Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 40

Paul Exhorts Timothy to Take Heed to his Ministry Part 1

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.  KJV

Now the Apostle Paul wants to see Brother Timothy be empowered to fulfill all that God the Father has ordained for him to be and to do, so Paul writes these words to Timothy, "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." (1 Timothy 4:12) (KJV). Paul begins by embolding Brother Timothy to not suck up or bow down to any of the so called more senior members of the congregation, especially if what they believe and teach is contrary to what he has been taught by Paul (who received all his teaching directly from our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ). The little English phrase 'let no man' that begins this verse is translated by the Greek word mēdemia which means not even one or not anyone or no one. Paul is here being emphatic to Timothy, that is, sudden and strong, even forceful because Timothy has believed the truth of the Gospel and Paul wanted Timothy to not be compromised with those in the visible church who would be the instruments of the devil in the apostatizing of the visible church leading many men, women, and children astray.

The English word 'despise' is translated by the Greek word kataphroneō which means to think against, that is, disesteem: - or to think down on. The English word 'youth' is translated by the Greek word neotēs which means exactly what our English dictionary declares of it and that is, newness or youthfulness; a young person (especially a young man or boy). In other words, Timothy was the young man or in the mind of some of the elders of the Churches, he was still just a boy, but Paul knew that despite Timothy's youth or young age, he had been fixed and established by order and command of Almighty God to proclain His Truth to the whole world no matter his young age. So, Paul wanted to embolden, empower, and encourage Timothy to do the will of God and not the will of man, no matter who the men might be. Here is what Albert Barnes had to say concerning Timothy's 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: 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, 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."

Instead of allowing the older people of the Church to disparage or defame or denigrate him because of his youth, Timothy was to be an example or model to everyone in the Churches, those older than him and those younger than him. The one way Timothy could shut the mouths of the despisers was to do no harm to any man and to repay no one evil for any evil pulled against him or perpetrated against him or perfomed against him, just as the Apsotle Paul was himself to all the Churches even as he wrote these words to the Philippian Church, "Brethren, together follow my example and observe those who live after the pattern we have set for you." (Philippians 3:17) (Amplified Bible). Paul wanted to encourage Timothy to be an example or model in 'word' and hear he means simply in his teaching of the Gospel of Christ and of Grace and of the entire Word of God. Paul wanted to encourage Timothy to be an example or model in his 'conversation' and this English word is translated by the Greek word anastrophē meaning behavior or conduct: - conversation. In other words, Paul wanted Timothy to live in such a manner in front of the other believers as not to bring reproach upon himself by being a violent man or a meddler/busy body in other people's affairs or an adulterer sleeping with other men's wives or a fornicator or a liar or a thief or any other conduct/behavior that would cause him to be despised by others. Here is what Adam Clarke had to say concerning conversation, "In the whole of thy conduct in every department which thou fillest in all thy domestic as well as public relations, behave thyself well."

Paul wanted to encourage Timothy to be an example or model in 'charity' and this English word is translated by the Greek word agape meaning love, that is, the highest form of love which is God's love. Here is what Matthew Henry said concerning this charity, "Love to God and all good men." Paul wanted to encourage Timothy to be an example or model in 'spirit', that is, being spiritually minded and being an example in true spiritual worship of God the Father, God the Son, and in the Power of God the Holy Spirit. In other words, Paul did not want Timothy to do things for our Lord Jesus Christ out of some since of just duty or obligation, but because he loved our Lord Jesus and wanted to see His Kingdom come. Paul wanted to encourage Timothy to be an example or model in 'faith' and again this English word is translated by the Greek word pistis meaning persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: - assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity. Here is what Albert Barnes had to say concerning being an example in faith, "At all times, and in all trials show to believers by your example, how they ought to maintain unshaken confidence in God."

Lastly, Paul wanted to encourage Timothy to be an example or model in 'purity' and this English word is translated by the Greek word hagneia (used only one other place in the New Testament) meaning cleanliness (the quality), that is, (specifically) chastity: - purity. In other words, Paul wanted to advise a very young man who would be often tempted by the many beautiful young women of the world to yield to fornication, so Paul encourages him here to stay or remain in chastity, that is, abstaining from sexual relations until our Lord Jesus brought to him a wife just as he did with the first man Adam, remember, "And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam; and while he slept, He took one of his ribs {or} a part of his side and closed up the [place with] flesh. And the rib {or} part of his side which the Lord God had taken from the man He built up {and} made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. Then Adam said, This [creature] is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of a man." (Genesis 2:21-23) (Amplfied Bible). Here is what Albert Barnes had to say concerning purity, "There should be nothing in your contact with the other sex that would give rise to scandal. The papists, with great impropriety, understand this as enjoining celibacy - as if there could be no 'purity' in that holy relation which God appointed in Eden, and which He has declared to 'be honorable in all' Hebrews 13:4, and which He has made so essential to the wellbeing of mankind. If the Apostle had wished to produce the highest possible degree of corruption in the Church, he would have enjoined the celibacy of the clergy and the celibacy of an indefinite number of nuns and monks. There are no other institutions on the earth which have done so much to corrupt the chastity of the race, as those which have grown out of the doctrine that celibacy is more honorable than marriage."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…