I Timothy 4:12

First Timothy 4:12

Paul wrote to Timothy in First Timothy 4:12. It says, “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.” Timothy was a young man. There are several things about Timothy that we know without any doubt. His mother was a Jew. He worked closely with the Apostle Paul. And he was a young man. Whenever you have a certain characteristic, some people will view that characteristic with a critical eye. Those same people are the nay-sayers of the world. They will always state with all of the egotism and self-righteousness possible that you cannot do what you are trying to do because of that characteristic you have. To them you are always too fat or too thin, too tall or too short, too rich or too poor, too old, or as in Timothy’s case, too young.

It is pretty hard to be just right. No one is just right. Everyone has some characteristic about them that can be the object of the nay-sayers. How do you handle such criticism from the negative people of this world? One important thing is to remember what Paul said to Timothy. He said, “Let no man despise thy youth.” The whole matter was in Timothy’s hands. Some people may have looked down upon Timothy or thought less of him because of his youth, but the way that Timothy responded to such criticism was the important thing. He could silence his critics by doing the right thing. The way to take this kind of criticism is to ignore it and to prove it wrong.

Paul told Timothy that there were six things where Timothy could be an example to other believers. How old you are does not determine how good of an example you are to others. Sometimes even the smallest of children teach spiritual lessons to adults. Timothy was told to be an example “in word.” Perhaps this is referring to the words that Timothy used when he spoke. If you do not know when to bridle your own tongue, your religion is in vain. One of the best ways to influence people properly is to use the right words when you speak. If you say good things and positive things in just the right way and at just the right time, you will be a great example. It says in the Proverbs, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pitchers of silver.”

Be an example in word. The Greek word that is translated “word” comes from the Greek word “logos.” Jesus is called in John 1:1 “the word.” “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.” You can only be an example in word if you are also an example based upon your connection to the word, Jesus Christ.

Of course, as important as they are, the words that you say will mean nothing unless they are backed up by the things that you do. Timothy was told to be an example in word and “in conversation.” The Greek word translated conversation means manner of life: life-style. Some young people always try to find a way to justify their behavior. What they should do is ask the question: what kind of an example does this set for others. Everyone is an example in some way. Everyone is really a role-model. The greater your influence and exposure to other people, the greater that your example will touch others and will be a guide to them for better or for worse. To whom much is given is much required. The fires of hell will burn very hot indeed for those who have influenced many towards evil by the evil example that they have set. Every believer should understand that everything that they do affects those around them, and one of our primary goals should always be to be the right kind of influence in everything that we do.

Timothy was told to be an example in word, in manner of life, and also in charity. The word that is translated charity is the word for love. We should love God because He first loved us. Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength. And Jesus said that the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are told many times in scripture to love the brethren because they are the beloved of God. We are even told to love our enemies. First Corinthians 13:10 says, “And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

Timothy was told to be an example to the believers in love, and he was also told to be an example in spirit. You will be an example “in spirit” if your spirit is what it ought to be. This involves the right amount of energy, enthusiasm, and interest in spiritual things. Preoccupation with the things of the world can harm your spirit. Grieve not the spirit of God. Quench not the spirit. In order to serve God in this world, you must be led by the Spirit. Every Christian should ask themselves this question: In which direction is the Spirit trying to lead me? In order for you to be an example to other believers in spirit, you need to be led and filled by the Holy Spirit.

Timothy was told to be an example in spirit, and he was told to be an example “in faith.” “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” “The just shall live by faith.” “This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.” If you are going to be an example to other believers, there must be a direct connection between you and faith. You must approach each circumstance that comes your way with faith: faith in the promises of God, faith in the wisdom of God, and faith in the good purposes of God towards you, not because of who you are or what you deserve but because of who is Jesus and what He has done for you on the cross of Calvary.

Timothy was told to be an example in faith and He was told to be an example in purity. “Faith without works is dead.” We live in the midst of a wicked and perverse generation who go to every imaginable excess today just like they did in ancient Greece and Rome. The Lord says to every believer, “Be ye holy for I am holy.” Sex is a good thing, but only in marriage. Hebrews 13:4 says, “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled, but whoremongers and adulterers God shall judge.” Of course, you can escape judgment if you repent while there is still time.

In First Timothy 4:13 Paul wrote to Timothy, “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” Reading the scriptures is an important thing to do. That is why it is first in this list of three things. When you read the scriptures, who is the teacher? The Holy Spirit is the teacher, if you have the Holy Spirit within you. If you are not saved through faith in Christ, then you will not be able to understand this great book. It will be dark and closed to you. If you are saved, this book will be life and health to your bones. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” Wise is the person who understands the value of reading God’s Word every day. Carnally minded and spiritually weak will be the person who does not.

