1 Timothy 4

The Coming Apostasy

1 Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the last times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,

2 by the hypocrisy of liars, who are seared in their own conscience,

3 who forbid marrying [and insist on] abstaining from foods that God created for sharing in with thankfulness by those who believe and who know the truth,

4 because everything created by God [is] good and nothing [is to be] rejected [if it is] received with thankfulness,

5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

The Good Servant of Christ

6 [By] teaching these [things] to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, trained in the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed faithfully.

7 But reject those {worthless myths told by elderly women}, and train yourself for godliness.

8 For the training of the body is {somewhat} profitable, but godliness is profitable for everything, [because it] holds promise for the present life and for the [life] to come.

9 The statement [is] trustworthy and deserving of complete acceptance.

10 For to this [end] we labor and suffer reproach, because we have put our hope in [the] living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of believers.

11 Command these [things] and teach [them].

12 Let no one look down on your youth, but be an example for the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

13 Until I come, pay attention to the [public] reading, to exhortation, to teaching.

14 Do not neglect the gift [that is] in you, that was granted to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.

15 Practice these [things]. Be [diligent] in these [things], in order that your progress may be evident to everyone.

16 Fix [your] attention on yourself and on your teaching. Continue in them, for [by] doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

1 Timothy 4 Commentary

Chapter 4

Of departures from the faith that began already to appear. (1-5) Several directions, with motives for due discharge of duties. (6-16)

Verses 1-5 The Holy Spirit, both in the Old and the New Testament, spoke of a general turning from the faith of Christ, and the pure worship of God. This should come during the Christian dispensation, for those are called the latter days. False teachers forbid as evil what God has allowed, and command as a duty what he has left indifferent. We find exercise for watchfulness and self-denial, in attending to the requirements of God's law, without being tasked to imaginary duties, which reject what he has allowed. But nothing justifies an intemperate or improper use of things; and nothing will be good to us, unless we seek by prayer for the Lord's blessing upon it.

Verses 6-10 Outward acts of self-denial profit little. What will it avail us to mortify the body, if we do not mortify sin? No diligence in mere outward things could be of much use. The gain of godliness lies much in the promise; and the promises to godly people relate partly to the life that now is, but especially to the life which is to come: though we lose for Christ, we shall not lose by him. If Christ be thus the Saviour of all men, then much more will he be the Rewarder of those who seek and serve him; he will provide well for those whom he has made new creatures.

Verses 11-16 Men's youth will not be despised, if they keep from vanities and follies. Those who teach by their doctrine, must teach by their life. Their discourse must be edifying; their conversation must be holy; they must be examples of love to God and all good men, examples of spiritual-mindedness. Ministers must mind these things as their principal work and business. By this means their profiting will appear in all things, as well as to all persons; this is the way to profit in knowledge and grace, and also to profit others. The doctrine of a minister of Christ must be scriptural, clear, evangelical, and practical; well stated, explained, defended, and applied. But these duties leave no leisure for wordly pleasures, trifling visits, or idle conversation, and but little for what is mere amusement, and only ornamental. May every believer be enabled to let his profiting appear unto all men; seeking to experience the power of the gospel in his own soul, and to bring forth its fruits in his life.

Footnotes

• [a]. *Here "[if]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("received") which is understood as conditional
• [b]. *Here "[by]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("teaching") which is understood as means
• [c]. Literally "worthless and characteristic of an elderly woman myths"
• [d]. Literally "for a little"
• [e]. *Here "[because]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("holds") which is understood as causal
• [f]. Some manuscripts have "and strive"
• [g]. Many English translations supply "of scripture" here to clarify what is to be read aloud
• [h]. Literally "be in these [things]," though most English versions supply a predicate here
• [i]. *Here "[by]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("doing") which is understood as means

Chapter Summary

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 1Ti 4:1-3, 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, 1Ti 4:4,5. 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, 1Ti 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, 1Ti 4:7-9 and which is confirmed from the practice and experience of the apostles, and therefore should be taught with authority, 1Ti 4:10,11. 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, 1Ti 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, 1Ti 4:13-15 and with respect to the doctrines he preached, to abide by them, whereby he would be a means of saving himself, and others, 1Ti 4:16.