Amplified Bible
1 Timothy 4:12
12Let no one look down on [you because of] your youth, but be an example and set a pattern for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in [moral] purity.
1 Timothy 4:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Context of 1 Timothy 4:12
10It is for this that we labor and strive [often called to account], because we have fixed our [confident] hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe [in Him, recognize Him as the Son of God, and accept Him as Savior and Lord]. 11Keep commanding and teaching these things. Let no one look down on [you because of] your youth, but be an example and set a pattern for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in [moral] purity. 13Until I come, devote yourself to public reading [of Scripture], to preaching and to teaching [the sound doctrine of God’s word]. 14Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, [that special endowment] which was intentionally bestowed on you [by the Holy Spirit] through prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands on you [at your ordination].
Read all of 1 Timothy 41 Timothy 4:12 word by word
μηδείς σου τῆς νεότητος καταφρονείτω, ἀλλὰ τύπος γίνου τῶν πιστῶν, ἐν λόγῳ, ἐν ἀναστροφῇ, ἐν ἀγάπῃ ἐν πίστει, ἐν ἁγνείᾳ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Letκαταφρονέωkataphroneō · to despiseG2706
- no manμηδείςmēdeis mēdemia mēden · nothingG3367
- thyσύsu · youG4771
- youthνεότηςneotēs · youthG3503
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- be thouγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- an exampleτύποςtupos · mark/exampleG5179
- of the believersπιστόςpistos · faithfulG4103
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
- conversationἀναστροφήanastrophē · behaviourG391
- charityἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
- spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
- faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
- purityἁγνείαhagneia · purityG47
Cross-references for 1 Timothy 4:12
- Matthew 18:10“See that you do not despise or think less of one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven [are in the presence of and] continually look upon the face of My Father who is in heaven.
- 1 Corinthians 16:10If Timothy comes, see to it that [you put him at ease, so that] he has nothing to fear in regard to you, for he is [devotedly] doing the Lord’s work, just as I am.
- 2 Timothy 2:7Think over the things I am saying [grasp their application], for the Lord will grant you insight and understanding in everything.
- 1 Corinthians 11:1Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:6You became imitators of us and [through us] of the Lord, after you welcomed our message in [a time of] great trouble with the joy supplied by the Holy Spirit;
- 1 Thessalonians 2:10You are witnesses, and so is God, how unworldly and just and blameless was our behavior toward you who believe [in our Lord Jesus Christ].
- 2 Thessalonians 3:7For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined or inappropriate manner when we were with you [we were never idle or lazy, nor did we avoid our duties],
- 1 Peter 5:3not lording it over those assigned to your care [do not be arrogant or overbearing], but be examples [of Christian living] to the flock [set a pattern of integrity for your congregation].
- 2 Corinthians 6:4but we commend ourselves in every way as servants of God: in great endurance, in sufferings, in hardships, in distresses,
- Philippians 4:8Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].
- 2 Timothy 2:22Run away from youthful lusts—pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those [believers] who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
- James 3:13Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him by his good conduct show his [good] deeds with the gentleness and humility of true wisdom.
- 2 Peter 1:5For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises, make every effort] in [exercising] your faith to, develop moral excellence, and in moral excellence, knowledge (insight, understanding),
Commentaries on 1 Timothy 4:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Let 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12Let no man despise thy 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: (1) that there was danger that, by the levity and indiscretion to which…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-16Verses 11-16 Men's youth will not be despised, if they keep from vanities and follies. Those who teach by their doctrine, must teach by their life. Their discourse must be edifying; their conversation must be holy; they must be examples of love to God and all good men, examples of spiritual-mindedness. Ministers must mind these things as their principal work and business. By this means their profiting will appear in all things, as well as to all persons…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12set an example: Only those whose lives are shaped by the good news about Jesus are worthy teachers of it (see 2 Timothy 3:10–11; Titus 2:7; Hebrews 13:7). The false teachers were not.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Let no man despise thy youth--Act so as to be respected in spite of thy youth (1Co 16:11; Tit 2:15); compare "youthful" as to Timothy (2Ti 2:22). He was but a mere youth when he joined Paul (Ac 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…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Timothy 4:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Timothy 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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