1 Timothy 4 · Verse 6

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.

1 Timothy 4:6, King James Version

1 Timothy 4:6 in other translations

BSB	By pointing out these things to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of faith and sound instruction that you have followed.
WEB	If 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.
ASV	If thou put the brethren in mind of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which thou hast followed until now:
YLT	These things placing before the brethren, thou shalt be a good ministrant of Jesus Christ, being nourished by the words of the faith, and of the good teaching, which thou didst follow after,
DARBY	Laying these things before the brethren, thou wilt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished with the words of the faith and of the good teaching which thou hast fully followed up.
BBE	If you keep these things before the minds of the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, trained in the words of the faith and of the right teaching which has been your guide:
Webster	If thou shalt put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou wilt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished by the words of faith and of good doctrine, to which thou hast attained.

What does 1 Timothy 4:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

6. If thou put ... in remembrance--rather as Greek, "If thou suggest to (bring under the notice of) the brethren," &c. these things--namely, the truths stated in 1Ti 4:4, 5, in opposition to the errors foretold, 1Ti 4:1-3. minister--"servant." nourished up--The Greek is present, not past: "continually being nourished in" (2Ti 1:5; 3:14, 15). the words of faith--rather, "the words of the faith" (compare 1Ti 4:12). good doctrine--"the good teaching." Explanatory of "the faith," in opposition to the "teachings of demons" (English Version, "doctrines of devils," 1Ti 4:1) which Timothy was to counteract. Compare "sound doctrine" (1Ti 1:10; 6:3; Tit 1:9; 2:1). whereunto thou hast attained--"the course of which thou hast followed"; hast followed along by tracing its course and accompanying it [Alford]. Thou hast begun to follow up [Bengel]. The same Greek occurs, "thou hast fully known" (2Ti 3:10), "having had perfect understanding" (Lu 1:3). It is an undesigned coincidence that the Greek verb is used only by Paul and Paul's companion, Luke.

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 6. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things. Of the truths just stated. They are, therefore, proper subjects to preach upon. It is the duty of the ministry to show to the people of their charge what is error and where it may be apprehended, and to caution them to avoid it.

Nourished up in the word of faith. That is, you will be then "a good minister of Jesus Christ, as becomes one who has been nourished up in the words of faith, or trained up in the doctrines of religion." The apostle evidently designs to remind Timothy of the manner in which he had been trained, and to show him how he might act in accordance with that. From one who had been thus educated, it was reasonable to expect that he would be a faithful and exemplary minister of the gospel.

Whereunto thou hast attained. The word used here means, properly, to accompany side by side; to follow closely; to follow out, trace, or examine. It is rendered shall follow, in Mk 16:17; having had understanding, in Lk 1:3; and hast fully known, in 2Ti 3:10. It does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. The meaning here seems to be, that Timothy had followed out the doctrines in which he had been trained to their legitimate results; he had accurately seen and understood their bearing, as leading him to embrace the Christian religion. His early training in the Scriptures of the Old Testament, (2Ti 1:5, 3:15,) he had now fully carried out, by embracing the Lord Jesus as the Messiah, and by evincing the proper results of the early teaching which he had received in connection with that religion. If he now followed the directions of the apostle, he would be a minister of the Lord Jesus, worthy of the attainments in religious knowledge which he had made, and of the expectations which had been formed of him. No young man should, by neglect, indolence, or folly, disappoint the reasonable expectations of his friends. Their cherished hopes are a proper ground of appeal to him, and it may be properly demanded of every one that he shall carry out to their legitimate results all the principles of his early training, and that he shall be in his profession all that his early advantages make it reasonable to expect that he will be.

