1 Timothy 4:15

Contextual Overview

⁶If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. ⁶ If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. ⁶ In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. ⁶In pointing out these things to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. ⁶If you teach a cowboy the truth, you will be a good cowboy on God's outfit. A cowboy is built and made on a diet of truth, faith, and the right way to ride. ⁶ If you keep these things before the minds of the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, trained in the words of the faith and of the right teaching which has been your guide: ⁶ Laying these things before the brethren, thou wilt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished with the words of the faith and of the good teaching which thou hast fully followed up. ⁶ If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and the good teaching that you have followed. ⁶ If you instruct the brothers of these things, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which you have followed. ⁶ If thou remind the brethren of these things, thou wilt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourishing them with the words of faith, and of the good doctrine whereto thou hast attained.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Meditate: Joshua 1:8, Psalms 1:2, Psalms 19:14, Psalms 49:3, Psalms 63:6, Psalms 77:12, Psalms 104:34, Psalms 105:5, Psalms 119:15, Psalms 119:23, Psalms 119:48, Psalms 119:97, Psalms 119:99, Psalms 119:148, Psalms 143:5

give: Acts 6:4, 1 Corinthians 16:15, 2 Corinthians 4:14, 2 Corinthians 8:5, Titus 2:14

that: 1 Timothy 4:6, Matthew 5:16, Philippians 2:15, Philippians 2:16

to all: or, in all things

Reciprocal: Leviticus 11:3 - cheweth Numbers 3:10 - they shall Numbers 8:26 - and shall Nehemiah 6:3 - I am doing Ecclesiastes 1:13 - I gave Song of Solomon 8:12 - vineyard Ezekiel 3:1 - eat Luke 10:2 - the labourers John 21:15 - Feed 2 Timothy 2:7 - Consider 2 Timothy 4:2 - be 2 Timothy 4:5 - an

Cross-References

Genesis 4:24
If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times."

Genesis 4:24
If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times."

Genesis 4:24
If Cain is avenged sevenfold,Then Lamech seventy‑sevenfold."

Genesis 4:24
If Cain is avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold."

Genesis 4:24
If Cain shalbe auenged seuen folde, truely Lamech seuentie tymes & seuen tymes.

Genesis 4:24
The punishment for killing Cain was very bad. But the punishment for killing me will be many times worse!"

Genesis 4:24
If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold."

Genesis 4:24
veniaunce schal be youun seuenfold of Cayn, forsothe of Lameth seuentisithis seuensithis.

Genesis 4:24
If Cain shall bee auenged seuen fold, truely Lamech seuenty and seuen folde.

Genesis 4:24
If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Meditate on these things,.... Not only on those instructions, advices, and exhortations, which the apostle had given him, throughout this chapter, which might be very useful to him, often to think of, and revolve in his mind, and seriously consider and reflect upon; but upon the Scriptures, the reading of which he had recommended to him, and the doctrines contained therein; it becomes every man not only to read, but meditate on the word of God, and much more ministers of the Gospel. The Scriptures should be read with care, and be industriously and laboriously searched into, as men dig in mines for silver or golden ore; and passages in it should be carefully compared together, the more obscure with those that are more plain and easy; and the whole is to be studied with great attention and application:

give thyself wholly to them: to the reading of the Scriptures, meditation upon them, and preaching the doctrines contained in them, clear of all secular affairs, or worldly business and employment. The apostles threw off the branch of deaconship, or ministering to the poor, that they might give themselves up wholly to the ministry of the word, and prayer; and much more should worldly business be cast off, where the circumstances of ministers and churches will admit of it; a Christian soldier, or minister of the Gospel, ought not, if possible, to be entangled with the affairs of this life; he finds enough to do without, in the discharge of his ministerial function; and though the apostles sometimes wrought with their own hands, yet it was not because they had so much leisure from the ministry, or time on their hands, or because they had not a power of forbearing working, but out of necessity, see Acts 20:34, or these words may be rendered,