The Greek word that is translated “to read” is very revealing. It means literally “to know again.” One thing that is common with all humans is that we are easily forgetful especially of the things that are most important. We do not forget them in the sense that they are gone and we never remember them again, but we forget them in the sense that they are not currently on our mind. They are not on our mind. They are not in our present thoughts, but they need to be. One of the most important responsibilities of a minister of the gospel is to remind believers of things that many of them already know. Paul said to Timothy in First Timothy 4:6, “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ.” When you read the scriptures, with God’s help you are reminding yourself of these things.

Timothy was told to give attention to reading and then to exhortation. Reading refers to what you are doing for yourself spiritually. You are building up your faith by reading the Word of God. Once you have done that you are then prepared to help others in the faith. To exhort someone means to comfort them: to say just the right words in their time of need. You will be able to say those words of comfort to others on a daily basis if you have been reading the Word of God on a daily basis.

In First Timothy 4:13 Timothy was told to give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Sound doctrine is extremely important to be able to serve God in this world. Think of some of the things that have caused great confusion and contention among Christians. Because some have neglected sound doctrine, they now get baptism and salvation mixed up. They do not really understand the doctrine of the gospel. Others do not have assurance of their salvation because they do not understand the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith. Others have even stopped serving God because they do not understand the doctrine of the forgiveness of sins or the doctrine of the grace of God. Sound doctrine has the possibility of solving every problem of every believer and every problem of every church congregation. There will always be a direct relationship between how well sound doctrine is taught and the strength of the believers who are exposed to it. Sound doctrine is the proper understanding and teaching of God’s Word. Paul told Timothy to give attention to reading. But it is not reading just to say that you have read. It is reading so that you will be ever grounded in sound doctrine. Compare scripture with scripture. Are the doctrines that you have always been taught truly what the Bible teaches, or have you been led into conclusions that are simply someone else’s interpretation or that is simply a human tradition?

In First Timothy 4:14 the Bible says, “Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” Every Christian has at least one gift. The Bible says about Jesus in Ephesians that when He ascended into heaven, He led captivity captive and He gave gifts unto men. The best way for you to serve God is to find out what your gift is, and then to exercise that gift. There is nothing worse than a Christian who does not exercise his gift or who tries to get involved in something for which he is not gifted. One of the worst Sunday School classes that I ever went to was taught by a man who did not have the gift to teach. It was horribly boring. He was doing Himself and the few people who could force themselves to go to his class a great disservice. He probably had the gift of a deacon or the gift of an administrator, but he did not have the gift of a teacher.

Notice that Paul said to Timothy, “Neglect not the gift that was given to thee.” God gives us a gift, but there is still a certain amount of human preparation and effort involved. In order for you to not neglect your gift, you must know what it is. Paul gave a couple of key ideas in First Timothy 4:14 on how to know what your gift is: how to discover it. Paul said that Timothy’s gift was given to Him “by prophecy.” This could be translated: “through the means of prophecy.” Prophecy primarily refers to the speaking forth of the Word of God. Sometimes it refers to the foretelling of future events, but most often it simply refers to the speaking forth of God’s Word.

One of the ways that God will reveal to you your gift is through His Word and the presentation of His Word. If you do not know what your gift is that God has given for you to use to serve Him, then maybe you need to listen more closely to the preaching of His Word. Paul told Timothy that his gift came by prophecy, and also that it came “with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” The word presbytery literally means elders, those that are older and wiser and more mature in the faith. Older should mean wiser, and the presbytery refers to those who are both older and wiser. Once you think you have identified your gift, how do you know for sure that you are right? You do not want to make a mistake and think that you have a gift that you do not have.

One way that you will know is by the feedback that you get from other people. Of course, there will always be opposition from those who are not spiritually minded. There will always be the nay-sayers. There will always be some who will tell you that you cannot do it. Do not listen to them, but you should listen to the presbytery: those whom you know and trust in the church who are older and wiser than you are. They have seen a few things. They have seen young people come and go, and they have seen preachers come and go. If you have a gift, you will get some feedback that will validate it. The presbytery will support you and encourage you. That is the significance of the laying on of the hands. There is a symbolism there where the elders were showing their support for Timothy and their agreement with his gift. If God has called you to do something and gifted you to do it, then you will receive some opposition, but you will also receive some validation, support, and encouragement from other believers. If you never receive any such validation from anyone, anywhere, anytime; then you may want to question whether you have correctly recognized your gift and calling.

One thing is for sure: you do have a gift that Jesus has given you if you are one of His believers. “The gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” God will never give up on you. He wants you to know what your gift is, and He wants you to use your gift to serve Him in this world. Remember what Paul said to Timothy in First Timothy 4:14, “Neglect not the gift that is in thee.”

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