“Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy.” Here he calls teaching prophecy.1229 “With the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” He speaks not here of Presbyters, but of Bishops. For Presbyters cannot be supposed to have ordained a Bishop. Ver. 15. “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them.” Observe how often he gives him counsel concerning the same things, thus showing that a teacher ought above all things to be attentive to these points. Ver. 16. “Take heed,” he says, “unto thyself, and unto the doctrine: continue in them.” That is, take heed to thyself, and teach others also. “For in so doing thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.” It is well said, “Thou shalt save thyself.” For he that is “nourished up in the words of sound doctrine,” first receives the benefit of it himself. From admonishing others, he is touched with compunction himself. For these things are not said to Timothy only, but to all. And if such advice is addressed to him, who raised the dead, what shall be said to us? Christ also shows the duty of teachers, when He says, “The kingdom of heaven is like unto an householder, who bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.” (Matt. xiii. 52.) And the blessed Paul gives the same advice, that “we through patience and comfort of the 450 Scriptures might have hope.” (Rom. xv. 4.) This he practiced above all men, being brought up in the law of his fathers, at the feet of Gamaliel, whence he would afterwards naturally apply to reading: for he who exhorted others would himself first follow the advice he gave. Hence we find him continually appealing to the testimony of the prophets, and searching into their writings. Paul then applies to reading, for it is no slight advantage that is to be reaped from the Scriptures. But we are indolent, and we hear with carelessness and indiffer- ence. What punishment do we not deserve! “That thy profiting may appear,” he says, “to all.” Thus he would have him appear great and admirable in this respect also, showing that this was still necessary for him, for he wished that his “profiting should appear” not only in his life, but in the word of doctrine. Chap. v. ver. 1. “Rebuke not an elder.” Is he now speaking of the order? I think not, but of any elderly man. What then if he should need correction? Do not rebuke him, but address him as you would a father offending. Ver. 1. “The elder women as mothers, the younger men as brethren; the younger women as sisters, with all purity.” Rebuke is in its own nature offensive, particularly when it is addressed to an old man, and when it proceeds from a young man too, there is a threefold show of forwardness. By the manner and the mildness of it, therefore, he would soften it. For it is possible to reprove 1229 He means that it was a gift of Prophecy, which the Greek διὰ may bear. 778 1 Timothy 4:11-14