Let no man despise your youth; but be an example of the believers, in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
All Commentaries on 1 Timothy 4:12 Go To 1 Timothy 4
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
There is no way of resisting the temptation to pride except by instilling the fear and love of God, through frequent pondering of the sacred books. But he who does this must show himself a model of patience and humility by attributing to himself less honor than is offered, neither swallowing all nor refusing all from those who honor him. What praise and honor he accepts he must not receive for himself—for he should refer all to God and despise human things—but for the sake of those whom he could not help if he were to lose dignity by too great selfdepreciation. Applicable to this is the saying, “let no man despise your youth,” recalling that he who said that said in another place, “If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” .
