4:8 profiteth little. Another sign of these latter times is the widespread mania for bodily exercise, along with dieting (especially eliminating animal foods, as noted in I Timothy 4:3), in order to achieve physical fitness and bodily beauty. But God says this is of little value. Our “exercise” should be “unto godliness” (I Timothy 4:7).

4:9 faithful saying. This is one of Paul’s four “faithful sayings.” See note on I Timothy 1:15.

4:10 Saviour. Jesus Christ, of course, is the Savior; also God is the Savior. This is further incidental proof that Jesus Christ is God. See also Titus 3:4.

4:10 all men. Christ’s death is sufficient to save all men (I John 2:2), but it becomes effective only for those who believe (John 3:36).

4:12 despise thy youth. Youth should not be a time for sowing wild oats, but of using one’s youthful strength in living and witnessing for Christ, serving as an example and encouragement even to older believers, who may have grown lethargic in Christ’s service. Christian young people should not only “flee youthful lusts” (II Timothy 2:22) but especially, in view of the dominance of evolutionism in modern education, “remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

4:12 conversation. That is, “manner of life.”

4:13 reading. As interim pastor of the church at Ephesus, it was important for Timothy both to do and to encourage much reading (both of the Scriptures and of other worthwhile books), to exhort the congregation to stronger Christian living, and to teach them sound doctrine. This is good counsel for all Christian leaders today as well. The admonition to “give attendance” is the same in the Greek as “continue steadfastly” (Acts 2:42).

4:14 presbytery. The “presbytery” consists of the elders (Greek presbuterion). The elders had evidently laid hands on Timothy as they prayed for him, and God answered that prayer by giving him the pastoral and teaching gifts of the Spirit.