1 Timothy 4:6 kjv
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
1 Timothy 4:6 nkjv
If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.
1 Timothy 4:6 niv
If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.
1 Timothy 4:6 esv
If you put these things before the brothers, 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 followed.
1 Timothy 4:6 nlt
If you explain these things to the brothers and sisters, Timothy, you will be a worthy servant of Christ Jesus, one who is nourished by the message of faith and the good teaching you have followed.
1 Timothy 4 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Timothy 4:6 | "If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, being instructed in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed." | Teaching on the priority of spiritual nourishment |
| Acts 20:24 | "But I do not account my life of any value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." | Minister's dedication to the Gospel |
| Romans 10:14 | "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?" | The importance of teaching the Word |
| 2 Timothy 2:2 | "and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." | Passing on sound doctrine |
| Titus 1:9 | "...holding fast the faithful word as taught, so that he may be able to equip them by sound teaching and also to rebuke those who contradict it." | Qualification of leaders for teaching |
| Hebrews 5:14 | "But solid food is for the mature, for those who have By constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." | Spiritual maturity through practice of truth |
| 1 Peter 5:2 | "Tend the flock of God that is your charge, not by constraint but willingly, not for shameful gain, but eagerly," | The pastor's duty to feed the flock |
| 2 Timothy 4:3-4 | "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." | Warning against false teaching |
| Colossians 1:9-10 | "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him..." | Prayer for spiritual understanding |
| Ephesians 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 that which makes people scheme and practice impurity and deceit." | Protection from deceptive doctrines |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:21 | "but test everything. Hold fast what is good," | The need to discern and hold to truth |
| 2 Timothy 3:16-17 | "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." | The sufficiency of Scripture for equipping |
| Proverbs 23:23 | "Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, especially the teaching of sound doctrine." | The value of truth and sound doctrine |
| John 17:17 | "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." | The Word of God as the source of sanctification |
| Acts 17:11 | "Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so." | The Berean model of seeking truth in Scripture |
| Matthew 4:4 | "But he answered, 'It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."'" | Jesus emphasizing reliance on God's Word |
| 1 Corinthians 3:2 | "I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready. Indeed, you are not ready yet." | Metaphor of spiritual food for growth |
| 1 Corinthians 10:13 | "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation will also provide a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." | God's provision through His Word in temptation |
| Psalm 119:9 | "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word." | The Word of God as a guide for purity |
| John 8:31-32 | "So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'" | Freedom found in abiding in Christ's word |
1 Timothy 4 verses
1 Timothy 4 6 Meaning
This verse instructs believers to be nourished by the words of the faith and sound doctrine. It emphasizes that continuous instruction in the truth will protect believers from falsehood and harmful teachings.
1 Timothy 4 6 Context
First Timothy chapter 4 addresses the rise of false teachers and deceptive spirits within the church. Paul instructs Timothy to confront these dangers by emphasizing sound doctrine and promoting spiritual health among believers. Verse 6, specifically, sets the stage for Timothy's role in countering these deviations by providing him with the practical directive to nourish the believers with the teachings derived from the faith and good doctrine that have been passed down. The chapter warns against ascetic practices and myths that draw people away from the truth. The overall context is one of pastoral care and defense of the true faith in a challenging environment.
1 Timothy 4 6 Word Analysis
- "If" (ean): Conditional particle. Introduces a condition or hypothesis. It implies that following this course of action will lead to positive outcomes.
- "you put" (paratithemenos): Present participle of paratithemi. Means to set before, present, commend, or entrust. It implies a continuous act of offering and teaching.
- "these things" (tauta): Demonstrative pronoun. Refers back to the specific instructions and truths that Paul has been laying out, particularly in the preceding verses, concerning sound doctrine and avoiding false teachings.
- "before" (enōpion): Preposition. Literally "in the face of" or "in the presence of." It suggests a public and direct presentation.
- "the brothers" (tois adelphois): Dative plural of adelphos. Refers to fellow believers, the members of the Christian community. Highlights the relational aspect of ministry.
- "you will be" (esē): Future indicative of eimi (to be). Asserts a future reality based on the present action.
- "a good minister" (kalos diakonos): Kalos means good, beautiful, noble. Diakonos is a servant, minister, or deacon. Together, it means a minister who is good in character and effective in service.
- "of Christ Jesus" (Christou Iēsou): Genitive case. Indicates belonging and source. A minister belonging to and empowered by Christ Jesus.
- "being instructed" (enethrepomenos): Present passive participle of entrepomai. Means to be brought up, nourished, trained, or educated. It suggests a passive reception of instruction.
- "in the words" (tois logois): Dative plural of logos. Refers to the sayings, teachings, or message. Implies content that nourishes.
- "of the faith" (tēs pisteōs): Genitive case of pistis. Faith here refers to the body of Christian doctrine and belief, the core tenets of the Christian religion.
- "and" (kai): Conjunction connecting "words of the faith" and "good doctrine."
- "of the good doctrine" (tēs kalēs didaskalias): Genitive case. Kalēs (good, noble) modifies didaskalias (teaching, doctrine). Emphasizes the high quality and divine origin of the teaching.
- "that" (hēn): Relative pronoun, referring back to "good doctrine."
- "you have followed" (parēkolouthēkas): Perfect active indicative of parakoloutheō. Means to follow closely, accompany, or pursue diligently. It implies a long-standing adherence and personal experience with the doctrine.
1 Timothy 4 6 Bonus Section
The phrasing "instructed in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine" implies both receptive learning and proactive teaching. Timothy must be saturated with sound teaching to effectively impart it. This verse highlights that authentic ministry flows from a place of personal discipleship and immersion in truth. It counters the idea of ministry being merely about skills or external performance, grounding it instead in the substance of Christian teaching and the character developed through adherence to it. The concept of "good doctrine" aligns with the entirety of biblical teaching, which leads to righteous living and sound theology, in contrast to the "myths" and "commands of men" warned against elsewhere in the chapter.
1 Timothy 4 6 Commentary
Verse 6 acts as a direct charge to Timothy, equipping him for effective ministry. It's not just about delivering information, but about fostering spiritual growth through what Paul calls "the words of the faith" and "the good doctrine." This doctrine is not abstract but is deeply rooted in the truth of the Gospel and has been personally embraced by Timothy ("that you have followed"). Being a "good minister" is contingent upon this foundation and the diligent practice of teaching it. It suggests that spiritual nourishment from sound doctrine makes a minister effective and well-equipped. The believer, too, must be constantly nourished by this truth to grow and be protected from error. The connection to "faith" and "good doctrine" underscores the inseparable nature of believing and what is believed, and that true teaching leads to well-being.