13在提前四章十节保罗接著说，『我们劳苦并竭力奋斗，正是为此，因我们乃是寄望于活的神，祂是万人的救主，更是信徒的救主。』我们的神是活的，所以我们能寄望于祂。在十二节保罗对提摩太说，『不可叫人小看你年轻，总要在言语、为人、爱、信、纯洁上，都作信徒的榜样。』提摩太虽然年轻，保罗却嘱咐他要担负起责任，顾到地方召会的建造，并选立长老、执事。为著这样的责任，提摩太受嘱咐不可幼稚，乃要作信徒的榜样。他要在言语、为人、爱、信、纯洁上，都作信徒的榜样。他要在动机和行动上纯洁，没有搀杂。十三节说，『你要注重宣读、劝勉、教导，直等到我来。』这里保罗指的不是研读，乃是当众高声诵读。根据上下文，这种当众宣读可能是为著劝勉和教导。
13In verse 10 Paul goes on to say, “For to this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, Who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.” Because our God is living, we can set our hope on Him. In verse 12 Paul says to Timothy, “Let no one despise your youth, but be a pattern to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” Although Timothy was young, he was charged by the apostle to bear the responsibility of caring for the building up of a local church and appointing elders and deacons. For such a responsibility, he was charged not to be childish, but to be a pattern to the believers. He was to be an example in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. He was to be pure, without mixture, in motive and act. Verse 13 says, “Until I come, attend to reading, to exhortation, to teaching.” Here Paul does not refer to reading in the sense of study, but to reading aloud in public. According to the context, this kind of public reading may be for exhortation and teaching