<p>4:13- see on 1 Thess. 5:27.</p><p><i>Until I come</i>- The implication of how the argument develops could be that Paul intended to give Timothy some Spirit gift which would further empower his ministry, presumably by the personal laying on of hands as in :14; see note there. He wrote similarly to the Romans (Rom. 1:11). Until then, Timothy was to focus on his own study and teaching.</p><p><i>Give attention to reading, to preaching, to teaching</i>- The &quot;reading&quot; could refer to Timothy's own Bible study being the basis for his preaching to the unbelievers and teaching of the converts. But it could equally refer to the public reading of the Scriptures- which was especially necessary in largely illiterate congregations. The same word for &quot;give attention&quot; is used about not giving attention to Jewish fables (1:4) nor false teachers (4:1); but these negative commands must be replaced by a positive giving of attention to God's word and to sharing that word with others. Positive preaching and teaching of God's word, if focused upon, will mean we will not have mental space to give attention to false teaching. And maybe we are to read this appeal for focus, mental 'giving attention', as the antidote to Timothy's proneness to sexual weakness touched on in :12.</p>