1 TIM 4:6 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Placing these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being nourished by the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.

UST When you instruct your fellow believers about those things, you will be serving Jesus the Messiah well. You will become spiritually stronger because of the good news that you have believed, which includes the correct teachings that you have accepted.

BLB Laying before the brothers these things, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good teaching that you have closely followed.

AICNT If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of {Christ Jesus},[fn] being nourished in the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed;

4:6, Christ Jesus: Later manuscripts read “Jesus Christ.” BYZ TR

OEB Put all this before the followers, and you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, sustained by the precepts of the faith and of that good teaching by which you have guided your life.

WEBBE If you instruct the brothers of these things, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine which you have followed.

WMBB If you instruct the brothers of these things, you will be a good servant of Messiah Yeshua, nourished in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine which you have followed.

NET By pointing out such things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, having nourished yourself on the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.

LSV Placing these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Jesus Christ, being nourished by the words of the faith, and of the good teaching, which you followed after,

FBV If you point out these things to the brothers and sisters you will be a good minister[fn] of Christ Jesus. You gain strength by trusting in the truth, and in the good teaching you've followed.

4:6 The word is actually the one used for “deacon.”

TCNT If yoʋ point these things out to the brothers, yoʋ will be a good servant of [fn]Jesus Christ, nourished by the words of the faith and the sound doctrine that yoʋ have closely followed.

4:6 Jesus Christ ¦ Christ Jesus CT

T4T When you teach these things to your fellow believers, you will be showing that you, whom Christ Jesus appointed, serve them well. You will have become strong spiritually ◄by holding fast/by obeying► the true message that we all believe.

LEB ¶ By[fn] teaching these things to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, trained in the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed faithfully.

4:6 *Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“teaching”) which is understood as means

BBE If you keep these things before the minds of the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, trained in the words of the faith and of the right teaching which has been your guide:

Moff Lay all this before the brotherhood, and you will be an excellent minister of Christ Jesus, brought up on the truths of the faith and on the lessons of the good doctrine you have already followed.

Wymth If you warn the brethren of these dangers you will be a good and faithful servant of Christ Jesus, inwardly feeding on the lessons of the faith and of the sound teaching of which you have been, and are, so close a follower.

ASV If thou put the brethren in mind of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which thou hast followed until now:

DRA These things proposing to the brethren, thou shalt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished up in the words of faith, and of the good doctrine which thou hast attained unto.

YLT These things placing before the brethren, thou shalt be a good ministrant of Jesus Christ, being nourished by the words of the faith, and of the good teaching, which thou didst follow after,

Drby Laying these things before the brethren, thou wilt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished with the words of the faith and of the good teaching which thou hast fully followed up.

RV If thou put the brethren in mind of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which thou hast followed until now:
(If thou/you put the brethren/brothers in mind of these things, thou/you shalt/shall be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which thou/you hast followed until now: )

SLT These having laid down to the brethren, thou shalt be a good servant of Jesus Christ, brought up in the words of faith and good doctrine, which thou hast closely followed.

Wbstr If thou shalt put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou wilt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished by the words of faith and of good doctrine, to which thou hast attained.

KJB-1769 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
(If thou/you put the brethren/brothers in remembrance of these things, thou/you shalt/shall be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou/you hast attained. )

KJB-1611 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Iesus Christ, nourished vp in the wordes of faith, and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps Yf thou put the brethren in remembraunce of these thynges, thou shalt be a good minister of Iesus Christ, which hast ben norysshed vp in the wordes of fayth and of good doctrine, which thou hast continually folowed.
(If thou/you put the brethren/brothers in remembrance of these things, thou/you shalt/shall be a good minister of Yesus/Yeshua Christ, which hast been norysshed up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, which thou/you hast continually followed.)

Gnva If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Iesus Christ, which hast bene nourished vp in the wordes of faith, and of good doctrine, which thou hast continually followed.
(If thou/you put the brethren/brothers in remembrance of these things, thou/you shalt/shall be a good minister of Yesus/Yeshua Christ, which hast been nourished up in the words of faith, and of good doctrine, which thou/you hast continually followed. )

Cvdl Yf thou shalt put the brethren in remembraunce of these thinges, thou shalt be a good mynister of Iesu Christ, which hast bene norished vp in the wordes of faith and of good doctryne, which thou hast folowed hither to.
(If thou/you shalt/shall put the brethren/brothers in remembrance of these things, thou/you shalt/shall be a good minister of Yesu Christ, which hast been nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, which thou/you hast followed hither/hereto.)

