Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Timothy 4:15

"Be diligent in these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress may be manifest unto all." — 1 Timothy 4:15 (ASV)

Meditate upon these things.—Better rendered, be diligent in these things. With these words St. Paul closes this division of his solemn directions to his chosen disciple and representative at Ephesus. He must dwell on these things and must be diligent in their practice: he must show himself active and industrious as a public teacher, and must also order his life to be an example to his fellow believers.

Give yourself wholly to them; that your profiting may appear to all.—More accurately rendered, your advance (or your progress) may be manifest to all. To these points—his public teaching and his public example—he must give ceaseless attention. This is so that the Christian community of the Church over which he presided would be enabled constantly to see what progress their chief pastor was making in Christian experience and life.

The word we have translated “advance” or “progress” reminds Christian ministers and teachers of St. Paul’s grave words to Timothy—and, through Timothy, to all who occupy any position of authority in the congregations. These words teach that there must be no standing still, no resting content with knowledge already acquired, nor being satisfied with the present spiritual life. There must also be a restless striving to acquire new stores of knowledge, ever deeper and more accurate, and a ceaseless endeavor to attain a higher eminence in the spiritual life. And, if the minister or teacher is to be successful, the result of these efforts must be manifest to the fellow believers among whom they minister.