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Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
1 Timothy 4:15 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB Be diligent in these things. Give yourself wholly to them, that your progress may be revealed to all.
  • BSB Be diligent in these matters and absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.
  • NKJV Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.
  • NASB Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.
  • NLT Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Timothy should immerse himself in these duties so his progress is evident to all. It urges wholehearted devotion that bears visible fruit.

Overview

Paul calls Timothy to be 'diligent' and to give himself 'wholly' to his ministry. Such commitment makes spiritual growth apparent to the congregation. Visible progress encourages the church and authenticates the minister.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 23

  • Matt 5:16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
  • Ps 143:5I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
  • Phil 2:15–16That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
  • Ps 104:34My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
  • Ps 119:48My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
  • Acts 6:4But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
  • Josh 1:8This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
  • 1 Tim 4:6If 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.
  • Ps 119:97O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
  • Ps 119:148Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.
  • Titus 2:14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
  • Ps 119:15I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
  • Ps 119:99I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
  • Ps 49:3My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
  • Ps 1:2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
  • 2 Cor 8:5And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
  • Ps 63:6When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
  • Ps 105:5Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
  • Ps 77:12I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
  • Ps 119:23Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
  • Ps 19:14Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
  • 2 Cor 4:14Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
  • 1 Cor 16:15I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (1)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — 1 Timothy videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on 1 Timothy 4:15YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on 1 TimothyMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

There is 'one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all' — the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh.

How 1 Timothy 4:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.