1 Timothy 4:13
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
The passage is speaking of the Apostle Paul's coming to Ephesus where he can further instruct both Timothy and the church that is there. A preacher needs to have someone he can look to as a mentor in the faith. That mentor cannot take his place as pastor, but can be an encouragement and help to him.
The phrase though also is reminiscent of Jesus Christ. He is coming and He is our true mentor, guide, encourager, and help. The promise of His coming breathes hope into the spirits of those who do the work of the ministry.
Until he comes, whether we speak of our human mentor or of the Lord Jesus Christ, we would do very well to give attendance to these very things
To reading
This is especially meaning the Bible. The preacher ought to be filled with the Word of God. His mind ought to be saturated with the truths of the Book and so familiar with them as to make ready reference to them. Perhaps the best way for this is to spend much time in the reading of the Word of God.
To exhortation
This would involve distributing what he has learned in his reading of the Word of God with those he has to minister; both in a public setting as in preaching and in a more personal setting in small groups or with individuals. The pastor must pastor his charge.
To doctrine
The word means instruction and can be taken two ways; first in the mastery of the details of our faith and then in the faithful teaching of those details to the saints.
Our hope rests in the return of the Lord. But until then we have plenty of productive work to occupy ourselves in till He comes.
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
The passage is speaking of the Apostle Paul's coming to Ephesus where he can further instruct both Timothy and the church that is there. A preacher needs to have someone he can look to as a mentor in the faith. That mentor cannot take his place as pastor, but can be an encouragement and help to him.
The phrase though also is reminiscent of Jesus Christ. He is coming and He is our true mentor, guide, encourager, and help. The promise of His coming breathes hope into the spirits of those who do the work of the ministry.
Until he comes, whether we speak of our human mentor or of the Lord Jesus Christ, we would do very well to give attendance to these very things
To reading
This is especially meaning the Bible. The preacher ought to be filled with the Word of God. His mind ought to be saturated with the truths of the Book and so familiar with them as to make ready reference to them. Perhaps the best way for this is to spend much time in the reading of the Word of God.
To exhortation
This would involve distributing what he has learned in his reading of the Word of God with those he has to minister; both in a public setting as in preaching and in a more personal setting in small groups or with individuals. The pastor must pastor his charge.
To doctrine
The word means instruction and can be taken two ways; first in the mastery of the details of our faith and then in the faithful teaching of those details to the saints.
Our hope rests in the return of the Lord. But until then we have plenty of productive work to occupy ourselves in till He comes.
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