1 Timothy 4:6-16

A Good Servant of Christ Jesus

6 1If you put these things before the brothers,[a] you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have 2followed.
7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, 3silly myths. Rather 4train yourself for godliness;
8 for while 5bodily training is of some value, godliness 6is of value in every way, as 7it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
9 The saying is 8trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance.
10 For to this end we toil and strive,[b] because we have our hope set on the living God, 9who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
11 Command and teach 10these things.
12 11Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers 12an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.
14 13Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you 14by prophecy when the council of elders 15laid their hands on you.
15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them,[c] so that 16all may see your progress.
16 17Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save 18both yourself and 19your hearers.

Cross References 19

  • 1. [2 Timothy 3:14, 15]
  • 2. 2 Timothy 3:10
  • 3. See 1 Timothy 1:4
  • 4. Hebrews 5:14
  • 5. [Colossians 2:23]
  • 6. [1 Timothy 6:6]
  • 7. Ps. 37:4, 9, 11; Psalms 84:11; Psalms 112:2; Psalms 145:19; Proverbs 19:23; Proverbs 22:4; Matthew 6:33; Mark 10:30; 1 Peter 3:9
  • 8. See 1 Timothy 1:15
  • 9. See 1 Timothy 2:4; John 4:42
  • 10. 1 Timothy 5:7; 1 Timothy 6:2
  • 11. 1 Corinthians 16:11; [2 Timothy 2:22; Titus 2:15]
  • 12. Titus 2:7; 1 Peter 5:3
  • 13. See 1 Thessalonians 5:19
  • 14. 1 Timothy 1:18
  • 15. See Acts 6:6
  • 16. Philippians 1:12
  • 17. [Acts 20:28]
  • 18. Ezekiel 33:9
  • 19. See Romans 11:14

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Or brothers and sisters. The plural Greek word adelphoi (translated "brothers") refers to siblings in a family. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, adelphoi may refer either to men or to both men and women who are siblings (brothers and sisters) in God's family, the church
  • [b]. Some manuscripts and suffer reproach
  • [c]. Greek be in them
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.