1 Timothy 4:12,13 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Let no man despise thy youth That is, let no one have reason to despise it, but conduct thyself with such gravity, wisdom, and steadiness, as, instead of exposing thee to contempt, will rather gain thee respect and reverence. In particular, be thou an example of the believers A pattern worthy of their imitation; in word In prudent and edifying discourse, whether public or private; in conversation Greek, αναστροφη, in behaviour; in charity Or love, rather, namely to God, his people, and all mankind; in spirit In thy whole temper; in faith In thy sincere and constant belief of, and adherence to, the truth as it is in Jesus; in thy profession of it, and faithfulness to thy trust in the execution of thy office. When faith is placed in the midst of several other Christian graces, it generally means fidelity, or faithfulness; in purity Of heart and life. Till I come To take thee along with me; give attendance to reading Both publicly and privately. Study the Scriptures diligently, and read and expound them to the people, whose instructer thou art appointed to be. “Enthusiasts, observe this! expect no end without the means.” Wesley. “Besides reading the Jewish Scriptures to the brethren in their assemblies for worship, after the example of the synagogue, Timothy was here directed to read these Scriptures in private likewise for his own improvement, (1 Timothy 4:15,) that he might be able to confute the Jews and Judaizers, who founded their errors on misinterpretations of them. Thus understood, the direction, as the ancient commentators observe, is a useful lesson to the ministers of the gospel in all ages. For if a teacher, who possessed the spiritual gifts, was commanded to read the Scriptures for improving himself in the knowledge of the doctrines of religion, how much more necessary is that help to those teachers who must derive all their knowledge of the gospel from the Scriptures, and who cannot, without much study, be supposed to know the customs, manners, and opinions alluded to in these writings.” Macknight.