complete verse (1 Timothy 4:15)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Timothy 4:15:

  • Uma: “Don’t you stop doing all this work, make it the most important, so that your diligence doing the Lord’s work will be clear to all people.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Really do wholeheartedly all I caused you to do in this letter so that all people see that your deeds increasingly become better.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Hold fast to and see carefully to your fulfilling all of this so that all might know that you are always increasing in your fulfilling the desire of God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Concentrate your (sing.) thoughts on your (sing.) following these-things that I have instructed so that all people will see that your manner-of-doing is becoming-more-and-more-correct.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “I hope these tasks are what you are always persevering in, they being what is always dominant in your mind/inner-being. Well if it’s like that, it will be clear to all that your ability is increasing-and-increasing in this responsibility/job of yours.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “These words which I tell you, earnestly endeavor to do them. I want that people will see that more and more you know how to apply the word as you do God’s work.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Timothy 4:15

Practice is the positive equivalent of “Do not neglect” in the preceding verse. The word itself has the meaning “to attend to carefully,” “to put into practice” (so New Revised Standard Version), “to cultivate.” These duties is literally “these things” and most probably refers back to the immediately preceding verses, particularly verses 12-14. In certain languages it will be helpful to translate “Carefully put into practice the duties I have just mentioned.”

Devote yourself to them is literally “be in them,” with the meaning of being completely immersed or absorbed in these things. Appropriate equivalent idioms are “being up to his ears,” “being wrapped up,” “being immersed in,” or “throwing oneself into.” These two imperative verbs taken together make the command very emphatic.

The purpose of all this is so that all may see your progress (literally “your progress may be manifest [or, evident] to all”). All again refers to fellow Christians with whom Timothy has dealings. Progress includes the idea of advancement or furtherance; it is suggested by some that the word arose out of the practice of people cutting trees and shrubs in order to prepare the way for the advance of an incoming army. The progress being referred to here may refer to Timothy’s spiritual advancement in general (that is, his progress in the Christian life), or specifically to the development of the gifts and talents that are related to his function as a church leader.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• Carefully put into practice and give yourself completely to (or, immerse yourself in) these duties I have just mentioned, so that everyone will see how you grow in your life as a Christian.

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to Timothy. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 4:15

4:15a

Be diligent: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Be diligent means to pay attention to something and to do it earnestly, with enthusiasm and energy. It means the opposite of “neglect.” See the note on 4:14a.

these matters: Paul was referring to all the things that he had written about in 4:11–14.

4:15b

and absorbed in them: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as absorbed in them literally means “devote yourself to them” (4:13b). Paul used this expression to emphasize how important his instructions to Timothy were.

4:15c

so that: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as so that connects 4:15c with 4:15a–b. In 4:15c, Paul explained the reason that Timothy should obey Paul’s instruction in 4:14a–b. The reason was so that other believers would see how he was progressing spiritually.

your progress: Paul expected people to see Timothy’s progress, but he did not say what he meant by progress. Paul was probably thinking about progress in Timothy’s faith, and he probably expected Timothy to be able to use his gift better (4:14a).

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.