1 Timothy 4:14 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Neglect not the gift— "Of the Holy Spirit;"—Particularly in his miraculous efficacy. Benson would render and understand this verse, as parallel to ch. 1 Timothy 1:18. "Neglect not the gift of the Holy Spirit which is in you; which was conferred upon you after (or according to) some prophesy or prophesies that went before concerning you." It was according to prophesy that Paul and Barnabas were set apart at Antioch, to the work unto which God had called them. See Acts 13:2; Acts 20:28. Doddridge understands and paraphrases the verse thus: "Neglect not, by proper and strenuous exercise, to rouse and cultivate that gift of God's Holy Spirit which is in thee; which was given thee in a large and sensible effusion, on that ever-memorable day, when thou wert set apart to thy sacred office by the ministration of those who had the gift of prophesy, by which they were enabled and excited to tell something extraordinary concerning thee, &c." As this text, to say the least, strongly implies that Timothy was adorned with some supernatural gifts; so it likewise proves, that the degree in which such favours were continued, did very much depend on the diligence and fidelity with which they were cultivated by the person who had received t