1 Timothy 4:12 (GNV)

Passage

Let no man despise thy youth, but be vnto them that beleeue, an ensample, in worde, in conuersation, in loue, in spirit, in faith, and in purenesse.

Nearby Context

1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we labour and are rebuked, because we trust in the liuing God, which is the Sauiour of all men, specially of those that beleeue.

1 Timothy 4:11 These things warne and teache.

1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth, but be vnto them that beleeue, an ensample, in worde, in conuersation, in loue, in spirit, in faith, and in purenesse.

1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, giue attendance to reading, to exhortation, and to doctrine.

1 Timothy 4:14 Despise not the gift that is in thee, which was giuen thee by prophecie with the laying on of the hands of the companie of the Eldership.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "Spirit", "faith", "despise", "youth", "vnto", "beleeue", "ensample", and "worde". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "Spirit" and "faith", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "These things warne and teache..." into verse 13's "Till I come giue attendance to reading...", so "Spirit" and "faith" belong inside that flow. In 1 Timothy context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "Spirit" and "faith" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.