Survey of the Letters of Paul:  1 Timothy 4:12
                                                                                                                                                                           
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.   

1 Timothy 4:11-16
11 These things command and teach.
12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
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.
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
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.

THE ONLY WAY TO SILENCE CRITICISM
1 Timothy 4:11–16

A paraphrase of the section of verse:
Make it your business to hand on and to teach these commandments. Do not give anyone a chance to despise you because you are young; but in your words and in your conduct, in love, in loyalty and in purity, show yourself an example of what believing people should be.  Until I come, devote your attention to the public reading of the Scriptures, to exhortation and to teaching. Do not neglect the special gift which was given to you, when the voices of the prophets picked you out for the charge which has been given to you, when the body of the elders laid their hands upon you. Think about these things; find your whole life in them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to your teaching; stick to them; for if you do, you will save yourself and those who hear you.

ONE of the difficulties Timothy had to overcome concerned his age. We are not to think of him as a mere youth. After all, it was fifteen years since he had first become Paul’s helper. The word used for youth (neote¯s) can in Greek describe anyone of military age, that is up to the age of forty. But the Church generally liked its office-bearers to be people of maturity. The Apostolic Canons laid it down that a man was not to become a bishop until he was over fifty, for by then ‘he will be past youthful disorders’. Timothy was young in comparison with Paul, and there would be many who would watch him with a critical eye. When the British politician the elder William Pitt was making a speech in the House of Commons at the age of thirty-three, he said: ‘The atrocious crime of being a young man . . . I will neither attempt to palliate (păl'ē-āt'--to make seem less serious) or deny.’ The Church has always regarded youth with a certain suspicion, and under that suspicion Timothy inevitably fell.

The advice given to Timothy is the hardest of all to follow, and yet it was the only possible advice. It was that he must silence criticism by conduct. Plato was once falsely accused of dishonorable conduct. ‘Well,’ he said, ‘we must live in such a way that all men will see that the charge is false.’ Verbal defenses may not silence criticism; conduct will. What then were to be the characteristics of Timothy’s conduct?

(1) First, there was to be love. Agape, the Greek word for the greatest of the Christian virtues, is largely untranslatable. Its real meaning is unconquerable benevolence. If we have agape, no matter what other people do to us or say about us, we will seek nothing but their good. We will never be bitter, never resentful, never vengeful; we will never allow ourselves to hate; we will never refuse to forgive. Clearly, this is the kind of love which requires the whole of our nature and strength of character to achieve. Ordinarily, love is something which we cannot help. Love of our nearest and dearest is an instinctive thing. The love between the sexes is an experience which comes naturally. Ordinarily, love comes from the heart; but clearly this Christian love comes from the will. It is that conquest of self whereby we develop an unconquerable caring for other people. So, the first authenticating (ô-thĕn'tĭ-kāt') mark of Christian leaders is that they care for others, no matter what others do to them. That is something which any Christian leader quick to take offence and prone to bear grudges should constantly bear in mind.

(2) Second, there was to be loyalty. Loyalty is an unconquerable faithfulness to Christ, no matter what it may cost. It is not difficult to be a good soldier when things are going well. But the really valuable soldier is the one who can fight well with a weary body and an empty stomach, when the situation seems hopeless and the campaign seems pointless and beyond understanding. The second authenticating mark of Christian leaders is a loyalty to Christ which defies circumstances.

(3) Third, there was to be purity. Purity is unconquerable allegiance to the standards of Christ. When Pliny was reporting back to Trajan about the Christians in Bithynia, where he was governor, he wrote: ‘They are accustomed to bind themselves by an oath to commit neither theft, nor robbery, nor adultery; never to break their word; never to deny a pledge that has been made when summoned to answer for it.’--end quote. The Christian pledge is to a life of purity. Christians ought to have a standard of honour and honesty, of self-control and chastity, of discipline and consideration, far above the standards of the world. The simple fact is that the world will never have any use for Christianity unless it can prove that it produces the best men and women. The third authenticating mark of Christian leaders is a life lived according to the standards of Jesus Christ. ~Barclay Commentary

This verse is in 8 parts:

1] Let no man despise thy youth;
2] but be thou an example of the believers,
3] example of the believers in word
4] example of the believers in conversation
5] example of the believers in charity
6] example of the believers in spirit
7] example of the believers in faith
8] example of the believers in purity.

