOUTH - That is, do not act in such a manner that any shall despise you on account of your youth. Act as becomes a minister of the gospel in all things, and in such a way that people will respect you as such, though you are young. It is clear from this that Timothy was then a young man, but his exact age there is no means of determining. It is implied here: (1) That there was danger that, by the levity and indiscretion to which youth are so much exposed, the ministry might be regarded with contempt; and, (2) That it was possible that his deportment should be so grave, serious, and every way appropriate, that the ministry would not be blamed, but honored. The “way” in which Timothy was to live so that the ministry would not be despised on account of his youth, the apostle proceeds immediately to specify. But be t

EXPOSITION 1 TIMOTHY 4:1 _But _for _now_,_ _A.V.; _saith _for _speaketh_,_ _A.V.;_ later _for _the latter_,_ _A.V.;_ fall away _for _depart_,_ _A.V. THE SPIRIT SAITH EXPRESSLY (ῥητῶς);_ _only here in the New Testament, and very rare in classical Greek. But the adjective ῥητός, in the sense of something "laid down," "definite.... expressly mentioned," is common. It was, doubtless, on account of these prophetic warnings of a falling away from the faith, that the apostle gave the preceding heads of Christian doctrine in such a terse and tangible form, and laid such a solemn charge upon Timothy. (For examples of these prophetic utterances, see Acts 11:28;...

LET NO MAN DESPISE THY YOUTH,.... Timothy was now a young man; some think he was about three and twenty years of age; but he might be older, and yet be so called. Saul is said to be a young man, when he held the clothes of them that stoned Stephen, when he must be at least thirty years of age, some say thirty five; since thirty years after that he styles himself Paul the aged, when he must be sixty years of age and upwards, Acts 7:58. Young men are sometimes honoured by God with great gifts, for usefulness both in church and state, as Samuel, David, Solomon, Daniel, and his companions: nor should they be despised on account of their age, when they have gifts suitable to their office, and behave well in it, but, on the contrary, ought to be esteemed for their works' sake; and such should take care that no man has an opportunity or reason to treat them with contempt on that account: the ap...

1 TIMOTHY 4:12 avga,ph| Perhaps under the influence of Colossians 1:8, after avga,ph| the Textus Receptus inserts evn pneu,mati, with K L P most minuscules John-Damascus Theodoret. The shorter reading is strongly supported by the best representatives of both the Alexandrian and the Western text-types (a A C D F G 33 104 itd, g vg syrp, h copsa, bo goth arm eth)....

IV. CONCERNING THE LATTER-DAY APOSTASY CHAPTER 4 _ 1. What the Spirit has predicted (1 Timothy 4:1)_ 2. The remedies against apostasy (1 Timothy 4:6) 1 Timothy 4:1 The mystery of godliness having been mentioned, the apostle speaks of Satan's power in opposition to the faith and truth of God (the mystery of godliness here, and the mystery of iniquity in 2 Thessalonians). “But the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons.” It is a prophetic warning. Paul had given a similar warning to the Ephesian elders gathered at Miletus a number of years before, and elsewhere in the New Testament t

THE TREATMENT NEEDED. Timothy must meet the errors by (_a)_ personal example (1 Timothy 4:6) and (_b_) diligent teaching (1 Timothy 4:11). In combating error he must continually draw his strength from the doctrinal statements hitherto followed by him. The silly myths that are current (1 Timothy 1:3 *) he must reject. The fully-developed asceticism of 1 Timothy 4:3 lies in the future, but in these fables its _principles_ are already contained. Let him furtner counteract the evil by himself exhibiting the _true_ self-discipline that which aims at producing piety. For a reliable truth while mere bodily s