1Tim 4:13

“Now "every scribe who has been made a disciple to the kingdom of heaven is like a man that is a householder who brings forth out of his treasury things new and old." Therefore, it clearly follows by "conversion of the proposition," as it is called, that every one who does not bring forth out of his treasury things new and old is not a scribe who has been made a disciple for the kingdom of heaven. We must endeavor, therefore, in every way to gather in our heart, "by giving heed to reading, to exhortation, to teaching" and by "meditating in the law of the Lord day and night." We must observe not only the new oracles of the Gospels and of the apostles and their revelation but also the old things in the law "which has the shadow of the good things to come" and in the prophets who prophesied in accordance with them.”

“In what did St. Paul surpass the rest of the apostles?… Is it not because of the excellence of his epistles? By this he has helped and will help and, as long as the human race remains, will never stop helping the faithful, not only of his own time but from that day to this and those who shall believe until the coming of Christ. For his writings fortify the churches all over the world like a wall of steel.… His writings are not only useful to us for the refutation of false doctrine and the establishment of the true, but they help us very greatly, too, in living a good life.… These facts are enough to show that he took great pains over this part of his work. But listen also to what he says to his disciple in a letter, "Give heed to reading, to exhortation, to teaching."”

“"Till I come give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine." Even Timothy is commanded to apply to reading. Let us then be instructed not to neglect the study of the sacred writings. Again, observe, he says, "Till I come." Mark how he consoles him, for being as it were an orphan, when separated from him, it was natural that he should require such comfort. "Till I come," he says, give attendance to reading the divine writings, to exhortation of one another, to teaching of all.”

“In addition, if grief and trouble, even perils and reproaches from an unlearned people are stirred up as the result of a spirit of animosity, bear them with courage and constancy. Look rather to our Lord and Savior, the true shepherd who condescended to suffer, not only tribulation but even death, for the sake of the sheep. It is necessary for you to bear many adversities, if you want to preserve right doctrine and continuously to preach the word of God as it is expedient to do. The precepts of justice are always bitter to those who lead a wicked life. For this reason I exhort you today in the sight of God and his angels, and I declare with the voice of the apostle, "Devote yourself to the reading of Scripture, to preaching and teaching."”

“If the apostle commands Timothy to occupy himself with the reading of Holy Scripture, should we not do the same? Paul himself undoubtedly occupied himself with reading until the end of his life, urging this upon others as well. The apostle consoles Timothy by saying "till I come," for this gave him hope that he would soon see his teacher, since, being orphaned, he naturally sought Paul with his heart. And here is yet another reason why he said "till I come" — since holy Timothy, being young, naturally did not know many things and needed his teacher's presence in order to learn them from him, the apostle Paul says to him: until I come, read the Scriptures, and there you will find the necessary precepts. And when I come, I will pass on to you the rest as well. With exhortation: That is, by persuasion and encouragement of those who feel within themselves a decline of moral energy. With teaching: Addressed to all and concerning every matter.”

“Then when he says, till I come, attend to reading, he shows how to become fit for teaching: first, he does this; second, he assigns the reason for the admonition, at do not neglect. For there are two things which make a person fit to teach, namely, reading, in which he acquires knowledge, and actual teaching, in which he is made ready; therefore, he says, till I come, attend to reading of holy books: having for our comfort the holy books that are in our hands (1 Macc 12:9); search the Scriptures (John 5:39). And this is signified in Exodus where it is stated that in the ark of the Lord there must always be poles in the rings that are on the sides of the ark, so that it may always be ready for carrying (Exod 25:14). But for actual teaching there is needed exhortation in regard to what is to be done, and doctrine in regard to what is to be known; therefore, he adds, to exhortation and to doctrine: I will give you pastors according to my own heart, and they shall feed you with knowledge and doctrine (Jer 3:15).”

“Until I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the elders. Until I come, give attention to reading. It was likely that Timothy himself, as if deprived of Paul, wished for him. Therefore, he comforts him in two ways, both with the promise of his coming and with the consoling Scriptures. But notice that Timothy is instructed to read, which we ought to do. to exhortation. To the people. Do not neglect the gift that is in you. This is, the teaching or the office of a bishop. For the grace of God was that the young man was worthy to become a pastor. which was given to you through prophecy. For bishops were appointed by the command of the Spirit, and not randomly. But there is also a kind of prophecy that speaks of the present; as is said, "Separate for me Barnabas and Saul." (Acts 13:2) with the laying on of the hands of the elders. Paul says that the bishops are elders. For the elders would not have ordained the bishop.”