1 Timothy 4:6

Authorized King James Version

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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.

Original Language Analysis

Ταῦτα of these things G5023
Ταῦτα of these things
Strong's: G5023
Word #: 1 of 20
these things
ὑποτιθέμενος If thou put G5294
ὑποτιθέμενος If thou put
Strong's: G5294
Word #: 2 of 20
to place underneath, i.e., (figuratively) to hazard, (reflexively) to suggest
τοῖς G3588
τοῖς
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 3 of 20
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀδελφοῖς the brethren G80
ἀδελφοῖς the brethren
Strong's: G80
Word #: 4 of 20
a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like g0001)
καλῆς a good G2570
καλῆς a good
Strong's: G2570
Word #: 5 of 20
properly, beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), i.e., valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, and thus distinguished
ἔσῃ thou shalt be G2071
ἔσῃ thou shalt be
Strong's: G2071
Word #: 6 of 20
will be
διάκονος minister G1249
διάκονος minister
Strong's: G1249
Word #: 7 of 20
an attendant, i.e., (genitive case) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); specially, a christian teacher and pastor (technically, a deacon)
Ἰησοῦ of Jesus G2424
Ἰησοῦ of Jesus
Strong's: G2424
Word #: 8 of 20
jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites
Χριστοῦ Christ G5547
Χριστοῦ Christ
Strong's: G5547
Word #: 9 of 20
anointed, i.e., the messiah, an epithet of jesus
ἐντρεφόμενος nourished up G1789
ἐντρεφόμενος nourished up
Strong's: G1789
Word #: 10 of 20
(figuratively) to educate
τοῖς G3588
τοῖς
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 11 of 20
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
λόγοις in the words G3056
λόγοις in the words
Strong's: G3056
Word #: 12 of 20
something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a
τῆς G3588
τῆς
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 13 of 20
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πίστεως of faith G4102
πίστεως of faith
Strong's: G4102
Word #: 14 of 20
persuasion, i.e., credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of god or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon christ
καὶ and G2532
καὶ and
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 15 of 20
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τῆς G3588
τῆς
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 16 of 20
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καλῆς a good G2570
καλῆς a good
Strong's: G2570
Word #: 17 of 20
properly, beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), i.e., valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, and thus distinguished
διδασκαλίας doctrine G1319
διδασκαλίας doctrine
Strong's: G1319
Word #: 18 of 20
instruction (the function or the information)
ᾗ whereunto G3739
ᾗ whereunto
Strong's: G3739
Word #: 19 of 20
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
παρηκολούθηκας· thou hast attained G3877
παρηκολούθηκας· thou hast attained
Strong's: G3877
Word #: 20 of 20
to follow near, i.e., (figuratively) attend (as a result), trace out, conform to

Analysis & Commentary

If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things (Ταῦτα ὑποτιθέμενος τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς, Tauta hypotithemenos tois adelphois)—'if you point these things out to the brothers.' Hypotithēmi means to lay before, suggest, remind. Timothy must teach the truths Paul has outlined—creation's goodness, false teachers' errors, godliness through spiritual training.

Thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ (καλὸς ἔσῃ διάκονος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ, kalos esē diakonos Christou Iēsou)—'you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus.' Kalos means good, excellent, fine. Diakonos means servant, minister. Nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine (ἐντρεφόμενος τοῖς λόγοις τῆς πίστεως καὶ τῆς καλῆς διδασκαλίας, entrephomenos tois logois tēs pisteōs kai tēs kalēs didaskalias)—'being trained in the words of the faith and good teaching.' Entrephō means to rear, nourish, train.

Good ministry flows from two sources: reminding believers of truth and personally being nourished by sound doctrine. Timothy must teach what he's learned—the pattern of faithful teaching passed from Paul to Timothy to the church. Ministers need constant intake of God's Word to have something genuine to give others.

Historical Context

In oral cultures, memory and repetition were essential for preserving teaching. Timothy must regularly remind the church of apostolic truth—not innovating but faithfully transmitting what he received. The minister's effectiveness depends on his own spiritual nourishment—you can't feed others from an empty soul. Paul emphasizes Timothy's need for constant intake of 'words of faith and good doctrine.'

Questions for Reflection