New Living Translation
1 Timothy 4:12
12Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your 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
10This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers. 11Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. 13Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them. 14Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you.
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“Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.
- 1 Corinthians 16:10When Timothy comes, don’t intimidate him. He is doing the Lord’s work, just as I am.
- 2 Timothy 2:7Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things.
- 1 Corinthians 11:1And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:6So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:10You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:7For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you.
- 1 Peter 5:3Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.
- 2 Corinthians 6:4In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.
- Philippians 4:8And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
- 2 Timothy 2:22Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.
- James 3:13If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.
- 2 Peter 1:5In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge,
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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