(a) "nourished up in the words" Jer 15:16, 1Pet 2:2

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things - Show the Church that, even now, there is danger of this apostasy; put them on their guard against it; for the forewarned are half armed. Schoettgen supposes from this verse that what is spoken above refers to the Jews alone; and that there is no reference here to a Church which in after ages might apostatize from, or corrupt, the true doctrine of our Lord and Savior. Bishop Newton and others are of a different opinion. See at the end of this chapter. Nourished up in the words of faith - By acting as I command thee, thou wilt show that thou art a good minister of Jesus Christ, and that thou hast been nourished from thy youth upon the doctrines of faith. The apostle seems to allude here to Timothy's Christian education. See the preface to this epistle. Whereunto thou hast attained - Ἡ παρηκολουθηκας· Which thou hast thoroughly understood. For the meaning of this word, see the note on Luk 1:3.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Timothy 4:6-10

Outward acts of self-denial profit little. What will it avail us to mortify the body, if we do not mortify sin? No diligence in mere outward things could be of much use. The gain of godliness lies much in the promise; and the promises to godly people relate partly to the life that now is, but especially to the life which is to come: though we lose for Christ, we shall not lose by him. If Christ be thus the Saviour of all men, then much more will he be the Rewarder of those who seek and serve him; he will provide well for those whom he has made new creatures.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Timothy 4:6 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

ὑποτιθέμενοςhupotithemenoslaying beforeG5294

τοῖςtoistheG3588

ἀδελφοῖςadelphoisbrothersG80

καλὸςkalosgoodG2570

ἔσῃesēyou will beG1510

διάκονοςdiakonosa servantG1249

ΧριστοῦChristouof ChristG5547

ἸησοῦIēsouJesusG2424

ἐντρεφόμενοςentrephomenosbeing nourishedG1789

τοῖςtoisin theG3588

λόγοιςlogoiswordsG3056

τῆςtēsof theG3588

πίστεωςpisteōsfaithG4102

καὶkaiandG2532

τῆςtēsof theG3588

καλῆςkalēsgoodG2570

διδασκαλίαςdidaskaliasteachingG1319

ᾗhēthatG3739

παρηκολούθηκας·parēkolouthēkasyou have closely followed;G3877

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

Cross references for 1 Timothy 4:6

Titus 2:7-10
In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
2 Peter 3:1-2
This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
Colossians 4:7
All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:
Matthew 13:52
Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
Titus 2:1
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
2 Timothy 3:14-17
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
Philippians 3:16
Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
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.
Jeremiah 15:16
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.
Acts 20:31
Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

thou put.
Ac 20:31,35; Ro 15:15; 1Co 4:17; 2Ti 1:6; 2:14; 2Pe 1:12-15; 3:1,2
Jude 1:5
a good.
Mt 13:52; 1Co 4:1,2; 2Co 3:6; 6:4; Eph 6:21; Col 4:7; 1Th 3:2
2Ti 2:15
nourished.
Jer 15:16; Eph 4:15,16; Col 2:19; 3:16; 2Ti 3:14-17; 1Pe 2:2
good doctrine.
1:10; 4:16; 6:3; Ps 19:7; *marg:
Pr 4:2; Joh 7:16,17; 2Ti 4:3; Tit 2:1,7-10; 2Jo 1:9
thou hast.
Php 3:16; 2Ti 3:14

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

Context

1 Timothy 4:5
For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
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.
1 Timothy 4:7
But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

Read all of 1 Timothy 4

1 Timothy 4:6 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Si esto propusieres á los hermanos, serás buen ministro de Jesucristo, criado en las palabras de la fe y de la buena doctrina, la cual has alcanzado.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	En proposant ces choses aux frères, tu seras un bon serviteur du christ Jésus, nourri dans les paroles de la foi et de la bonne doctrine que tu as pleinement comprise.
German Elberfelder 1871	Wenn du dieses den Brüdern vorstellst, so wirst du ein guter Diener Christi Jesu sein, auferzogen durch die Worte des Glaubens und der guten Lehre, welcher du genau gefolgt bist.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Hæc proponens fratribus, bonus eris minister Christi Jesu enutritus verbis fidei, et bonæ doctrinæ, quam assecutus es.