1 Timothy 4:12

in conversation In behaviour; the verb occurs above 1 Timothy 3:15; see note. It is an especial favourite of St Peter's, noun and verb occurring 10 times in his short Epistles. The five words describe five stages, from the most defined external to the most defined internal characteristics speech, behaviour, love, faith, purity; loveas it were belonging equally to the inner and the outer self, and combining all. -The greatest is love." Yet the special emphasis is on -purity," the word itself occurring only here and in 1 Timothy 5:2, though another form of the word is used in the similar catalogue, 2 Corinthians 6:6. The same connexion of -youth" and -purity" is in St Paul's mind in 2 Timothy 2:22, -flee also youthful lusts." Timothy, at 36 years, was young compared with St Paul and the presbyters. See Introd. pp. 56 sqq. Cf. also the use of the Latin iuvenis, for military service up to 40 years; e.g. Liv. i. 43.

in charity, in spirit, in faith There is no sufficient ms. authority for -in spirit"; it is curious that A reads -in spirit" instead of -in faith" in 1 Timothy 2:7. The phrase, most common in St Paul's earlier Epistles, has left his latest language.