1 Timothy 4:11-13

Summary retelling of 1 Timothy 4:11-13

Paul tells Timothy to literally “command” and “teach.”  Paul encourages Timothy to let nobody despise him because he is young.  Rather, Timothy is to set an example in speech, conduct, faith, love and purity.  Paul encourages Timothy to devote himself to reading God’s Word in public, to encouraging others in the faith, and to speaking about our faith so that others can learn from what God has taught us.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Command and teach.  These are really two sides of the same coin.  Leaders must command.  Leaders must say, “This is what needs to be done.”  This is the command part.  The reason that commanding is different than teaching is because commanding assumes that the audience cannot not yet see the big picture.  A general commands his troops, sometimes even into situations that don’t make sense on the small scale but make much sense on the larger scale.  Especially in the beginning, new Christians need someone to command them – that it, to tell them what has to happen and to tell them to trust them.  On the other hand, teaching is for those who do see the large scale.  Teaching is for someone who knows enough and sees enough to be able to make the right decision with the information on hand.  Teaching is far superior to commanding because it allows people to make their own decisions; but sometimes commanding is necessary until maturity is present.

Why do you think teaching is superior to commanding?  Can you think of a time in your spiritual life where you obeyed simply because someone told you to obey and things worked out well?  Why is it important to realize that while the goal may always be to understand, sometimes we have to be humble and allow ourselves to be commanded?

Second Thought:

Paul makes sure Timothy knows how to get people to look past his youth.  The more Timothy acts in a way that models excellent speaking, good behavior, faithfulness to God, love to one another, and motivations that are pure and not self-interested the easier time people will have overlooking his age.  This is not so much a passage to older people telling them that they should respect Timothy.  This is a passage to younger people telling them that if they want to be respected, they have to act a certain way in order to gain that respect.  Young people who act out of their immaturity and short-sighted perspective should be treated with caution.  Young people that can transcend their immaturity and see with eyes that understand the greater picture can be trusted and treated as one with wisdom that exceeds their years.

Do you think Paul is wise in giving this advice to Timothy?  Do you think the world tends to treat young people with caution?  Is this fair?  Is it more often right or wrong?  How easy is it to always think and act with wisdom beyond our years?

Third Thought:

Paul then encourages Timothy into a public faith.  Paul tells Timothy to continue to focus on God’s Word publically (read, preach, bring it up in conversations, etc).  Paul tells Timothy to be sure to encourage people in their faith – that’s what exhortation means.  Paul tells Timothy to always teach about the faith.  This is the example of Jesus.  Jesus never missed an opportunity to bring faith into a conversation.  Jesus used anything and everything as an example of how to think about faith and our relationship with God.  Jesus lived a very public faith life.  

Why do you think it is important to remember to live a public faith life?  Are there parts of your faith life about which you aren’t quite comfortable talking?  How much do you consider yourself as someone who has something to teach?  How good are you at perceiving upon opportunities to talk about your faith and then acting on those opportunities?  How good are you at exhorting others in their faith life?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Timothy 4:14-16