Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Timothy 4:14

"Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery." — 1 Timothy 4:14 (ASV)

Furthermore, Paul advises his younger colleague not to neglect his gift (GK 5922). This word, charisma, occurs sixteen times in Paul’s letters and only once elsewhere in the NT (1 Peter 4:10). It comes from charis (“grace”), and so means a free gift, especially an extraordinary working of the Holy Spirit in a person. “Neglect” (GK 288) means to be careless about something; being careless about God’s gifts is a sin.

The specific gift Paul has in mind was given to Timothy “through a prophetic message” when the elders of the church placed their hands on him. We are not told when or where this happened—perhaps at Ephesus, when Paul left Timothy there (cf. also 1:18; 2 Timothy 1:6).

When the Scriptures were read in either a synagogue or a church (4:13), the reading took place from a scroll.