1 Timothy 4 · Verse 15

1 Timothy 4:15

Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
1 Timothy 4:15, King James Version

1 Timothy 4:15 in other translations

BSBBe diligent in these matters and absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.
WEBBe diligent in these things. Give yourself wholly to them, that your progress may be revealed to all.
ASVBe diligent in these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress may be manifest unto all.
YLTof these things be careful; in these things be, that thy advancement may be manifest in all things;
DARBYOccupy thyself with these things; be wholly in them, that thy progress may be manifest to all.
BBEHave a care for these things; give yourself to them with all your heart, so that all may see how you go forward.
WebsterMeditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

What does 1 Timothy 4:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. Meditate--Greek, "Meditate CAREFULLY upon" (Psa 1:2; 119:15; compare "Isaac," Ge 24:63). these things--(1Ti 4:12-14). As food would not nourish without digestion, which assimilates the food to the substance of the body, so spiritual food, in order to benefit us, needs to be appropriated by prayerful meditation. give thyself wholly to--literally, "BE in these things"; let them engross thee wholly; be wholly absorbed in them. Entire self-dedication, as in other pursuits, so especially in religion, is the secret of proficiency. There are changes as to all other studies, fashionable to-day, out of fashion to-morrow; this study alone is never obsolete, and when made the all-engrossing aim sanctifies all other studies. The exercise of the ministry threatens the spirit of the ministry, unless it be sustained within. The minister must be first his own scholar before he can be another's teacher. profiting--Greek, "progress" towards perfection in the Christian life, and especially towards the fullest realization of the ideal of a Christian minister (1Ti 4:12). may appear to all--not for thy glory, but for the winning of souls (Mt 5:16).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 15. Meditate upon these things. Upon the train of events by which you have been led into the ministry, and upon the responsibilities and duties of the office. Let your mind be deeply impressed with these things; make them the subject of profound and serious thought.

Give thyself wholly to them. Gr., "Be in them"--a phrase similar to that of Horace--totus in illis. The meaning is plain. He was to devote his life wholly to this work. He was to have no other grand aim of living. His time, attention, talents, were to be absorbed in the proper duties of the work. He was not to make that subordinate and tributary to any other purpose, nor was he to allow any other object to interfere with the appropriate duties of that office. He was not to live for money, fame, or pleasure; not to devote his time to the pursuits of literature or science for their own sakes; not to seek the reputation of an elegant or profound scholar; not to aim to be distinguished merely as an accomplished gentleman, or as a skilful farmer, teacher, or author. Whatever was done in any of these departments, was to be wholly consistent with the direction, εντουτοιςισθι--"be in these things"-- be absorbed in the appropriate duties of the ministerial office. It may be remarked here that no man will ever make much of himself, or accomplish much in any profession, who does not make this the rule of his life. He who has one great purpose of life to which he patiently and steadily devotes himself, and to which he makes everything else bend, will uniformly rise to high respectability, if not to eminence. He who does not do this, can expect to accomplish nothing.

That thy profiting. Gr. Thy going forward; that is, thy advancement or progress. A minister of the gospel ought to make steady improvement in all that pertains to his office. No man ought to be satisfied with present attainments.

To all. Marg., in all things. The margin is the more correct rendering, but either of them makes good sense. It should be apparent to all persons who attend on a stated preaching of a minister of the gospel, that he is making steady advances in knowledge, and wisdom, and piety, and in all things that pertain to the proper performance of the duties of his office. If a man really makes progress, it will be seen and appreciated by others; if he does not, that will be as well understood by his hearers.

(1) "appear to all" "in all things"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 Meditate upon these things - Ταυτα μελετα· Revolve them frequently in thy mind; consider deeply their nature and importance; get them deeply fastened in thy heart, and let all thy conduct flow from this inward feeling and conviction. Let the nature, reasons, and motives of thy ministry, be ever in the view of thy heart and conscience. Give thyself wholly to them - Εν τουτοις ισθι· Be thou in these things. Horace has a similar expression: Omnis in hoc sum. "I am absorbed in this." Occupy thyself wholly with them; make them not only thy chief but thy sole concern. Thou art called to save thy own soul, and the souls of them that hear thee; and God has given thee the Divine gifts for this and no other purpose. To this let all thy reading and study be directed; this is thy great business, and thou must perform it as the servant and steward of the Lord. Bengel has a good saying on this verse, which I will quote: In his qui est, minus erit in sodalitatibus mundanis, in studiis alienis, in colligendis libris, conchis, nummis, quibus multi pastores notabilem aetatis partem insistentes conterunt; "He who is wholly in these things will be little in worldly company, in foreign studies, in collecting books, shells, and coins, in which many ministers consume a principal part of their life." Such persons are worthy of the deepest reprehension, unless all these studies, collections, etc., be formed with the express view, of illustrating the sacred records; and to such awful drudgery few Christian ministers are called. Many, when they have made such collections, seem to know nothing of their use; they only see them and show them, but can never bring them to their assistance in the work of the ministry. These should be prayed for and pitied. That thy profiting may appear to all - By being made a universal blessing; convincing and converting sinners; and building up the Church of God on its most holy faith.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Timothy 4:11-16

Men's youth will not be despised, if they keep from vanities and follies. Those who teach by their doctrine, must teach by their life. Their discourse must be edifying; their conversation must be holy; they must be examples of love to God and all good men, examples of spiritual-mindedness. Ministers must mind these things as their principal work and business. By this means their profiting will appear in all things…

Read the full comment on 1 Timothy 4:11-16 →

1 Timothy 4:15 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ταῦταtautaThese thingsG3778
μελέτα,meletado ponder,G3191
ἐνeninG1722
τούτοιςtoutoisthemG3778
ἴσθι,isthido be absorbed,G1510
ἵναinaso thatG2443
σουsouyourG4771
ἡhē<the>G3588
προκοπὴprokopēprogressG4297
φανερὰphaneraevidentG5318
ᾖēmay beG1510
πᾶσιν.pasinall.G3956

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Timothy 4:15

  • Matthew 5:16

    Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

  • Psalms 143:5

    I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

  • Philippians 2:15-16

    That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

  • Psalms 104:34

    My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.

  • Psalms 119:48

    My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

  • Acts 6:4

    But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

  • 1 Timothy 4:6

    If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

  • Joshua 1:8

    This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

  • Psalms 119:148

    Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.

  • Psalms 119:97

    מ MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

  • Titus 2:14

    Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

  • Psalms 119:15

    I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Meditate.
Jos 1:8; Ps 1:2; 19:14; 49:3; 63:6; 77:12; 104:34; 105:5; 119:15,23,48
Ps 119:97,99,148; 143:5
give.
Ac 6:4; 1Co 16:15; 2Co 4:14; 8:5; Tit 2:14
that.
6; Mt 5:16; Php 2:15,16
to all. or, in all things.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Timothy 4:14

    Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

  • 1 Timothy 4:15

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

  • 1 Timothy 4:16

    Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Read all of 1 Timothy 4

1 Timothy 4:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Medita estas cosas; ocúpate en ellas; para que tu aprovechamiento sea manifiesto á todos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Occupe-toi de ces choses; sois-y tout entier, afin que tes progrès soient évidents à tous.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Bedenke dieses sorgfältig; lebe darin, auf daß deine Fortschritte allen offenbar seien.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Hæc meditare, in his esto: ut profectus tuus manifestus sit omnibus.