Theophylact of Ohrid, on 1Tim 4:12

“Let no man despise thy youth: but be thou an example of the faithful in word, in conversation, in charity, in faith, in chastity.”

“Since youth, owing to a common prejudice, has become something easily despised, you, says the apostle, command with authority, and no one will despise you; for a teacher must not be held in contempt. Where, then, is gentleness? Where he himself is subjected to insults, he must be gentle; but where strictness is necessary for the salvation of others, there he must command with full authority. Or: show a life adorned with good character, and your youth will not be despised, but on the contrary, will attract universal admiration. Therefore the apostle adds the following as well. That is, be a model in life, a rule of the best life. In word: To speak with ease, to have a word at the ready or prepared. In conduct: In ordinary life and in the ecclesiastical order. In love: Love that embraces all. In spirit: Or by spiritual disposition, or by a gift of grace, so as not to be puffed up by this gift. In faith: By a right and unwavering faith, when one believes God even in that which is impossible in the natural order. In purity (ἐν ἁγνείᾳ – in blamelessness): That is, in virginal purity and chastity.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.