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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"Let no man despise thy youth." Observe that it becomes a priest to command and to speak authoritatively, and not always to teach. But because, from a common prejudice, youth is apt to be despised, therefore he says, "Let no man despise thy youth." For a teacher ought not to be exposed to contempt. But if he is not to be despised, what room is there for meekness and moderation? Indeed the contempt that he fails into personally he ought to bear; for teaching is commended by longsuffering. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
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. …
Ignatius of Antioch
Now it becomes you also not to treat your bishop too familiarly on account of his youth, but to yield him all reverence, having respect to the power of God the Father, as I have known even holy presbyters do, not judging rashly, from the manifest youthful appearance [of their bishop], but as being themselves prudent in God, submitting to him, or rather not to him, but to the Father of Jesus Christ, the bishop of us all. …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
However, the life of the speaker has greater weight in determining whether he is obediently heard than any grandness of eloquence. For he who speaks wisely and eloquently but lives wickedly may benefit many students, even though, as it is written, he "may be unprofitable to his own soul." … And thus they benefit many by preaching what they do not practice; but many more would be benefitted if they were to do what they say. …
Thomas Aquinas
Then when he says, let no man, he shows how he becomes fit for the foregoing: first, for commanding; second, for teaching, at till I come. In regard to the first he does two things: first, he shows him how to forestall contempt; second, he mentions what should be used to forestall it, at be an example. For a command is respected when there is authority in the one commanding; consequently, when such authority is scorned, the command is frustrated. This happens especially in regard to youths, who are not considered prudent. …
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