1 Timothy 4:11
What does 1 Timothy 4:11 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Timothy 4:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Timothy 4:11 means
Timothy is not merely to suggest these truths; he must command and teach them. Christian leaders have a duty to bind consciences only with God’s word, yet to do so with clarity and authority when Scripture speaks plainly. The two verbs balance each other: command underscores the nonnegotiable nature of apostolic doctrine; teach highlights patient explanation and application. This combination protects the church from both domineering leadership and timid ambiguity. Timothy’s charge is to make these realities—about error, creation’s goodness, godliness’ profit, and hope in the living God—plain and obligatory for the congregation’s faith and practice.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000These things command and teach.
KJV
King James Version · 1611These things command and teach.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901These things command and teach.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Let these be your orders and your teaching.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Charge these things, and teach;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752These things command and teach:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Enjoin and teach these things.
Context
Building on Paul’s testimony of hope-fueled labor, this brief verse resumes direct instruction. It gathers the preceding themes into a package Timothy must publicly press upon the church. The next verses will tackle a practical obstacle—Timothy’s youth—and provide a strategy: live as an exemplary model in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, while giving focused attention to Scripture reading, exhortation, and teaching.
v.10For to this end we labor and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of them that believe.
v.11This passage
v.12Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Timothy 5:7
These things also command, that they may be without reproach.
- 2 Timothy 4:2
preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
- Titus 3:8
Faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I desire that thou affirm confidently, to the end that they who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men:
- 1 Timothy 6:2
And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but let them serve them the rather, because they that partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. These things teach and exhort.
- Titus 2:15
These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
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