1 Timothy 4:13

1 Timothy 4:13

Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

a. NLT: Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.

b. NIV: Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.

c. YLT: Till I come, give heed to the reading, to the exhortation, to the teaching;        

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Till I come, devote yourself to [public and private] reading, to exhortation (preaching and personal appeals), and to teaching and instilling doctrine.

e. Worrell Translation: Until I come, give heed to the reading, to the exhortation, to the teaching

f. Wuest Translation: While I am coming, keep concentrating on the public reading [of the Word], on exhortion, and on teaching.

1. “Till I come, give attendance…”

a. Till [Strong: 2193 heos heh'-oce of uncertain affinity; a conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until (of time and place):--even (until, unto), (as) far (as), how long, (un-)til(-l), (hither-, un-, up) to, while(-s).]

b. I come [Strong: 2064 erchomai er'-khom-ahee middle voice of a primary verb (used only in the present and imperfect tenses, the others being supplied by a kindred (middle voice) eleuthomai el-yoo'-thom-ahee, or (active) eltho el'-tho, which do not otherwise occur) to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively):--accompany, appear, bring, come, enter, fall out, go, grow, X light, X next, pass, resort, be set.]

c. give attendance [Strong: 4337 prosecho pros-ekh'-o from 4314 and 2192; (figuratively) to hold the mind (3563 implied) towards, i.e. pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to:--(give) attend(-ance, -ance at, -ance to, unto), beware, be given to, give (take) heed (to unto); have regard.] [Thayer: to bring to, bring near, to bring a ship to land, put in, to turn the mind to, attend to, be attentive, to a person or a thing: of caring for, providing for, to attend to one's self, i.e. to give heed to one's self, give attention to, take heed, to apply one's self to, attach one's self to, hold or cleave to a person or a thing, to be given or addicted to, to devote thought and effort to.]

1). There are a number of times this word is translated “beware” in the New Testament. One notable time is when Jesus was instructing and warning his disciples concerning the false doctrine of religious leaders of their day. In the following passage it is translated “beware” twice. We as believers must recognize false doctrine when we hear it or see it. If we never give attendance to God’s word it will be much more difficult.

a). Matthew 16:6-12 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

16:7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.

16:8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

16:9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

16:10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

16:11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

16:12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

2). Giving attendance to God’s word precedes life giving grace and revelation.

a). Proverbs 4:20-22 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

4:21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

4:22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

2. “…to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”

a. to reading [320 * angnosis] [Strong: reading:--reading.] [Thayer: knowing, a knowing again, owning, reading.]

1). Institute Of Creation Research Daily Devotional 2/13/14 In this video age, Christians are in grave danger of forgetting the importance of reading. The word translated “reading” in this verse is the Greek anagnosis, a compound word meaning essentially “renewed knowledge.” A sermon or lecture is knowledge heard; an educational film or video is knowledge seen; but reading is knowledge that can be read, rehearsed, reviewed, and renewed again and again, until fully and securely learned.

b. to exhortation [3874 * paraklesis] [Strong: imploration, hortation, solace:--comfort, consolation, exhortation, intreaty.] [Thayer: a calling near, summons, (esp. for help), importation, supplication, entreaty, exhortation, admonition, encouragement, consolation, comfort, solace; that which affords comfort or refreshment, thus of the Messianic salvation (so the Rabbis call the Messiah the consoler, the comforter), persuasive discourse, stirring address, instructive, admonitory, conciliatory, powerful hortatory discourse.]

c. to doctrine [1319 * didaskalia][Strong: instruction (the function or the information):--doctrine, learning, teaching.] [Thayer: teaching, instruction, teaching, that which is taught, doctrine, teachings, precepts.]

1). It is impossible to grow spiritually without adopting these vital spiritual habits.