Let us see what the commentaries have to say.

Let no man despise thy youth - That is, do not act in such a manner that any shall despise you on account of your youth. Act as becomes a minister of the gospel in all things, and in such a way that people will respect you as such, though you are young. It is clear from this that Timothy was then a young man, but his exact age there is no means of determining. It is implied here:

(1) that there was danger that, by the levity and indiscretion to which youth are so much exposed, the ministry might be regarded with contempt; and,

(2) that it was possible that his deportment should be so grave, serious, and every way appropriate, that the ministry would not be blamed, but honored. The “way” in which Timothy was to live so that the ministry would not be despised on account of his youth, the apostle proceeds immediately to specify.

Note: As we have been discussing throughout this letter to Timothy and specifically to personal instructions to him, there is a message within each admonition to him for us.  This is self evident by the fact that God made it a part of His Word.  We are not just witnesses third parties talking to each other.  We are not just listening to Paul talk to Timothy.  We are listening to what God has to say to us.

The key message in this first phrase of the verse is, "deportment" or, as the dictionary states it, "manner of personal conduct or behavior.  Paul's admonition to Timothy is for him to allow his work in the ministry to speak for him.  In other words, Timothy will, from day-to-day, be constantly invoking the power of the Holy Spirit in the form of Godly principles and therefore being a light.  This is clearly an admonition to you and me.  Our deportment or conduct is to be Christ-centered.  Our behavior is to be that of giving spiritual light---being a light.

But be thou an example of the believers - One of the constant duties of a minister of the gospel, no matter what his age. A minister should so live, that if all his people should closely follow his example, their salvation would be secure, and they would make the highest possible attainments in piety. On the meaning of the word rendered “example,” see the notes on Philippians 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 1:7.

Note: This is a very interesting phrase when it comes to the power of and benefits of the congregation.  If one is blessed with a congregation where several members are being lights and examples of Christ-centered conduct and behavior we can emulate and from which we can learn, we cannot help but take spiritual strides.  The meaning of the phrase is saying that if Timothy is being a good example the salvation of the members will be more secure and that they can, with more ease, attain to the highest levels of piety or religion.  Imagine being in a congregation where there are many examples of Godly light as they go from "glory to glory" [2 Corinthians 3:18].  Let us look now to the two verses mentioned in this part of the commentary.  We are about to see that not all congregations and/or members in the Church of God are going to be such good examples of light.

Quoted verses:
Philippians 3:17
Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

Look at the commentary on this verse:
 
Brethren, be followers together of me - That is, live as I do. A minister of the gospel, a parent, or a Christian of any age or condition, ought so to live that he can refer to his own example, and exhort others to imitate the course of life which he had led. Paul could do this without ostentation or impropriety. They knew that he lived so as to be a proper example for others; and he knew that they would feel that his life had been such that there would be no impropriety in his referring to it in this manner. But, alas, how few are there who can safely imitate Paul in this!

And mark them which walk so, as ye have us for an ensample - There were those in the church who endeavored to live as he had done, renouncing all confidence in the flesh, and aiming to win the prize. There were others, it would seem, who were actuated by different views; see Philippians 3:18. There are usually two kinds of professing Christians in every church - those who imitate the Saviour, and those who are worldly and vain. The exhortation here is, to “mark” - that is, to observe with a view to imitate - those who lived as the apostles did. We should set before our minds the best examples, and endeavor to imitate the most holy people. A worldly and fashionable professor of religion is a very bad example to follow; and especially young Christians should set before their minds for imitation, and associate with, the purest and most spiritual members of the church. Our religion takes its form and complexion much from those with whom we associate; and he will usually be the most holy man who associates with the most holy companions. ~Barnes Notes

I want to read this verse again in context:

Philippians 3:14-21
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. ~[emphasis mine]

Now the other verse from the commentary on our key verse for this lesson...verse 12.

