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.

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Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
Let	καταφρονείτω, kataphroneitō	G2706	to think against · verb — present active imperative, 3rd person singular
man	μηδείς mēdeis	G3367	not even one (man · adjective — nominative singular masculine
despise	καταφρονέω kataphronéō	G2706	to think against
thy	σοῦ soû	G4675	of thee
youth	νεότητος neotētos	G3503	newness · noun — genitive singular feminine
but	ἀλλὰ alla	G235	properly · conjunction
thou	γίνου ginou	G1096	to cause to be ("gen"-erate) · verb — present middle or passive deponent imperative, 2nd person singular
example	τύπος tupos	G5179	a die (as struck) · noun — nominative singular masculine
believers	πιστῶν, pistōn	G4103	objectively · adjective — genitive plural masculine
in	ἐν en	G1722	"in · preposition
word	λόγῳ, logō	G3056	something said (including the thought) · noun — dative singular masculine
in	ἐν en	G1722	"in · preposition
conversation	ἀναστροφῇ, anastrophēa	G391	behavior · noun — dative singular feminine
in	ἐν en	G1722	"in · preposition
charity	ἀγάπῃ agapē	G26	love · noun — dative singular feminine
in	ἐν en	G1722	"in · preposition
spirit	πνεύματι, pneumati	G4151	a current of air · noun — dative singular neuter
in	ἐν en	G1722	"in · preposition
faith	πίστει, pistei	G4102	persuasion · noun — dative singular feminine
in	ἐν en	G1722	"in · preposition
purity	ἁγνείᾳ. hagneia	G47	cleanliness (the quality) · noun — dative singular feminine

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
1 Peter 5:3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
2 Peter 1:5-8 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
2 Timothy 2:7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 1 Timothy 4:6–end

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, Pe2 1:12. And elsewhere, I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance, Pe2 3:1. And, says the apostle Jude, I will therefore put you in remembrance, Jde 1:5. You see that the apostles and apostolical men reckoned it a main part…

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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Timothy 4:12

Let no man despise thy youth--Act so as to be respected in spite of thy youth (Co1 16:11; Tit 2:15); compare "youthful" as to Timothy (Ti2 2:22). He was but a mere youth when he joined Paul (Act 16:1-3). Eleven years had elapsed since then to the time subsequent to Paul's first imprisonment. He was, therefore, still young; especially in comparison with Paul, whose place he was filling; also in relation to elderly presbyters whom he should "entreat as a father" (Ti1 5:1), and generally in respect to his duties in rebuking, exhorting, and ordaining (Ti1 3:1), which ordinarily accord best with an elderly person (Ti1 5:19). be thou an example--Greek, "become a pattern" (Tit 2:7); the true way…

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Adam Clarke on 1 Timothy 4:12

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…

The Church Fathers

But if, further, he shall harass and provoke you with his insults, you must exercise against him the power of your dignity, by either deposing him or excommunicating him. For if the Apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, said, "Let no man despise thy youth"
— Cyprian, Epistle LXIV

"This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments." And again, to him who desires to become a Gnostic, it is written, "But be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in love, in faith, in purity." For perfection in faith differs, I think, from ordinary faith.
— Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 4

But the wise servants of the Lord, who have really put on the new nature created in the likeness of God, listen to what he says. They apply to themselves the commandment given to Timothy, "Set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." They keep the Easter feast so properly that even unbelievers, seeing their orderliness, must say, "God is truly with them."
— Athanasius of Alexandria, FESTAL LETTERS 2.4

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Example — Of Christ (1 Pet. 2:21; John 13:15); of pastors to their flocks (Phil. 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:9; 1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Pet. 5:3); of the Jews as a warning (Heb. 4:11); of the prophets as suffering affliction…
Faithful — As a designation of Christians, means full of faith, trustful, and not simply trustworthy (Acts 10:45; 16:1; 2 Cor. 6:15; Col. 1:2; 1 Tim. 4:3, 12; 5:16; 6:2; Titus 1:6; Eph. 1:1; 1 Cor. 4:17, etc.).…
Timothy — Honouring God, a young disciple who was Paul’s companion in many of his journeyings. His mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois, are mentioned as eminent for their piety (2 Tim. 1:5). We know…
Titus, Epistle to — Was probably written about the same time as the first epistle to Timothy, with which it has many affinities. “Both letters were addressed to persons left by the writer to preside in their respective…
Type — Occurs only once in Scripture (1 Cor. 10:11, A.V. marg.). The Greek word tupos is rendered “print” (John 20:25), “figure” (Acts 7:43; Rom. 5:14), “fashion” (Acts 7:44), “manner” (Acts 23:25), “form”…
Charitableness · General scriptures concerning — General scriptures concerning
Commandments · PRECEPTS OF PAUL. EXPLICITLY STATED OR IMPLIED IN DIDACTIC EPISTLES — PRECEPTS OF PAUL. EXPLICITLY STATED OR IMPLIED IN DIDACTIC EPISTLES
Conduct, Christian · Showing a good example — Showing a good example
Contempt · Ministers should give no occasion for — Ministers should give no occasion for
Continence · General scriptures concerning — General scriptures concerning
Example · GOOD

1 Timothy 4:12

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 1 Timothy 4:6–end

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Timothy 4:12

Adam Clarke on 1 Timothy 4:12

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

1 Timothy 4:12

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 1 Timothy 4:6–end

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Timothy 4:12

Adam Clarke on 1 Timothy 4:12

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

John Gill on 1 Timothy 4:12

John Calvin on 1 Timothy 4:11–end

Tyndale Open Study Notes on 1 Timothy 4:12