1 Timothy 4:13

“Until. come”: Paul expected at this time to be able to return to Ephesus (1 Timothy 3:14).

1 Timothy 4:13 “Give attention to”: Meaning to Devote thought and effort.

1 Timothy 4:13 “The public reading of Scripture”: The word “public” is added because the Greek word “reading” is the word used of reading out loud in public. Not only were the Old Testament Scriptures read, but by this time many of the New Testament letters (Matthew, Luke, Thessalonians, Corinthians, Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, Philemon) were available as well. From other passages it is clear that the New Testament Scriptures were being read in the assemblies (Colossians 4:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:27; Ephesians 3:4).

“In the early church, when very few individuals owned private copies of the sacred writings, and all such material had to be copied by hand, one can imagine how important was the public reading of Scripture” (Reese p. 184).

1 Timothy 4:13 “To exhortation”: Admonition, encouragement (Acts 4:36; Acts 11:23; Romans 12:8). “Perhaps we should think of encouragement of the listeners to carry out the injunctions of the Scripture just read” (Reese p. 185).

1 Timothy 4:13 “Teaching”: Or “doctrine”, refers to the instructional content of the message given. This is the type of instruction in which doctrine and truth are learned. It does make. difference what we believe (2 John 1:9)! Remember, Timothy had been specifically left in Ephesus to teach the truth and remove error (1 Timothy 1:3).