Reading and exhorting and teaching

Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. – 1 Timothy 4.13-16

Paul tells Timothy that until he can get to him Timothy has a task to do. While he is waiting he needs to not be just lazing about and taking it easy. He is to dedicate himself to reading, to to exhorting others, and to doctrine.

Reading of course is not just a matter of casual reading for enjoyment, though there is nothing wrong with that. When Paul says reading he is speaking of reading the copies of Paul’s letters that are circulating around that part of the world. The gospels were not yet complete, but copies were already being spread. The word of God was not yet complete, but the canon was beginning to take shape.

Timothy was to dedicate himself to the reading of scriptures, then he was to use that ready to encourage believers and to teach them doctrine.

That’s a pretty good reason why we have teachers and preachers today. We read and study and we use our reading and studying to encourage and teach others. This pattern has carried on from them till now. We are to do the same thing Timothy was charged to do. All of us, not just pastors and teachers, are to read the word of God, se what we learn to encourage each other, and share to teachings that we learn.