1 Timothy 4.14-Paul Prohibits Timothy From Neglecting His Spiritual Gift That Was Confirmed By Prophetic Words When The Elders Laid Hands On Him
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Wednesday June 29, 2011
1 Timothy: 1 Timothy 4:14-Paul Prohibits Timothy From Neglecting His Spiritual Gift That Was Confirmed By Prophetic Words When The Elders Laid Hands On Him
Lesson # 90
Please turn in your Bibles to 1 Timothy 4:14.
In 1 Timothy 4:14, commands Timothy to continue making it his habit of not neglecting the use of his spiritual gift of pastor-teacher, which was confirmed at his ordination through prophetic words with the laying on of hands by the elders.
In 1 Timothy 4:14, Paul is once again, as he did in 1 Timothy 4:11, 12 and 13, employing the figure of “asyndeton” in order to emphasize the command here in 1 Timothy 4:14 in the sense that he wants Timothy to dwell upon it and obey it.
This figure emphasizes the importance of this command for Timothy personally in that it will enable him to fulfill his responsibility of administrating the household of God in Ephesus.
1 Timothy 4:14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. (NASU)
“Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you” is composed of the negative particle me (μή) (me), “not” which is negating the second person singular present active imperative form of the verb ameleo (ἀμελέω) (ahmeh-leh-owe), “do neglect” and is followed by the genitive neuter singular form of the definite article ho (ὁ) (owe), “the” followed by the preposition en (ἐν), “within” and is object is the dative second person singular form of the personal pronoun su (σύ) (see), “you” followed by the genitive neuter singular form of the noun charisma (χάρισμα) (hareese-mah), “spiritual gift.”
The verb ameleo means “to neglect” and its meaning is negated by the negative particle me, “not,” which serves to deny any idea of Timothy neglecting using or exercises his spiritual gift of pastor-teacher.
These two words deny any idea of Timothy failing to exercise the spiritual authority delegated to him by the Lord Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit that is expressed through the function of his spiritual gift of pastor-teacher.
They deny any idea of Timothy not fulfilling his responsibility of exercising his spiritual gift of pastor-teacher.
These two words deny any idea of Timothy not fulfilling the four responsibilities of the pastor-teacher, which are the means by which he tends and shepherds the flock of God: (1) Study (2 Tim. 2:15) (2) Teach (1 Tim. 4:13) (3) Pray (Acts 6:1-4). (4) Exemplify the Christian way of life (1 Timothy 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:10).
The present imperative form of the verb is a “customary” present imperative which has the force of a general precept and makes no comment about whether the action is going on or not (Wallace, page 724).
Therefore, Timothy is not being indicted for neglecting the exercise of his spiritual gift.
Paul’s statements in 1 Timothy 1:3 and 4:6 supports this interpretation.
Thus, the prohibition here in 1 Timothy 4:14 is simply a reminder to Timothy to continue doing what they talked about before Paul left for Macedonia.
Furthermore, Paul would not have delegated Timothy such a difficult task as the one in Ephesus unless he felt confident that his young delegate could carry out everything he required of him.
The noun charisma is used of Timothy’s spiritual gift, which was pastor-teacher.
That Timothy’s gift was pastor-teacher is indicated by the commands and prohibitions that Paul issues Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:11-16 that are directed to him personally.
Each of them speak of Timothy fulfilling his four-fold responsibility of studying, teaching, praying and exemplifying the Christian way of life for the Ephesian Christians.
That Timothy has the gift of pastor-teacher is indicated by Paul’s statements to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:13-14, 2:15, 2:24-26, and 3:14-4:5.
1 Timothy 4:14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. (NASU)
“Which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance” is composed of the nominative neuter singular form of the relative pronoun hos (ὅς) (oce), “which” and third person singular aorist passive indicative form of the verb didomi (δίδωμι) (thee-though-me), “was bestowed” and the dative second person singular form of the personal pronoun su (σύ) (see), “you” followed by the preposition dia (διά) (thee-ah), “through” and its object is the genitive feminine singular form of the noun propheteia (προφητεία) (pro-fee-tee-ah), “prophetic utterance.”
The verb didomi means “to give” with the implication that what is given is of great value.
Here it is used of God the Holy Spirit “giving” Timothy the spiritual gift of pastor-teacher at the moment of his conversion to Christianity.
The noun propheteia refers to the exercise of the temporary or discontinued gift of prophet.
However, this time it refers to the prophecy that confirmed and identified Timothy as being given the spiritual gift of pastor-teacher by the Holy Spirit at the moment of his conversion.
This took place at his ordination as indicated by the prepositional phrase to follow μετὰ ἐπιθέσεως τῶν χειρῶν τοῦ πρεσβυτερίου, “with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.”
This prophecy that confirmed and identified to the Christian community and Paul that Timothy possessed the spiritual gift of pastor-teacher divinely authorized Timothy’s ministry on behalf the body of Christ and the Lord.
It told everyone in the Christian community and Paul that Timothy was authorized by the Lord.
This Spirit inspired prophecy confirmed to the Christian community that Timothy was given the gift of pastor-teacher by Him.
The word propheteia is the object of the preposition dia, which functions as a marker of means indicating that when God the Holy Spirit gave Timothy the spiritual gift of pastor-teacher, He identified this gift given to Timothy “by means of” a prophecy.
Now, since the Scriptures teach that the Holy Spirit gives a spiritual gift to every believer at the moment of his conversion, which is authorized by the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; cf. Ephesians 4:8-11), this would indicate that the prepositional phrase διὰ προφητείας denotes accompaniment rather than means.
However, the Spirit inspired the prophecy that confirmed and identified to the Christian community that Timothy possessed the spiritual gift of pastor-teacher.
It confirmed and identified to the Christian community that the Holy Spirit had in fact given Timothy the gift.
Further indicating this is the divine passive form of the verb didomi which signifies that Timothy was acted upon by the Holy Spirit who gave him the gift of pastor-teacher and confirmed and identified this to the Christian community “by means of” a prophecy.
1 Timothy 4:14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. (NASU)
“With the laying on of hands by the presbytery” refers to the ceremonial act of ordained pastors laying their hands on those men who possess the spiritual gift of pastor-teacher.
This act indicated that the congregation and the leadership of the church, through the Holy Spirit, were confirming that these men possess the gift of pastor-teacher.
Furthermore, it meant that these men were authorized to serve as overseers as a result of consistently manifesting the qualifications for the overseer over an indefinite period of years (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9).
This idea of laying on of hands is rooted in the Old Testament (Numbers 27:18-23; Deuteronomy 34:9).
It was used in Judaism in the ordination of rabbis (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, volume 9, page 429).
“By the presbytery” is the articular genitive neuter singular form of the noun presbuterion (πρεσβυτέριον) (prez-bee-tear-ee-on), which refers to those pastors who were ordained by other ordained pastors.
Thus, they were men who were functioning as overseers in the various house churches in the Christian community.
They served to train those men with the spiritual gift of pastor but were not yet qualified to hold the office of overseer due to their need for more spiritual growth.
Therefore, presbuterion in 1 Timothy 4:14 refers to a council or body of ordained pastor-teachers.
The Bible never sanctions a council of deacons or a board of directors.