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This morning, while reading in 1 Timothy 4:11-16 (in Greek), I was drawn to a surprising cluster of intense verbs that the apostle Paul uses to describe how attentive we should be to the way we live our lives and carry on our ministries. Notice as I walk you through these powerful verbs just how many appear in this one paragraph! These verbs indicate that attention to one’s personal life and ministry should not be half-hearted or begrudging but rather characterized by commitment and sacrifice. Here’s the paragraph I was reading this morning. The intense verbs are italicized. (The translation is mine.)

7 Have nothing to do with irreverent and foolish myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for bodily exercise has some value, but godliness is of value in every way, since it holds promise both for the present life and the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and worthy of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope upon the living God, who is the Savior of all, especially those who believe. 11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one look down on your youth, but in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity be an example to those who believe. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the grace within you, which was given to you through prophecy via the laying on of hands of the elder council. 15 Be diligent in these things, be fully in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch over yourself and your doctrine. Persevere in them, for by doing so you will save both yourself and your hearers (1 Timothy 4:11-16).

Let’s linger a bit on each of these verbs and consider how they intersect with our lives and ministries.

4:7a: Have nothing to do with (paraiteomai)

Paul warns Timothy not to get distracted by people who promulgate weird interpretations, strange theologies, conspiracy theories and the like. When he writes “have nothing to do with,” he doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t correct such aberrant teachings, but rather that a person doing ministry shouldn’t get distracted by them. Paul doesn’t simply warn Timothy; he instructs him to “refuse” to get involved, that is, “have nothing to do” with such things.

4:7b: Train (���⳾�Բ���ō)

In contrast, Paul says, “train yourself for godliness.” I hope you’re aware that you’re not going to wake up some day, look in the mirror, and exclaim: “Wow, look at what a godly person I have become! How did that happen?” All of us must train for godliness. Paul uses an athletic metaphor, and in so doing compares our spiritual training to the physical training carried out by an athlete. Do we want to grow in godliness? We must intentionally train for it. (And, yes, it is all done under God’s grace and by his Spirit; but passivity is not the wayto progress.)

4:10a: Labor (��DZ辱��ō) and strive (����ō�Ծ����dz�����)

Paul writes, “For to this end we labor and strive.” Paul doesn’t call Timothy to do anything he himself isn’t willing to do. (Notice the “we.”) Paul and Timothy both “labor” (“toil,” “work hard”) and “strive” (“fight,” “struggle”) in the ministry. We, too, who have received a calling to ministry (remember, all Christians have been called into God’s work) need to work hard and make every effort to live out in word and deed the calling God has given them.

4:10b: Fixed our hope (����辱��ō)

“…because we have fixed our hope…” This verb on its own would normally be translated simply as “we have hoped,” but most English translations intensify the translation with expressions like “fixed our hope” or “placed our hope” or “have our hope set.” (Such translations may arise because the hope in this verse is placed “upon,” not just “in”). And what is the object of this fixed hope? It is “the living God” who is the “Savior!” In common English conversation, hope is often used in weak contexts (like: “I hope so…”) But that is not at all the way Paul uses it here — or elsewhere for that matter. Our hope is to be fixated on, absorbed in and focused upon God himself.

4:13 Devote yourself (����Dz��𳦳�ō)

Paul instructs Timothy to devote himself to three things in this verse: 1) reading, 2) exhorting and 3) teaching. The reading is almost certainly the public reading of the Bible, especially in the early Christian house churches. Most translations (appropriately) add the words “public” and “of Scripture” to make that clear. Paul wanted to make sure that Timothy didn’t neglect reading the Bible aloud in their assemblies. (Most early Christians didn’t own personal copies of the Bible, so this is how they came to learn what was in Scripture.) The verb here is sometimes translated as “pay attention to” or “give attention to.” It’s another one of those high-commitment verbs. Like Timothy, we need to give focused priority to God’s Word — to help others learn it, understand it and obey it.

4:14 Do not neglect (���������ō)

Paul writes: “Do not neglect the grace within you, which was given to you through prophecy via the laying on of hands of the elder council.” The “grace” (charisma) is likely a reference to Timothy’s appointment to ministry that was publicly recognized by the elders laying hands on him and praying. Paul warns Timothy not to neglect it. Has God appointed and equipped you for a particular ministry (whether through laying-on-of-hands or not)? Don’t let it go to waste. Be sure to serve in that ministry with faithfulness and dedication.

4:15a: Be diligent (�������ٲ�ō)

This verb is a little harder to translate. It appears to me that the most likely translation is either “be diligent” or “take pains in.” Whatever the exact connotation, this verb is yet another example of seriousness in ministry. We don’t coast along; we are diligent to do “these things” God has called us to do.

4:15b: Be fully in (isthi)

I can’t tell you how much I love this expression! It’s minimalistic, but also very powerful. Paul uses the banal “to be” verb (eimi) and turns it into a command. Translations variously render this verb as “immerse yourself” or “give yourself wholly” or “be absorbed with.” Wow! In English, we sometimes comment we are “really into something.” That’s the idea here. Be fully in.

4:16a: Keep a close watch (���𳦳�ō)

Paul continues his exhortations with, “Keep a close watch on yourself and your doctrine.” All of us who serve in ministry must “pay close attention” (as some translations render this verb) to our own lives and to the solidity of our doctrine. We should not neglect our own walk with the Lord to do ministry, as Paul has already exhorted Timothy. We also need to keep a close watch on what we believe and what we teach. It’s easy to drift. We need attentiveness to keep ourselves from doing just that.

4:16b: Persevere (��辱�����ō)

Finally, Paul exhorts Timothy to keep going—not to give up. Paul urges Timothy (and us by extension) to “persist” or “continue” or “persevere.” Let’s not be like sparklers that burn for one minute and fizzle! Shall we not persevere in the various ministries God has given to us?:

…having nothing to do with foolishness,

…training ourselves for godliness,

…l�����ǰ����Բ�,

…s�ٰ��������Բ�,

…fixing our hope on the living God,

…devoting ourselves to the work of ministry,

…not neglecting the grace we have received,

…being diligent,

…fully engrossed,

…keeping a close watch on ourselves and our doctrine, and

…never (ever) giving up.