The Meaning of 1 Timothy 4:15 Explained

1 Timothy 4:15

KJV: Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

YLT: of these things be careful; in these things be, that thy advancement may be manifest in all things;

Darby: Occupy thyself with these things; be wholly in them, that thy progress may be manifest to all.

ASV: Be diligent in these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress may be manifest unto all.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Meditate upon  these things;  give thyself  wholly to  them;  that  thy  profiting  may  appear  to  all. 

What does 1 Timothy 4:15 Mean?

Verse Meaning

As Timothy concentrated on (i.e, attended to, cared for, practiced) these responsibilities ( 1 Timothy 4:6-16), his personal progress in godliness would become evident to his fellow saints in Ephesus. There is a play on words at the beginning of 1 Timothy 4:14-15. "Do not neglect" (Gr. amelei) contrasts with "Take pains" (meleta).
"No one who really wants to count for God can afford to play at Christianity. He must make it the one great business of his life." [1]
"While I do not want to sound critical, I must confess that I am disturbed by the fact that too many pastors and Christian workers divide their time and interest between the church and some sideline. It may be real estate, trips to the Holy Land, politics, civic duties, even denominational service. Their own spiritual lives suffer, and their churches suffer, because these men are not devoting themselves wholly to their ministry." [2]
"It is inspiring to see a young preacher grow for then the church will grow with him." [3]

Context Summary

1 Timothy 4:9-16 - "take Heed To Thyself"
In all Christian service we must set our hope on the living God. Nothing counts apart from God. Prayer implies that all our gifts and efforts cover only a small part of our efficiency. There are infinite resources in God, which He is waiting to employ in human affairs, and of which we fail to make use. The Christian worker, therefore, must not only labor and strive, but must hope in the living God, whose saving grace is at the disposal of our faith. The faith exercised by the average man results in obtaining only natural things; the supernatural is secured by the faith of those who have made profounder discoveries of God, and can therefore make demands on His resources, which are hidden from the princes of this world.
In order to succeed, we must give ourselves wholly to our work for God. In answer to prayer great gifts had been communicated to Timothy, but he had to give heed to them, use them, and stir up the slumbering embers of the fire, kindled at his ordination. It is worthy of notice that the Apostle's injunctions do not include a single allusion to priestly or sacramental service, but urge to boldness of character, 1 Timothy 4:12; diligent study, 1 Timothy 4:13; rigorous orthodoxy, 1 Timothy 4:16; and the daily self-watch of the soul, 1 Timothy 4:16. Take to heart the blessed assurance of the closing sentence of the chapter. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Timothy 4

1  He foretells that in the latter times there shall be a departure from the faith
6  And to the end that Timothy might not fail in doing his duty, he furnishes him with various precepts

Greek Commentary for 1 Timothy 4:15

Be diligent in these things [ταυτα μελετα]
Old verb from μελετη — meletē (care, practice), present active imperative, “keep on practising these things.” In N.T. only here and Acts 4:25. [source]
Give thyself wholly to them [εν τουτοις ιστι]
Present imperative second person singular of ειμι — eimi “keep on in these things.” Note five uses of εν — en in 1 Timothy 4:12 and three datives in 1 Timothy 4:14. Plutarch (Pomp. 656 B) says Caesar was εν τουτοις — en toutois (“in these things”). It is like our “up to his ears” in work Koiné{[28928]}š word from προκοπτω — prokoptō to cut forward, to blaze the way, in N.T. only here and Philemon 1:12, Philemon 1:25. Paul‘s concern (purpose, ινα — hina and present subjunctive ηι — ēi of ειμι — eimi) is that Timothy‘s “progress” may be “manifest to all.” It is inspiring to see a young preacher grow for then the church will grow with him. [source]
Thy progress [σου η προκοπη]
Koiné{[28928]}š word from προκοπτω — prokoptō to cut forward, to blaze the way, in N.T. only here and Philemon 1:12, Philemon 1:25. Paul‘s concern (purpose, ινα — hina and present subjunctive ηι — ēi of ειμι — eimi) is that Timothy‘s “progress” may be “manifest to all.” It is inspiring to see a young preacher grow for then the church will grow with him. [source]
Meditate [μελέτα]
Only here and Acts 4:25(citation). Often in Class. and lxx. Most translators reject the A.V. meditate, and substitute be diligent in, or practice, or take care for. Meditate, however, is legitimate, although in Class. the word commonly appears in one of the other senses. The connection between the different meanings is apparent. Exercise or practice applied to the mind becomes thinking or meditation. In lxx it represents seven Hebrew equivalents, and signifies to meditate, talk of, murmur, delight one's self in, attend to. Often to meditate, Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2; Psalm 2:1; Psalm 37:12; Psalm 72:6; Psalm href="/desk/?q=ps+35:28&sr=1">Psalm 35:28; Psalm 37:30; Ecclesiastes href="/desk/?q=ec+1:2&sr=1">Ecclesiastes 1:2. In the Vulg. meditabor is the translation of murmur or mourn in Isaiah 38:14. The Hebrew הָגָהֽ means to murmur, whisper; hence the inner whispering of the heart; hence to think, meditate, consider, as Psalm 63:7; Psalm 78:13. [source]
Give thyself wholly to them [ἐν τούτοις ἴσθι]
Lit. be in these things. The phrase N.T.oThe only parallel in lxx is Proverbs 23:17. The meaning is that he is to throw himself wholly into his ministry. Comp. “totus in illis,” Horace, Sat. i. 9,2. [source]
Profiting [προκοπὴ]
Better, advance or progress. Only here and Philemon 1:12. The verb προκόπτειν in 2 Timothy 2:16; 2 Timothy 3:9, 2 Timothy 3:13. In lxx, see 2 Maccabees 8:8. The figure in the word is uncertain, but is supposed to be that of pioneers cutting ( κόπτω ) a way before ( πρὸ ) an army, and so furthering its advance. The opposite is ἐγκόπτειν to cut into, throw obstacles in the way, and so hinder. See Galatians href="/desk/?q=ga+5:7&sr=1">Galatians 5:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:18; 1 Peter 3:7. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Timothy 4:15

