Read & explore together
A Good Servant of Jesus Christ
In these verses, Timothy is told what faithful service to Christ Jesus involves. The passage ties together sound teaching, training in godliness, trust in the living God, and steady care over life and doctrine.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
This part of the letter gives direct instruction to Timothy. He is to teach fellow believers, refuse empty stories, pursue godliness, endure labour and reproach while trusting the living God, set an example despite his youth, use his gift, and continue carefully in life and teaching.
1 Timothy 4:6–16Main takeaway
A good servant of Christ Jesus teaches truth, trains in godliness, and keeps watch over both life and teaching.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Teach what nourishes faithTimothy is to instruct the brothers in “these things”. In doing so he will be “a good servant of Christ Jesus”.
Explanation
Timothy is to instruct the brothers in “these things”. In doing so he will be “a good servant of Christ Jesus”. His ministry is linked with being nourished by “the words of the faith” and “the good doctrine” he has followed, so teaching and personal grounding belong together.
02Train for what has lasting valueHe must refuse “profane and old wives’ fables” and exercise himself toward godliness. Bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value “in all things”.
Explanation
He must refuse “profane and old wives’ fables” and exercise himself toward godliness. Bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value “in all things”. The text says its promise reaches both “the life which is now” and “that which is to come”.
03Trust in the living God through hard workThe passage says, “This saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance.” It then speaks of labour and reproach because trust has been set in “the living God”.
Explanation
The passage says, “This saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance.” It then speaks of labour and reproach because trust has been set in “the living God”. It says he is “the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe”, and Timothy must “command and teach these things”.
04Be an example and keep goingTimothy is not to let youth bring contempt, but to be an example in word, way of life, love, spirit, faith, and purity.
Explanation
Timothy is not to let youth bring contempt, but to be an example in word, way of life, love, spirit, faith, and purity. He must focus on reading, exhortation, and teaching, not neglect his gift, and be diligent. By watching himself and his teaching, and continuing, he will save himself and his hearers.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does this passage connect with being “a good servant of Christ Jesus”?
Look at how instructing others and being nourished in “the words of the faith” and “good doctrine” are placed together.
02What contrast does the passage make between bodily exercise and godliness?
Notice that bodily exercise has “some value”, while godliness has value “in all things” for both present life and the life to come.
03How should Timothy respond if others look down on his youth?
The answer in the text is to be an example in speech, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity, while giving attention to ministry.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Timothy 4:6–16
6If you instruct the brothers of these things, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine which you have followed.
7But refuse profane and old wives’ fables. Exercise yourself toward godliness.
8For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value in all things, having the promise of the life which is now and of that which is to come.
9This saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance.
10For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we have set our trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.
11Command and teach these things.
12Let no man despise your youth; but be an example to those who believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.
13Until I come, pay attention to reading, to exhortation, and to teaching.
14Don’t neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the elders.
15Be diligent in these things. Give yourself wholly to them, that your progress may be revealed to all.
16Pay attention to yourself and to your teaching. Continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.