1 Timothy 4:12
 
1 Timothy 4:12
(KJV) Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
(1611 KJV) Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the beleeuers, in word, in conuersation, in charitie, in spirit, in faith, in puritie.
(1587 Geneva Bible) Let no man despise thy youth, but be vnto them that beleeue, an ensample, in worde, in conuersation, in loue, in spirit, in faith, and in purenesse.
(1526 Tyndale) Let no man despyse thy youth: but be vnto them that beleve an insample in worde in conversacion in love in sprete in fayth and in purenes.
 
Counterfeit Versions
(CSB) Don’t let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.
(NIV) Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
(NASV) Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.
(THE MESSAGE) Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity.
(AMP) Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth, but be an example (pattern) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.
(NLT) Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.
(ESV) Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
(CEV) Don't let anyone make fun of you, just because you are young. Set an example for other followers by what you say and do, as well as by your love, faith, and purity.
(NCV) Do not let anyone treat you as if you are unimportant because you are young. Instead, be an example to the believers with your words, your actions, your love, your faith, and your pure life.
(1901 ASV) Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity.
(NLV) Let no one show little respect for you because you are young. Show other Christians how to live by your life. They should be able to follow you in the way you talk and in what you do. Show them how to live in faith and in love and in holy living.
(HCSB) No one should despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
(RSV) Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
(NAB-Roman Catholic) Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) Let no man ever look down on your youth. On the contrary, become an example to the faithful ones in speaking, in conduct, in love, in faith, in chasteness.
 
Textus Receptus - Traditional Text
mhdeiV sou thV neothtoV katajroneitw alla tupoV ginou twn pistwn en logw en anastrojh en agaph en pneumati en pistei en agneia
 
Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
mhdeiV sou thV neothtoV katajroneitw alla tupoV ginou twn pistwn en logw en anastrojh en agaph en pistei en agneia
 
Corrupted Manuscripts
This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century
C 04 - Ephraemi Rescriptus - Fifth century
D 06 - Paris: Claromontanus - Sixth century
X 033 - Tenth century
 
Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse
Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)
K 018 - Ninth century
L 020 - Ninth century
P 025 - Ninth century
 
Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions
Omit “in spirit” before “ in faith”
Greisbach, Johann - 1805
Lachmann, Karl - 1842
Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
Tregelles, Samuel - 1857
Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871
Wordsworth, Christopher - 1856 revised in 1870
Westcott and Hort - 1881
Weiss, Bernhard - 1894
Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941
Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition
Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition
United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition
Von Soden, Freiherr - 1902
 
Affected Teaching
The modern versions remove an encouraging aspect of the Christian walk. It is the spirit in which we do things. It is making sure that we have the correct motivations in doing the Lord’s work. It is speaking of the motivation in the believer’s life to effect holy and spiritually fruitful works to the glory of God. If we approach our Christian walk with the wrong spirit, it will ruin our testimony and will cause all the works we do to become of non-effect for the Kingdom of God. Timothy was being encouraged by Paul to be a good example of the believers but this could not happen if his motivations were wrong. This is why when the modern versions omit that phrase, they omit a very necessary part of the Christian walk. In fact, that correct spirit separates us from the religious crowd. Once again the King James Bible gives the believer a full picture of the true Christian walk that separates us from religious behavior.

Back