The Nugget:
1Ti 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (KJV)
1Ti 4:12 Let no one look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in your speech, conduct, love, faithfulness, and purity. (NET)
My Comment:
Paul encouraged Timothy to be an example of the believers in faith or faithfulness. The underlying Greek word is also translated fidelity.
The lexicon in Strong’s Concordance for this word (G4102) gives the following information:
G4102
πιστις
pistis
pis’-tis
From G3982; persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: – assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.
Total KJV occurrences: 244
Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries
Using the cross references given in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury, much more that the Bible says related to this character trait and spiritual gift will be found:
in faith. 1Ti 6:11, *Gal 5:22; *Gal 5:23, Heb 10:22.
The above references are live links on some platforms. For those who cannot access the live links, here are the referenced texts with a few comments:
1 Timothy 6:11
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
King James Version
At 1 Timothy 6:11 I have placed this information:
faith. Subjective sense, belief and trust in God and His promises. For the objective sense, the faith, what is believed in terms of the content of belief, see +Act 6:7; +1Ti 1:19; and especially 1Ti 6:10.
Galatians 5:22
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
King James Version
At Galatians 5:22 for the fruit of the Spirit called faith the following helpful references are given:
faith. or, fidelity. Gal 2:16, Mat 23:23, +*Luk 16:10, +*Act 6:3, Rom 3:3, 1Co 4:2; 1Co 13:7; 1Co 13:13, +*2Co 5:7, 2Th 3:2, 1Ti 3:11; +*1Ti 4:12; 1Ti 6:11, *Tit 2:10, 1Pe 5:12.
Of these references for faith at Galatians 5:22, I invite your attention to Luke 16:10,
Luke 16:10
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
King James Version
To which I would add a reference on the subject of faithfulness not given at any of the texts referred to:
Proverbs 20:6
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
King James Version
The final reference to faith given at 1 Timothy 4:12 is Hebrews 10:22,
Hebrews 10:22
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
King James Version
Giving more of the context for Hebrews 10:22,
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
This verse (Hebrews 10:22) and its immediate context is packed with material to study further. But for those unwilling to learn anything new, avoid like the plague any further study of this verse using The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury. I warned in the Preface that this Bible study tool is not generic. It contains notes filled with Bible evidence that shows some doctrinal positions held by many may just not be correct when the Bible is studied accurately.