Reading, Exhortation and Doctrine 1 Timothy 4:13

As Paul the apostle continued conveying his instructions to Timothy concerning the church in Ephesus, he told him not to “Let no man despise” his “youth; but” to “be an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” In chapter four and verse thirteen of his letter to him, Paul gave Timothy three areas in which he should concentrate: “Reading, Exhortation” and “Doctrine” where we read:

Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

The verse begins, “Till I come, give attendance to reading,...” Let us notice first Paul's optimism of coming to visit Timothy, “Till I come” or “until I make my appearance before you” “give attendance” which literally means “to bring to or bring near” and implies “turning the mind toward, giving heed to and applying one's self “to reading” which in Greek is the word “anagnōsis” from which we get the English word “agony” and means “knowing and knowing again or owning”. Paul knew it was important that Timothy be well read and take ownership of the scriptures if he was going to be a good minister to the people there in Ephesus.

The verse goes on to say, “...to exhortation, to doctrine.” Paul added, “to exhortation” which is a “a calling near, summons especially for help”. It is “importation, supplication, entreaty, admonition, encouragement, consolation, comfort, solace and that which affords comfort or refreshment”. If Timothy was to be the pastor and overseer of the church in Ephesus, it was necessary that he be “persuasive in discourse, stirring in his addresses, and instructive, admonitory, conciliatory and powerful in his hortatory discourse”. Paul also wrote, “to doctrine” which is “teaching and instructing in Biblical precepts”. One of the primary responsibilities for Timothy was to teach and instruct the church members in the word of God and the manner of living that corresponds to it.

As we think through these directives from Paul, we may ask ourselves if they are prominent within our own lives. Do we read, exhort and apply ourselves to the “doctrine” found within the scriptures? Are we so focused upon other things that we have little or no time for the word of God? It is one thing to require these three dictums from pastors and teachers and quite another to expect them from ourselves. Perhaps as we meditate upon these things, the Lord will speak to our hearts to attend to “reading, exhortation and doctrine”, and when those who do not know Jesus Christ as their Savior look upon and listen to us, they will find that we are thoroughly filled with the word of God.

Next time Paul tells Timothy not to “neglect the gift that is” in him, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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