1 Timothy 4:12 (WEB)

Passage

Let no man despise your youth; but be an example to those who believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.

Nearby Context

1 Timothy 4:10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we have set our trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

1 Timothy 4:11 Command and teach these things.

1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise your youth; but be an example to those who believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.

1 Timothy 4:13 Until I come, pay attention to reading, to exhortation, and to teaching.

1 Timothy 4:14 Don’t neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the elders.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "Spirit", "faith", "despise", "youth", "example", "believe", "word", and "life". 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 "Command and teach these things..." into verse 13's "Until I come pay attention 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.