1 Timothy 4:13

“Till I come, etc.] To Ephesus; where the apostle hoped to be shortly, but was prevented; he afterwards came to Miletus, and sent for the elders of Ephesus thither, when he took his final leave of them. He mentions this circumstance, not as if Timothy was to attend to the following things no longer, but to quicken him to an attendance to them from the consideration of his being shortly with him. Give attendance to reading; that is, of the Scriptures, which the Jews call arqm, “reading”. f59 “Says R. Tanchum Bar Chanilai, for ever let a man divide his years or life into three parts; one third (let him spend) in the Mikra, (the Scriptures, and the reading of them,) another third in the Misna,…”

“Till I come--when Timothy's commission would be superseded for the time by the presence of the apostle himself (Ti1 1:3; Ti1 3:14). reading--especially in the public congregation. The practice of reading Scripture was transferred from the Jewish synagogue to the Christian Church (Luk 4:16-20; Act 13:15; Act 15:21; Co2 3:14). The New Testament Gospel and Epistles being recognized as inspired by those who had the gift of discerning spirits, were from the first, according as they were written, read along with the Old Testament in the Church (Th1 5:21, Th1 5:27; Col 4:16), [JUSTIN MARTYR, Apology, 1.67]. I think that while public reading is the prominent thought, the Spirit intended also to…”

“Till I come; - notes, 1 Timothy 3:14-15. Give attendance to reading - The word here used may refer either to public or to private reading; see Act 13:15; 2 Corinthians 3:14; compare Esdr. 9:48. The more obvious interpretation here is to refer it to private reading, or to a careful perusal of those books which would qualify him for his public work. The then written portions of the sacred volume - the Old Testament - are doubtless specially intended here, but there is no reason to doubt that there were included also such other books as would be useful, to which Timothy might have access. Even those were then few in number, but Paul evidently meant that Timothy should, as far as practicable,…”

“Give thyself to reading - Both publicly and privately. Enthusiasts, observe this! Expect no end without the means. 1 Timothy 4:14”

“I come: Ti1 3:14, Ti1 3:15 to reading: Deu 17:19; Jos 1:8; Psa 1:2, Psa 1:3, Psa 119:97-104; Pro 2:4, Pro 2:5; Mat 13:51, Mat 13:52; Joh 5:39; Act 6:4, Act 17:11; Ti2 2:15-17 to exhortation: Rom 12:8; Co1 14:3; Tit 2:15 to doctrine: Ti1 4:6, Ti1 4:16; Co1 14:6, Co1 14:26; Ti2 4:2 1 Timothy 4:14”