TNT Yf thou shalt put the brethren in remembraunce of these thynges thou shalt be a good minister of Iesu Christ which hast bene norisshed vp in the wordes of the fayth and good doctryne which doctryne thou hast continually followed.
(If thou/you shalt/shall put the brethren/brothers in remembrance of these things thou/you shalt/shall be a good minister of Yesu Christ which hast been nourished up in the words of the faith and good doctrine which doctrine thou/you hast continually followed. )

Wycl Thou puttynge forth these thingis to britheren, schalt be a good mynystre of Crist Jhesu; nurschid with wordis of feith and of good doctryne, which thou hast gete.
(Thou/You putting forth these things to brethren/brothers, shalt/shall be a good minister of Christ Yhesu; nurtured with words of faith and of good doctrine, which thou/you hast gete.)

Luth Wenn du den Brüdern solches vorhältst, so wirst du ein guter Diener JEsu Christi sein, auferzogen in den Worten des Glaubens und der guten Lehre, bei welcher du immerdar gewesen bist.
(When you(sg) the brothers such before/in_front_ofhältst, so will you(sg) a good servant Yesu Christi be, raised in the words the faiths and the/of_the good teaching, at/in which you(sg) forever been are.)

ClVg Hæc proponens fratribus, bonus eris minister Christi Jesu enutritus verbis fidei, et bonæ doctrinæ, quam assecutus es.
(This proponens brothers, good/kind/gracious you_will_be minister of_Christ Yesu enutritus with_words of_faith, and good doctrines, how assecutus you_are. )

UGNT ταῦτα ὑποτιθέμενος τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς, καλὸς ἔσῃ διάκονος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ, ἐντρεφόμενος τοῖς λόγοις τῆς πίστεως, καὶ τῆς καλῆς διδασκαλίας ᾗ παρηκολούθηκας.
(tauta hupotithemenos tois adelfois, kalos esaʸ diakonos Ⱪristou Yaʸsou, entrefomenos tois logois taʸs pisteōs, kai taʸs kalaʸs didaskalias haʸ paraʸkolouthaʸkas.)

SBL-GNT Ταῦτα ὑποτιθέμενος τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς καλὸς ἔσῃ διάκονος ⸂Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ⸃, ἐντρεφόμενος τοῖς λόγοις τῆς πίστεως καὶ τῆς καλῆς διδασκαλίας ᾗ παρηκολούθηκας,
(Tauta hupotithemenos tois adelfois kalos esaʸ diakonos ⸂Ⱪristou Yaʸsou⸃, entrefomenos tois logois taʸs pisteōs kai taʸs kalaʸs didaskalias haʸ paraʸkolouthaʸkas,)

RP-GNT Ταῦτα ὑποτιθέμενος τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς καλὸς ἔσῃ διάκονος Ἰησοῦ χριστοῦ, ἐντρεφόμενος τοῖς λόγοις τῆς πίστεως, καὶ τῆς καλῆς διδασκαλίας ᾗ παρηκολούθηκας.
(Tauta hupotithemenos tois adelfois kalos esaʸ diakonos Yaʸsou ⱪristou, entrefomenos tois logois taʸs pisteōs, kai taʸs kalaʸs didaskalias haʸ paraʸkolouthaʸkas.)

TC-GNT Ταῦτα ὑποτιθέμενος τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς καλὸς ἔσῃ διάκονος [fn]Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἐντρεφόμενος τοῖς λόγοις τῆς πίστεως, καὶ τῆς καλῆς διδασκαλίας ᾗ παρηκολούθηκας.
(Tauta hupotithemenos tois adelfois kalos esaʸ diakonos Yaʸsou Ⱪristou, entrefomenos tois logois taʸs pisteōs, kai taʸs kalaʸs didaskalias haʸ paraʸkolouthaʸkas. )

4:6 ιησου χριστου ¦ χριστου ιησου CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:1–16: Paul told Timothy how to teach the believers

In this section, Paul warned Timothy against people who were teaching false doctrines. They were teaching that believers should not marry and that there were certain kinds of food that they should not eat. Paul told Timothy several things that he should do to oppose the errors of the false teachers. For example:

He should teach correct doctrines (4:11).
He should be a good example to others (4:12b).
He should read aloud the Scriptures to encourage the believers to obey them (4:13b).

Paul wanted Timothy to continue to do these things and not become discouraged.

Paragraph 4:6–8

Paul once more gave Timothy some direct commands about how he could be a good servant of Christ. He must reject false teaching and train himself to behave in ways that please God.

4:6a

By pointing out these things to the brothers,

¶ As you teach these things to the brothers,
¶ Explain these things to your spiritual brothers and sisters.

