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11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in your speech, conduct, love, faithfulness,[a] and purity. 13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of scripture,[b] to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you have,[c] given to you and confirmed by prophetic words[d] when the elders laid hands on you.[e] 15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that everyone will see your progress.[f] 16 Be conscientious about how you live and what you teach.[g] Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 4:12 tn Or “faith.”
  2. 1 Timothy 4:13 tn Grk “reading.” sn The public reading of scripture refers to reading the scripture out loud in the church services. In a context where many were illiterate and few could afford private copies of scripture, such public reading was especially important.
  3. 1 Timothy 4:14 tn Grk “in you.”
  4. 1 Timothy 4:14 tn Grk “which was given to you through prophecy.” Here as in 2:15 the preposition “through” denotes not “means” but accompanying circumstances: “accompanied by prophecy.”sn These prophetic words perhaps spoke of what God would do through Timothy in his ministry (cf. 1 Tim 1:18).
  5. 1 Timothy 4:14 tn Grk “with the imposition of the hands of the presbytery” (i.e., the council of elders).
  6. 1 Timothy 4:15 tn Grk “that your progress may be evident to all.”
  7. 1 Timothy 4:16 tn Grk “about yourself and your teaching.”

11 Command and teach these things.(A) 12 Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.(B) 13 Until I arrive, give attention to the public reading of scripture,[a] to exhorting, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.(C) 15 Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. 4.13 Gk to the reading