Philippians 1:12 Furtherance [προκοπὴν]
Only here, Phlippians 1:25, and 1 Timothy 4:15. The metaphor is uncertain, but is supposed to be that of pioneers cutting ( κόπτω ) a way before ( πρό ) an army, and so furthering its march. The opposite is expressed by ἐγκόπτω tocut into; hence to throw obstacles in the way, hinder. Galatians 5:7. See on 1 Peter 3:7. [source]
Philippians 1:12 Have fallen out rather [μαλλον εληλυτεν]
“Have come rather.” Second perfect active indicative of ερχομαι — erchomai Unto the progress (εις προκοπην — eis prokopēn). Late word from προκοπτω — prokoptō common verb, to cut or strike forward, but this late substantive does not occur in classical Greek. It is a technical term in Stoic philosophy for “progress toward wisdom” and it appears also in the papyri and the lxx. In N.T. only here, Phlippians 1:25; 1 Timothy 4:15. [source]
Philippians 1:12 Unto the progress [εις προκοπην]
Late word from προκοπτω — prokoptō common verb, to cut or strike forward, but this late substantive does not occur in classical Greek. It is a technical term in Stoic philosophy for “progress toward wisdom” and it appears also in the papyri and the lxx. In N.T. only here, Phlippians 1:25; 1 Timothy 4:15. [source]
1 Timothy 4:16 Continue in them [ἐπίμενε αὐτοῖς]
See on Romans 6:1. In lxx only Exodus 12:39. Ἁυτοῖς is neuter, referring to these things, 1 Timothy 4:15. A.V. in them is indefinite and ambiguous. Better, continue in these things. [source]
Titus 2:9 To please them well in all things [ἐν πᾶσιν εὐαρέστους εἶναι]
Wrong. Const. in all things with to be in subjection. Note the position of ἐν πᾶσιν in 1 Timothy 3:11; 1 Timothy 4:15; 2 Timothy 2:7; 2 Timothy 4:5, and comp. ὑπακούειν κατὰ πάντα obey in all things, Colossians 3:20, Colossians 3:22; and ὑποτάσσεται - ἐν παντί issubject in everything, Ephesians 5:24. Ἑυάρεστος wellpleasing, only here in Pastorals. Almost exclusively in Paul. See also Hebrews 13:21. Ευαρέστως acceptably Hebrews 12:28. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Timothy 4:15 mean?

These things ponder in them be absorbed so that your - progress evident may be to all
ταῦτα μελέτα ἐν τούτοις ἴσθι ἵνα σου προκοπὴ φανερὰ πᾶσιν

ταῦτα  These  things 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
μελέτα  ponder 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: μελετάω  
Sense: to care for, attend to carefully, practise.
ἴσθι  be  absorbed 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
ἵνα  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
σου  your 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
προκοπὴ  progress 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: προκοπή  
Sense: progress, advancement.
φανερὰ  evident 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: φανερός  
Sense: apparent, manifest, evident, known.
  may  be 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
πᾶσιν  to  all 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.