1 Thessalonians 1:7
So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

In word - In “speech,” that is, your manner of conversation. This does not refer to his “public teaching” - in which he could not probably be an “example” to them - but to his usual and familiar conversation.

In conversation - In general deportment. See this word explained in Philippians 1:27.

Quoted verse:
Philippians 1:27
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Note:  Do you see the importance here of both the individual member and the greater congregation?  Notice the commentary here on the phrase "As it becometh the gospel of Christ."  The first two phrases are stating that our conduct should reflect the Word of God.

As it becometh the gospel of Christ -
(1) The rules of the gospel are to be applied to all our conduct - to our conversation, business transactions, modes of dress, style of living, entertainments, etc. There is nothing which we do, or say, or purpose, that is to be excepted from those rules.

(2) there is a way of living which is appropriate to the gospel, or which is such as the gospel requires. There is something which the gospel would secure as its proper fruits in all our conduct, and by which our lives should be regulated. It would distinguish us from the frivolous, and from those who seek honor and wealth as their supreme object. If all Christians were under the influence of the gospel, there would be something in their dress, temper, conversation, and aims, which would distinguish them from others; The gospel is not a thing of nothing; nor is it intended that it should exert no influence on its friends.

(3) it is very important that Christians should frame their lives by the rules of the gospel, and, to this end, should study them and know what they are. This is important:
(a) because they are the best and wisest of all rules;
(b) because it is only in this way that Christians can do good;
(c) because they have solemnly covenanted with the Lord to take his laws as their guide;
(d) because it is only in this way that they can enjoy religion; and,
(e) because it is only by this that they can have peace on a dying bed.

If people live as “becometh the gospel,” they live well. Their lives are honest and honorable; they are people of truth and uprightness; they will have no sources of regret when they die, and they will not give occasion to their friends to hang their heads with shame in the remembrance of them. No man on a dying bed ever yet regretted that he had framed his life by the rules of the gospel, or felt that his conduct had been conformed too much to it. ~Barnes Notes
 

In charity - Love to the brethren, and to all; see 1 Corinthians 13.

In spirit - In the government of your passions, and in a mild, meek, forgiving disposition.

In faith - At all times, and in all trials show to believers by your example, how they ought to maintain unshaken confidence in God.

In purity - In chasteness of life; see 1 Timothy 5:2. There should be nothing in your contact with the other sex that would give rise to scandal. The papists, with great impropriety, understand this as enjoining celibacy - as if there could be no “purity” in that holy relation which God appointed in Eden, and which he has declared to “be honorable in all” Hebrews 13:4, and which he has made so essential to the wellbeing of mankind. If the apostle had wished to produce the highest possible degree of corruption in the church, he would have enjoined the celibacy of the clergy and the celibacy of an indefinite number of nuns and monks. There are no other institutions on the earth which have done so much to corrupt the chastity of the race, as those which have grown out of the doctrine that celibacy is more honorable than marriage.

Note: The churches that enforce celibacy for some of its ministers are missing the meaning of the living metaphors that marriage, family and sexual intercourse are.

Quoted verses:
1 Timothy 5:2
The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

Hebrews 13:4
Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.  ~ Barnes Notes

So let us recap what we have learned today.

1] Have Christ-centered conduct and conversation in your lives.
2] Know that your conduct is an example which can help others to attain the hightest levels of piety.
3] Follow Paul's example and others who demonstrate Christ-centered conduct.
4] When you see Christ-centered examples of conversation and conduct, emulate them and learn from them.
5] Do not look for behaviors missing this mark but when you do, avoid them. Put those out of your mind.
6] Constantly improve your conversations and words.
7] Constantly improve your conduct. Be a Christ-centered example for the brethren.
8] Understanding that the Word of God states that many will go contrary to this lesson and this verse.
9] Be a Christ-centered example for the brethren. This is accomplished by full immersion into the Word of God.
10] Invoke mildness, meekness and forgiveness.
11] Maintain unshaken confidence in God when you are beset with a trial.
12] Do things in purity. Be a continual student of and invoker of purity.

These twelve things and so much more we have learned in this lesson on 1 Timothy 4:12                                                                                                                                                                                         

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