1TI 4:6-16

A Good Servant of Jesus Christ

6If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. [4:7] But reject profane and silly fables. Rather train yourself for godliness, [4:8] for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds the promise of life both for the present and for the life to come. [4:9] The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. [4:10] To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially those who believe. [4:11] Command and teach these things. [4:12] Let no one despise you for your youth, but be an example to believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. [4:13] Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. [4:14] Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. [4:15] Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that everyone may see your progress. [4:16] Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st-century Greco-Roman world, the term (servant) carried connotations of both humility and responsibility, often referring to someone who served in a religious or civic capacity. The instruction to avoid 'profane and silly fables' would resonate with listeners familiar with the proliferation of myths and speculative stories in both pagan and Jewish contexts. The call to 'train yourself to godliness' evokes the disciplined physical training of athletes, a familiar concept in a culture that revered athletic contests. The contrast between 'bodily exercise' and 'godliness' underscores the greater value of spiritual discipline over physical prowess, a countercultural idea in a society that idolized the body. The emphasis on 'conduct' reflects the holistic nature of ethical living, encompassing both public and private behavior. The mention of 'the promise of life' aligns with Jewish eschatological hope, while the universal scope of God as 'Savior of all men' challenges exclusivist tendencies, emphasizing the inclusivity of the gospel message.

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How other translations render this

1TI 4:6

KJV: 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.
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.
Koinōnos: If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.

1TI 4:7

KJV: But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
BSB: But reject irreverent, silly myths. Instead, train yourself for godliness.
Koinōnos: But reject profane and silly fables. Rather train yourself for godliness,

1TI 4:8

KJV: For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
BSB: For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come.
Koinōnos: for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds the promise of life both for the present and for the life to come.

1TI 4:9

KJV: This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
BSB: This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance.
Koinōnos: The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance.

1TI 4:10

KJV: For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
BSB: To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe.
Koinōnos: To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially those who believe.

1TI 4:11

KJV: These things command and teach.
BSB: Command and teach these things.
Koinōnos: Command and teach these things.

1TI 4:12

KJV: 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.
BSB: Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
Koinōnos: Let no one despise you for your youth, but be an example to believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

1TI 4:13

KJV: Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
BSB: Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching.
Koinōnos: Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

1TI 4:14

KJV: Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
BSB: Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given you through the prophecy spoken over you at the laying on of the hands of the elders.
Koinōnos: Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.

1TI 4:15

KJV: Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
BSB: Be diligent in these matters and absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.
Koinōnos: Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that everyone may see your progress.

1TI 4:16

KJV: 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.
BSB: Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Koinōnos: Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.