1 Timothy 4:15 kjv
Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
1 Timothy 4:15 nkjv
Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.
1 Timothy 4:15 niv
Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
1 Timothy 4:15 esv
Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.
1 Timothy 4:15 nlt
Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress.
1 Timothy 4 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Tim 4:13 | "...devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching." | Public ministry and teaching |
| 2 Tim 2:15 | "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." | Personal diligence and approval |
| Col 1:10 | "...so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God," | Fruitful living and growth |
| Phil 1:9 | "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment," | Love, knowledge, and discernment |
| Heb 10:24 | "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds," | Mutual encouragement for good deeds |
| Gal 6:4 | "But let each one test his own work, and then his rejoicing will be for himself alone and not for another." | Self-examination and personal joy |
| Prov 12:24 | "Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor." | Value of diligence |
| Prov 22:29 | "Do you see someone skillful in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank." | Skill through diligence |
| 2 Peter 1:5 | "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;" | Adding to faith through effort |
| 1 Cor 15:58 | "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." | Full devotion to the Lord's work |
| Acts 20:20 | "I never shrank from telling you anything that would be helpful to you or from teaching you publicly or from house to house." | Public and private teaching |
| Romans 12:8 | "If anyone is a preacher, let him preach with diligence;" | Preaching with diligence |
| Eph 4:14 | "so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes." | Stability against false doctrine |
| 1 Tim 4:16 | "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." | Watchfulness and perseverance |
| Luke 10:42 | "...but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." | The essential focus |
| Joshua 1:8 | "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." | Meditation and obedience for success |
| Psalms 1:2 | "but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night." | Meditation on God's Word |
| Proverbs 4:23 | "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." | Guarding the heart |
| 2 Tim 3:17 | "...so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." | Equipment for good works |
| 1 Peter 2:12 | "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they may slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." | Good deeds influencing others |
1 Timothy 4 verses
1 Timothy 4 15 Meaning
This verse exhorts believers to "Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress." It's a call to intentional effort and transparent advancement in the spiritual life, particularly in areas of sound doctrine and godly living. The believer's personal dedication should be evident in tangible growth, for the edification and observation of others within the Christian community.
1 Timothy 4 15 Context
First Timothy 4:15 is part of a pastoral letter from the Apostle Paul to Timothy, a young leader in the church at Ephesus. The chapter addresses various aspects of Christian life and ministry, including the danger of false teachers and ascetic practices (vv. 1-5), the importance of sound doctrine and godliness (vv. 6-11), and Timothy's personal conduct and ministry (vv. 12-16). Specifically, Paul encourages Timothy to set an example for believers through his speech, life, love, faith, and purity, and to devote himself to public reading, exhortation, and teaching. Verse 15 is a direct exhortation stemming from these instructions, urging Timothy (and by extension, all believers in leadership and indeed all believers) to invest themselves fully in these activities to ensure visible progress in their spiritual journey. This advice comes within a broader framework of combatting false teaching and promoting robust, healthy Christian living that brings glory to God.
1 Timothy 4 15 Word Analysis
- Μετάθες (metathesēs): Literally "give yourself to" or "devote yourself to." This is a second person plural, aorist, subjunctive verb in the active voice. The subjunctive mood indicates a command or a strong exhortation. The verb implies a purposeful redirection or transferring of one's attention and energy. It’s not merely attending to something, but a complete commitment, a pouring out of oneself.
- ταύταις (tautais): "these." This is a feminine, dative plural demonstrative pronoun referring back to the matters previously mentioned, specifically Timothy's ministry and exemplary conduct—public reading, preaching, teaching, and the purity of his life.
- ἐν τούτῳ (en toutōi): "in this" or "in this thing." This is a prepositional phrase (en = in; toutōi = this, neuter, dative, singular pronoun). It emphasizes the specific context or area where diligence is required.
- προκοπή (prokopē): "progress" or "advancement." This noun signifies moving forward, making headway, or growth. In a spiritual context, it refers to advancement in understanding, maturity, godliness, and effective ministry. It suggests a discernible, ongoing process.
- σ być (sou): "your." This is a second person, singular possessive pronoun, indicating that the progress is personal and specific to the individual.
- φανερὰ (phanera): "evident," "manifest," or "visible." This adjective highlights that the believer's progress should not be hidden but should be observable to others. It implies a tangible and visible demonstration of spiritual growth and commitment.
- πᾶσιν (pasin): "all" or "everyone." This is a dative plural masculine pronoun. It indicates that this evident progress should be visible to all members of the Christian community.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them": This initial clause uses two powerful Greek concepts for intense, committed action. "Be diligent" (from an imperative verb related to haste or urgency) combined with "give yourself wholly" conveys an active, energetic, and complete dedication. It means being earnestly occupied with and devoted to the specified spiritual disciplines and responsibilities.
- "so that everyone may see your progress": This phrase links the dedication ("give yourself wholly") to a specific outcome ("your progress"). The goal of this fervent dedication is a visible advancement in godliness and ministry that is observable by all within the church. The conjunction "so that" (hina) indicates purpose.
1 Timothy 4 15 Bonus Section
The emphasis on "progress" (prokopē) is significant. It speaks to a dynamic rather than static spiritual life. It’s not about perfection but about movement in the right direction, growth in holiness and understanding of God’s word. This visible progress acts as a living sermon, attracting others to the truth of Christianity. The expectation for this progress to be seen by "everyone" (pasin) highlights the corporate aspect of faith. The growth of one believer ideally strengthens and encourages the whole body of Christ. This aligns with the New Testament concept of the church as a visible organism, where the health and growth of its members contribute to the overall vitality of the body.
1 Timothy 4 15 Commentary
The verse is a clear directive for believers, especially those in leadership like Timothy, to actively pursue spiritual growth and to make that pursuit noticeable. It’s a call to eschew complacency and to embrace a life of rigorous self-discipline and wholehearted dedication to the things of God. This diligence isn't a performance for human approval, but rather a byproduct of genuine commitment, and its visibility serves as encouragement and a testament to others. It underscores that spiritual life is not merely an internal experience but has external manifestations. By investing fully in biblical truth, teaching, and godly living, individuals are empowered to advance spiritually, and this progress serves as a positive example for the entire community, reflecting the power of the gospel.
Practical Usage:
- For students of scripture: Devote concentrated, consistent time to studying the Bible, praying for understanding, and then actively applying what is learned. Let this commitment shape your daily routine.
- For leaders: Invest diligently in public teaching and pastoral care. Be thorough in preparation and faithful in delivery, allowing your personal godliness to shine through your efforts.
- For all believers: Whatever your spiritual gifting, give yourself fully to its exercise. Be diligent in prayer, love, faith, and purity, letting your growing spiritual maturity be evident to those around you.