By pointing out these things: Paul was indirectly commanding Timothy to point certain things out to other believers.Sherman and Tuggy (1994) say about the English language, “It is commonly understood that such forms as “Would you like to do the dishes?” means “I would like you to wash the dishes; please wash them.” This is a gentle way of suggesting that someone do something. Greek, English, Spanish, and probably many other European languages use this (and other devices) for gentle suggestions. For instance, we all react to the sentence “If we confess our sins, he will cleanse us” as meaning “We should confess our sins, since he will cleanse us.” Notice the mismatching between the surface grammar and the meaning which it expresses. Grammatically, the sentence is made up of a dependent conditional clause attached to an independent clause. Semantically, however, the relationship is reversed; that is, the central appeal unit is expressed by the dependent clause, and the supporting motivational unit is expressed by the independent clause. This mismatching between the grammar and the meaning is a device for making the exhortation or command a gentle one.” Other ways to express this are:

In pointing out these things (NASB)

when you point these things out (GW)

pointing out: In this context, Paul meant that Timothy should make the other believers aware of “these things.”

these things: It is not clear what things Paul was referring to here. It could be:

the things that Paul had mentioned immediately before this, that is, in the previous section (4:1–5). Paul was giving the reasons why it was acceptable to eat any kind of food.
all the instructions that Paul had given in the letter so far.

Most translations do not make clear what these things refer to. It is recommended that you also leave this ambiguous if you can. However, Paul was probably emphasizing at this point what he had written about immediately before this in 4:1–5. So if it is necessary for you to make a choice here, it is recommended that you translate these things in a way that refers to the immediately preceding verses.

brothers: The word brothers refers to believers, or other Christians. This term probably includes both men and women. In your translation, you can say “all the other believers” or “all the brothers and sisters.”

4:6b

you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus,

you will be serving Christ Jesus in an excellent way.
If you do this, you will be serving Christ Jesus well.

a good servant of Christ Jesus: There are several interpretations of what Paul meant when he said that he expected Timothy to be a good servant of Christ Jesus. The two most likely meanings are:

He expected Timothy to do the work of Christ by teaching others. In other words, he expected Timothy to do what Christ wanted and commanded.
He expected Timothy to be a person whom Christ appointed to teach and help others.

It is recommended that you use a general expression here rather than making one of these interpretations explicit. But if you must be specific, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

Christ Jesus: Notice that in this verse Paul referred to Jesus as Christ Jesus instead of “Jesus Christ.” The names “Christ Jesus” and “Jesus Christ” refer to the same person.Some people, however, think that when Paul used the word Christ before the word Jesus, as in Christ Jesus, he was emphasizing that Jesus was the Messiah.

In most English versions “Jesus Christ” and “Christ Jesus” are translated in the same order as they occur in the Greek manuscripts. It is recommended that you do the same thing.

However, it is possible that, in some languages, people may be confused to see the names in two different orders. They may even think that Paul was referring to two different people. If this is true in your language, it may be necessary to translate Christ Jesus as “Jesus Christ.” This is the more usual word order in the New Testament.

Christ: The word Christ is used two ways in the New Testament. In the Gospels, Christ is a title for Jesus. It means “the anointed one.” But later, by the time that Paul and others wrote letters to individuals and churches, the word Christ was used as another name for Jesus. It was no longer used as a title. So here and in other New Testament letters you should spell Christ according to the rules of your language.

4:6c

nourished by the words of faith and sound instruction

Also God will nurture/train you by means of the faith and the good teaching

nourished by: The Greek word that the BSB translates as nourished by is a word used when referring to rearing a child.The word in Greek is entrephō. Some people, including Louw and Nida, BAG, and NEB understand this to refer primarily to being trained. Louw and Nida (33.242) translate the active form of this word as, “to provide instruction and training, with the implication of skill in some area of practical knowledge—‘to train, to teach.’” BAG gives as the definition, “bring up, rear, then train in something.” Newman gives the definition for the middle form as, “live on, feed oneself on.” Knight (page 194), referring to Robertson, mentions that this word “was used by Plato (Leges 7.798a) of those who are ‘nourished in the laws.’” Arichea and Hatton (page 97) say that it refers to both nourishing and training: “The word for nourished occurs nowhere else in the New Testament; the metaphor very likely comes from child rearing and pertains to all the activities that have something to do with the nurturing of a child, such as feeding and training.” In this context, it is a metaphor that means “being trained by.”

Paul was saying that when Timothy taught other believers, God would use those teachings to train not only the listeners but also Timothy himself.

the words: The expression the words is connected to both “the faith” and “the good teaching.”

faith: Here, faith refers to Christianity. In other words, it refers to all that God revealed to people concerning what we should believe and do in order to follow Christ properly. See the note on faith at 3:9. See faith, meaning 2, in the Glossary.

sound instruction: The sound instruction refers to the true teaching about God. It contrasts with the false teaching that Paul had been warning Timothy about.

