Discovery Box1 Timothy 4:12-16 
Context4:12 Let no one look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in your speech, conduct, love, faithfulness, 1 and purity. 4:13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of scripture, 2 to exhortation, to teaching. 4:14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you have, 3 given to you and confirmed by prophetic words 4 when the elders laid hands on you. 5 4:15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that everyone will see your progress. 6 4:16 Be conscientious about how you live and what you teach. 7 Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.
1 tn Or “faith.”
2 tn Grk “reading.”
sn The public reading of scripture refers to reading the scripture out loud in the church services. In a context where many were illiterate and few could afford private copies of scripture, such public reading was especially important.
3 tn Grk “in you.”
4 tn Grk “which was given to you through prophecy.” Here as in 2:15 the preposition “through” denotes not “means” but accompanying circumstances: “accompanied by prophecy.”
sn These prophetic words perhaps spoke of what God would do through Timothy in his ministry (cf. 1 Tim 1:18).
5 tn Grk “with the imposition of the hands of the presbytery” (i.e., the council of elders).
6 tn Grk “that your progress may be evident to all.”
7 tn Grk “about yourself and your teaching.”
