CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES
1 Timothy 4:13. Give attendance to reading.—Probably the apostle means to the public reading of the Old Testament Scriptures, though it would not be surprising if portions of our New Testament were so read at the late date when this epistle was written.
1 Timothy 4:14. Neglect not the gift.—In the second epistle this gift is represented as a living fire which must be cared for. With the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.—In 2 Timothy 1:6 the imposition of hands is regarded as instrumental to the reception of the charisma: here it is a concomitant merely.
1 Timothy 4:15. Meditate upon these things.—R.V. “Be diligent in.” The word for “neglect” in 1 Timothy 4:14 is the direct opposite of “meditate.” That thy profiting.—R.V. “thy progress,” like that of a boat whose oars beat the water and urge it forward.
1 Timothy 4:16. Take heed to thyself.—In 1 Timothy 4:13 the apostle had bidden Timothy give heed to the teaching: the “take heed” of this verse is perhaps slightly more emphatic. Thou shalt save both thyself, and them that hear thee.—It is possible that a man who plays an actor’s part may utter a word that shall reuse the conscience or touch the heart, but the messenger of the gospel must himself know the truths he proclaims to others.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— 1 Timothy 4:13-16
Ministerial Responsibilities—
I. Involve the constant public reading and enforcement of the Holy Scriptures.—“Till I come give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:13). The practice of reading the Scriptures in the Jewish synagogues was transferred to the Christian Church. The New Testament gospels and epistles, recognised as inspired productions by those who in the early Christian age had the gift of discerning spirits, were read in the churches along with the Old Testament books. This constant public reading of the Bible in the sanctuary has had a powerful influence in forming national character throughout Christendom. To read the word of God in public with due emphasis and efficiency is worthy of the most careful study. It should ever be regarded as an important part of public worship: it has often been made a blessing to the congregation. The Bible must also be diligently pondered by the minister for his own personal edification, and as the fountain of wisdom from which he must continually draw in instructing and exhorting his people. It is said of some of the mines of Cornwall that the deeper they are sunk the richer they prove; and though some lodes have been followed a thousand and even fifteen hundred feet, they have not come to an end. Such is the book of God. It is a mine of wealth which can never be exhausted. The deeper we sink into it the richer it becomes.
II. Require the frequent stirring up of any special spiritual endowment.—“Neglect not the gift that is in thee” (1 Timothy 4:14). The gift referred to was, in general, his spiritual qualification for the ministry. It is represented as a spark of the Spirit, likely to smoulder if neglected, and needing to be blown into flame by vigorous exercise The bestowment of the Spirit at his ordination was prophetic of the power that would be ever communicated to him in carrying on his work. The call to the ministry is also a qualification to discharge its duties.
III. Demand earnest and progressive study of Divine things.—“Meditate upon these things” (1 Timothy 4:15). Spiritual endowment is no plea for mental laziness. The study of the word of God requires and involves constant reading, elaborate research, and intense thought. All our intellectual abilities and resources are taxed to the uttermost.
IV. Impose continuous vigilance over both life and teaching in order to success.—“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:16). Personal piety must be sedulously cultivated. The people are quick to detect religious decadence and loss of spiritual power in the minister. The power of teaching depends upon a constantly vivid sense of the reality and solemnity of eternal verities. It is a fruitless moan of the husbandman, “Thou hast made me the keeper of the vineyards, but mine own vineyard I have not kept.”
Lessons.—
1. The minister is responsible to God.
2. Responsibility involves watchfulness and constant effort.
3. Success, whether evident to us or not, is proportioned to fidelity.
GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES
1 Timothy 4:13-14. Ministerial Duties—
I. Necessitate much reading and study.
II. Include frequent appeals to the feelings and will of the people in order to regulate the life.
III. Involve furnishing the understanding with substantial knowledge.
IV. Demand the exercise of the choicest spiritual gifts.
1 Timothy 4:15. Meditation.
I. Hindrances in forming the habit.—
1. The tendency to relapse into indifference concerning spiritual things.
2. The absorbing demands of business.
3. Excessive attention and labours in the external prosperity of the Church.
II. The duty of meditation.—
1. The subject-matter of meditation. “Those things” (1 Timothy 4:15: compare 1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 3:15). The Holy Scriptures, in their direct bearing on religious life and experience.
2. The exercise of the duty—
(1) Includes reading.
(2) Reflection.
(3) Prayer.
(4) Earnest exercise of all our powers.
III. Advantages of the duty.
1. Personal. “Thy profiting.”
2. Relative. “May appear in all things.”
1 Timothy 4:16. Ordination Sermon.
I. Ministers ought to take heed to their personal religion.
II. To their study.
III. To their preaching.
IV. To their parochial duties.—E. D. Griffin.
The Comparative Influence of Character and Doctrine.
I. Life tends very greatly to modify a man’s own views of doctrine.
II. Affects his power of expressing or communicating truth to others.
III. Has in many respects an influence which direct teaching or doctrine cannot exert.—
1. Actions are more intelligible than words.
2. The language of the life is more convincing than the language of the lip.
3. The teaching of the life is available in many cases in which the teaching of the lip cannot or ought not to be attempted.—J. Caird.