4:6d

that you have followed.

which you have obeyed.

that you have followed: That is, that Timothy had chosen to listen to and obey.

General Comment on 4:6a–d

In some languages it may better to reorder this verse. One way to do this is:

^6aTeach these things to the brothers, ^6c–dand the truths of the faith and the good teaching you follow will nourish/train you. ^6bIn this way you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ταῦτα ὑποτιθέμενος τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ταῦτα ὑποτιθέμενος τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς καλός ἔσῃ διάκονος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐντρεφόμενος τοῖς λόγοις τῆς πίστεως καί τῆς καλῆς διδασκαλίας ᾗ παρηκολούθηκας)

Here Paul speaks of his instructions as if they were objects that Timothy would place before other people. He means that Timothy will speak his instructions to these people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable figure of speech or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [Passing these things along to the brothers] or [Teaching these things to the brothers]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / extrainfo

ταῦτα

Here, the phrase these things could refer to the instructions that Paul has given in [4:1–5](../04/01.md), [3:14–4:5](../03/14.md), or to the whole letter so far. Since Paul used a general phrase, if possible you should use a general phrase that could refer to any of these sections. Alternate translation: [what I have said to you] or [these instructions]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς

˱to˲_the brothers

Paul is using the term brothers to mean people who share the same faith. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [the believers]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς

˱to˲_the brothers

Although the term brothers is masculine, Paul is using the word in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If you retain the metaphor in your translation, and if it would be helpful in your language, you could say “brothers and sisters” to indicate this.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

καλὸς & διάκονος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ

Here, Paul is using the possessive form to describe a servant who could: (1) serve Christ Jesus. Alternate translation: [a good servant who obeys Christ Jesus] (2) have been appointed by Christ Jesus to serve others. Alternate translation: [a good servant appointed by Christ Jesus]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐντρεφόμενος τοῖς λόγοις τῆς πίστεως, καὶ τῆς καλῆς διδασκαλίας ᾗ παρηκολούθηκας

˓being˒_nourished ˱in˲_the words ˱of˲_the faith (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ταῦτα ὑποτιθέμενος τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς καλός ἔσῃ διάκονος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐντρεφόμενος τοῖς λόγοις τῆς πίστεως καί τῆς καλῆς διδασκαλίας ᾗ παρηκολούθηκας)

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed nourishing you]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐντρεφόμενος

˓being˒_nourished

Here, the phrase being nourished could introduce: (1) a description of a good servant. Alternate translation: [one who is nourished] (2) another condition for being a good servant. Alternate translation: [if you are nourished] (3) the result of being a good servant. Alternate translation: [and so you will be nourished] or [with the result that you will be nourished]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐντρεφόμενος

˓being˒_nourished

Here Paul speaks as if the words of the faith and of the good teaching were food that nourished Timothy. He means that these words train Timothy and make him stronger spiritually. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in simile form or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [as if being nourished] or [being strengthened spiritually] or [being trained]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τοῖς λόγοις τῆς πίστεως, καὶ τῆς καλῆς διδασκαλίας

˱to˲_the ˱in˲_the words ˱of˲_the faith (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ταῦτα ὑποτιθέμενος τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς καλός ἔσῃ διάκονος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐντρεφόμενος τοῖς λόγοις τῆς πίστεως καί τῆς καλῆς διδασκαλίας ᾗ παρηκολούθηκας)

Here, Paul is using the possessive form to describe words that could: (1) be those in which believers have faith and that contain the good teaching. Alternate translation: [by the words in which we have faith and that contain the good teaching] (2) contain the good news in which believers have faith and the good teaching. Alternate translation: [by the words that contain the Christian faith and the good teaching]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τῆς πίστεως, καὶ

˱of˲_the faith ˱of˲_the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ταῦτα ὑποτιθέμενος τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς καλός ἔσῃ διάκονος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐντρεφόμενος τοῖς λόγοις τῆς πίστεως καί τῆς καλῆς διδασκαλίας ᾗ παρηκολούθηκας)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of faith, you could express the same idea in another way. Make sure that your translation fits with the option you chose in the previous note. Alternate translation: [that we have believed, the words] or [that you trust, the words]

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / distinguish

τῆς καλῆς διδασκαλίας ᾗ παρηκολούθηκας

˱of˲_the ˱of˲_the good teaching ˱with˲_which ˱you˲_˓have˒_followed

Here Paul is further describing the good teaching. He is not distinguishing between some good teaching that Timothy has followed and some that he has not followed. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different form that describes something rather than distinguishes between things. Alternate translation: [of the good teaching, which you have followed] or [of the good teaching. You have followed that good teaching]

Parallel 1 TIM 4:6