1 Timothy 4:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

That is, be attentive to yourself and teach others. "For by doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you." He said well, "yourself also."

He who nourishes himself with the word of teaching first draws profit from it himself. In teaching others, he also brings himself to compunction.

However, this was not said to Timothy alone, but to all. If the Apostle gives such instructions to one who raised the dead, what shall we say?

Christ also points to teachers when He says that the kingdom of heaven is like a man, "a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old" (Mt 13:52).

Again, blessed Paul, giving the same command, said: "that through patience and the comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope" (Rom 15:4).

“Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine.” That is, be attentive to yourself, and teach others. Be constantly occupied with this. For by doing so you will save both yourself and those who hear you. He who nourishes himself with the words of doctrine first receives benefit himself, because, while teaching others, he also brings himself to compunction.

"Take heed to yourself and to the teaching; continue in this," the Apostle concludes his counsel to Timothy concerning self-education. "For by doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you" (1 Tim 4:16).

O Timothy, and every Christian! Guard what has been entrusted to you. Turn away from profane empty speech and the contradictions of falsely named knowledge, including many modern teachings opposed to Christianity. By devoting themselves to such things, some have strayed from the faith (1 Tim 6:21).

And I, my Orthodox hearers, will conclude my last discourse with you in this church year with the Apostle's own words. Take heed to yourselves and to the teaching offered to you in the word of God. Continue in this constantly (1 Tim 4:16).

Give heed to yourself and to your teaching, and continue in them, so that you may in no way be subject to reproach in your faith. During persecution, do not fall away. By doing this, you will save not only yourself by your good conduct, but will also lead those who hear you to the good.

They will learn what they ought to do, and you will fulfill what has been prescribed to you. From this you will gain profit.

“Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine.”

Attend carefully to yourself, whether you are living rightly. Attend to the doctrine, whether you are teaching rightly, so that both your life and your teaching may shine.

“And continue in them.”

Apply yourself diligently to this for the sake of those being taught.

“For by doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”

He who nourishes others with the words of doctrine first brings benefit to himself. Through Timothy, He gives this exhortation to all teachers.

In concluding this instruction, Saint Paul again repeats the same exhortation, saying, “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine; continue in them.” What the Apostle Paul says to Saint Timothy applies to all of us who have been called to the ministry of preaching and to the salvation of our neighbors.

Listen, stewards of the mysteries of Christ. Give heed to yourselves and to the doctrine, and continue in them. The Apostle commands this to all of us. And what a powerful motive he adds: “For by doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Tim 5:16). Acting in this way, brother concelebrants, you will save both yourselves and those who hear you. Amen.

You will acquire salvation and will be useful to your neighbors through an edifying and saving word.

God was manifested in the flesh and, let us add, by becoming visible, He made His visible image, or His depiction, worthy of veneration.

The reminder of the gifts of the episcopate, received through special fore-election and consecration, is a summons to the greatest zeal. At the same time, it calls one to fulfill the duties and obligations joined to the episcopate.

The fulfillment of these duties must inevitably be visible to all. Therefore it must be useful both for the laboring bishop himself and for the instruction and salvation of those he guides.

Thus everything here centers upon the episcopate as a gift of God. In Timothy, as in all others, it must bring forth the greatest fruit, that is, the common salvation.

Timothy must not only fulfill the Apostle's will himself, but also teach others to do the same. At the same time, he must not allow them to treat his instructions carelessly because of his relative youth. Timothy was then about thirty-five years old.

Yet he must establish his authority not by compulsion, but by his good and strictly Christian life. He must also do so by the diligent fulfillment of the duties laid upon him.

This was all the more necessary because at his ordination as bishop he had received a special gracious gift, which gave him strength and firmness in fulfilling his ministry.

"Take heed to yourself and to the teaching." That is, "be attentive to yourself and teach others" (Saint Chrysostom). But this has already been said. Therefore it may be supposed that here the Apostle intended to suggest not so much the object of the work as the manner of doing it.

The verbs used here, επεχε and επιμενε, give reason for this supposition. Επεχε means: hold yourself to it. To have the mind upon oneself is to attend to oneself.

But one can also hold the tension of the will upon oneself, or compel oneself and press oneself. Thus επεχε σεαυτω means: press yourself in regard to yourself and to the teaching of others.

Do not spare labor. Force yourself to an exemplary life and to unceasing teaching. The following phrase, "continue in them," comes close to the same meaning.