1 Timothy 4:6 - Exposition

Mind for remembrance, A.V.; Christ Jesus for Jesus Christ, A.V. and T.R.; nourished for nourished up, A.V.; the faith for faith, A.V.; the good for good, A.V.; which thou hast followed until now for whereunto thou hast attained, A.V. If thou put the brethren in mind of these things ( παῦτα ὑποτιθέμενος τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ); if thou suggest these things to the brethren, lay them down as principles upon which their conduct is to be based; or, enjoin them (Liddell and Scott). It only occurs in this metaphorical sense here in the New Testament, but is very common in classical Greek, and not infrequent in the LXX . It has often the meaning of "to advise" or" counsel." Of course, "hypothesis," the assumed basis from which you start, is the same root. The brethren ( τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ). The distinctive name for the members of Christ's Church, throughout the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles. The whole body is called ἡ ἀδελφότης "the brotherhood" ( 1 Peter 2:17 ; 1 Peter 5:9 ). A good minister ( διάκονος ). The application of this term to Timothy, like that of ἐπίσκοπος to presbyters ( 1 Timothy 3:2 ), is an indication of the early date of the Epistle, before the distinctive names of the Church officers had quite hardened down into a technical meaning. Nourished ( ἀντρεφόμενος ); here only in the New Testament, and not used in the LXX .; but in classical Greek not uncommon in the sense of "brought up in," "trained in from childhood." In Latin, innutritus. The phrase, "nourished in the words of the faith," etc., explains the καλὸς διάκονος , and shows what a man must be to deserve the appellation—one, viz., who is nourished in the words of the faith, etc. The faith ; here again objective, as in verse 6 (see note). The good doctrine , etc. In opposition to the "doctrines of devils" in verse 1. The different epithets of this true Christian doctrine are ἡ καλή (as here); ὑγιαίνουσα ( 1 Timothy 1:10 ; Titus 1:9 ; Titus 2:1 ); ἡ κατ ̓ εὐσεβείαν διδασκαλία ( 1 Timothy 6:3 ); and in 1 Timothy 6:1-21 . I we have simply ηδιδασκαλία , without any epithet. In like manner, ἡ πίστις ἡ , ἀληθεία ἡ εὐσεβεία , severally denote the Christian religion. Which thou hast followed until now ( ᾖ παρηκολουθήκας ). This is a rather more faithful rendering than that of the A.V.; it is, literally, which thou hast kept close to, either for the purpose of imitating it, or, as 2 Timothy 3:10 , for the purpose of observing it. Or, to put it differently, in one case so as to teach it identically, and in the other so as to know it perfectly. In this last aspect it is also used in Luke 1:3 . The classical use is "to follow closely any one's steps," or "the course of events," when used literally; or, metaphorically, "to follow with one's thoughts," "to understand."