be thou in these things; let thine heart be in them; for if a minister's heart is not in his work, if he does not take delight in it, it will be a slavery and drudgery to him; spend all the time and strength in them, give thyself continually to them, and be always diligent and laborious in them:

that thy profiting may appear to all; that it may be manifest to all that attend the ministry of the word that there is an increase in gifts, a growing in spiritual knowledge, an improvement of the talents bestowed: or that this profiting or increase might appear in all things; in every branch of the ministry, both in exhortation or consolation, and in doctrine; or that it might be manifest among all; that is, all that hear might receive some profit, might learn, and be comforted and edified; faith might be increased, and the joy of it be furthered; and all under the ministry visibly thrive and flourish.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Meditate upon these things - Upon the train of events by which you have been led into the ministry, and upon the responsibilites and duties of the office. Let your mind be deeply impressed with these things; make them the subject of profound and serious thought.

Give thyself wholly to them - Greek “Be in them” - a phrase similar to that of Horace - “totus in illis.” The meaning is plain. He was to devote his life wholly to this work. He was to have no other grand aim of living. His time, attention, talents, were to be absorbed in the proper duties of the work. He was not to make that subordinate and tributary to any other purpose, nor was he to allow any other object to interfere with the appropriate duties of that office. He was not to live for money, fame, or pleasure; not to devote his time to the pursuits of literature or science for their own sakes; not to seek the reputation of an elegant or profound scholar; not to aim to be distinguished merely as an accomplished gentleman, or as a skillful farmer, teacher, or author. Whatever was done in any of these departments, was to be wholly consistent with the direction, ἐν τούτοις ἴσθι en toutois isthi - “be in these things” - be absorbed in the appropriate duties of the ministerial office. It may be remarked here that no man will ever make much of himself, or accomplish much in any profession, who does not make this the rule of his life. He who has one great purpose of life to which he patiently and steadily devotes himself, and to which he makes everything else bend, will uniformly rise to high respectability, if not to eminence. He who does not do this can expect to accomplish nothing.

That thy profiting - Greek Thy going forward; that is, thy advancement, or progress. A minister of the gospel ought to make steady improvement in all that pertains to his office. No man ought to be satisfied with present attainments.

To all - Margin, “in all things.” The margin is the more correct rendering, but either of them makes good sense. It should be apparent to all persons who attend on the stated preaching of a minister of the gospel, that he is making steady advances in knowledge, wisdom, and piety, and in all things that pertain to the proper performance of the duties of his office. If a man really makes progress, it will be seen and appreciated by others; if he does not, that will be as well understood by his hearers.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 15. Meditate upon these things — ταυτα μελετα. Revolve them frequently in thy mind; consider deeply their nature and importance; get them deeply fastened in thy heart, and let all thy conduct flow from this inward feeling and conviction. Let the nature, reasons, and motives of thy ministry, be ever in the view of thy heart and conscience.

Give thyself wholly to them — εν τουτοις ισθι. Be thou in these things. Horace has a similar expression: Omnis in hoc sum. "I am absorbed in this." Occupy thyself wholly with them; make them not only thy chief but thy sole concern. Thou art called to save thy own soul, and the souls of them that hear thee; and God has given thee the Divine gifts for this and no other purpose. To this let all thy reading and study be directed; this is thy great business, and thou must perform it as the servant and steward of the Lord. Bengel has a good saying on this verse, which I will quote: In his qui est, minus erit in sodalitatibus mundanis, in studiis alienis, in colligendis libris, conchis, nummis, quibus multi pastores notabilem aetatis partem insistentes conterunt; "He who is wholly in these things will be little in worldly company, in foreign studies, in collecting books, shells, and coins, in which many ministers consume a principal part of their life." Such persons are worthy of the deepest reprehension, unless all these studies, collections, c., be formed with the express view, of illustrating the sacred records and to such awful drudgery few Christian ministers are called. Many, when they have made such collections, seem to know nothing of their use; they only see them and show them, but can never bring them to their assistance in the work of the ministry. These should be prayed for and pitied.

That thy profiting may appear to all. — By being made a universal blessing; convincing and converting sinners; and building up the Church of God on its most holy faith.