1 But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron; 3 forbidding marriage and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with thanksgiving. 5 For it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer. 6 If you instruct the brothers of these things, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which you have followed. 7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables. Exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value in all things, having the promise of the life which is now, and of that which is to come. 9 This saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we have set our trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no man despise your youth; but be an example to those who believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity. 13 Until I come, pay attention to reading, to exhortation, and to teaching. 14 Don't neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the elders. 15 Be diligent in these things. Give yourself wholly to them, that your progress may be revealed to all. 16 Pay attention to yourself, and to your teaching. Continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Analysis Of The Chapter
There is, in many respects, a strong resemblance between the first part of this chapter, 1 Tim. 4, and 2 Thes. 2; compare notes on that chapter. The leading object of this chapter is to state to Timothy certain things of which he was constantly to remind the church; and having done this, the apostle gives him some directions about his personal deportment. The chapter may be conveniently divided into three parts:
I. Timothy was to put the church constantly in remembrance of the great apostasy which was to occur, and to guard them against the doctrines which would be inculcated under that apostasy; 1-Timothy 4:1-6.
(a) There was to be, in the latter days, a great departing from the faith; 1-Timothy 4:1.
(b) Some of the characteristics of that apostasy were these; there would be a giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils; 1-Timothy 4:1. Those who taught would hypocritically speak what they knew to be falsehood, having their own consciences seared; 1-Timothy 4:2. They would forbid to marry, and forbid the use of certain articles of food which God had appointed for man; 1-Timothy 4:3-5.
II. Timothy was to warn the churches against trifling and superstitious views, such as the apostle calls "old wives'" fables; 1-Timothy 4:7-11.
(a) He was not to allow himself to be influenced by such fables, but at once to reject them; 1-Timothy 4:7.
(b) The bodily exercise which the friends of such "fables" recommended was of no advantage to the soul, and no stress ought to be laid on it, as if it were important; 1-Timothy 4:8.
(c) That which was truly profitable, and which ought to be regarded as important was godliness; for "that" had promise of the present life, and of the life to come; 1-Timothy 4:8.
(d) Timothy must expect, in giving these instructions, to endure labor and to suffer reproach; nevertheless, he was faithfully to inculcate these important truths; 1-Timothy 4:10-11.
III. Various admonitions respecting his personal deportment; 1-Timothy 4:12-16.
(a) He was so to live that no one would despise him or his ministry because he was young; 1-Timothy 4:12.
(b) He was to give a constant attention to his duties until the apostle should himself return to him; 1-Timothy 4:13.
(c) He was carefully to cultivate the gift which has been conferred by his education, and by his ordination to the work of the ministry; 1-Timothy 4:14.
(d) He was to meditate on these things, and to give himself wholly to the work, so that his profiting might appear to all; 1-Timothy 4:15.
(e) He was to take good heed to himself, and to the manner and matter of his teaching, that he might save himself and those who heard him; 1-Timothy 4:16.
Apostasy from the true faith predicted, and in what that apostasy should consist, 1-Timothy 4:1-5. Exhortations to Timothy to teach the truth, 1-Timothy 4:6. To avoid old wives' fables; to exercise himself to godliness, 1-Timothy 4:7, 1-Timothy 4:8. To labor, command, and teach, 1-Timothy 4:9, 1-Timothy 4:10, 1-Timothy 4:11. To act so that none might despise his youth, 1-Timothy 4:12. To give attendance to reading and preaching, 1-Timothy 4:13, 1-Timothy 4:14. To give up himself wholly to the Divine work, 1-Timothy 4:15. And so doing he should both save himself and them that heard him, 1-Timothy 4:16.
INTRODUCTION TO 1 TIMOTHY 4
In this chapter the apostle foretells a dreadful apostasy which should happen in the last times, the particulars of which he gives; and on occasion of one branch of it, discourses of Christian liberty in eating all sorts of food fit for use; and delivers out exhortations to Timothy to various duties relating to himself, his doctrine, and his charge. The prophecy is in 1-Timothy 4:1, the author of this prophecy is the Spirit of God; the manner in which it was delivered was very clear and express; the time when it should be fulfilled, the last days; the thing itself, a departure of some from the faith; the means whereby it would come about are, some giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils, and the hypocrisy and hardened consciences of others, who would forbid marriage, and order an abstinence from certain meats; the evil of which last is exposed by their being the creatures of God, and by their being made for this purpose to be received with thankfulness by all believers, and who know the truth: and the reasons why they should be received and used follow; because they are all good, as they are the creatures of God; and because there is nothing to be refused, provided it be received with a thankful heart; and because every creature is sanctified by the word of God, and prayer, 1-Timothy 4:4. And then Timothy is exhorted to put the brethren in mind of those things, by which he would show himself to be a faithful minister of Christ, and well instructed in the doctrines of the Gospel, 1-Timothy 4:6, and to reject things profane and fabulous, but use himself to internal and powerful godliness, since outward worship signifies little, but the former has the promise of this, and the other world annexed to it; which is a true saying, and to be depended on, 1-Timothy 4:7 and which is confirmed from the practice and experience of the apostles, and therefore should be taught with authority, 1-Timothy 4:10. And then the apostle gives Timothy some advice, which being taken, would prevent his being despised, on account of his youth; as with respect to his life and conversation, so to behave as to be a pattern to others, 1-Timothy 4:12, and with respect to the exercise of his ministry, to make use of such means, as reading and meditation, that his profiting might be manifest to all, 1-Timothy 4:13 and with respect to the doctrines he preached, to abide by them, whereby he would be a means of saving himself, and others, 1-Timothy 4:16.
(1-Timothy 4:1-5) Of departures from the faith that began already to appear.
(1-Timothy 4:6-16) Several directions, with motives for due discharge of duties.
SUMMARY.--An Apostasy in Latter Times. Some of the Marks of that Apostasy. Directions to Timothy in View of This. The Preacher to Be an Example. To Take Heed to Himself.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.