1 Timothy 4:1-9

1 But the Spirit speaks expressly, that in latter times some shall apostatise from the faith, giving their mind to deceiving spirits and teachings of demons
2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, cauterised as to their own conscience,
3 forbidding to marry, [bidding] to abstain from meats, which God has created for receiving with thanksgiving for them who are faithful and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God [is] good, and nothing [is] to be rejected, being received with thanksgiving;
5 for it is sanctified by God's word and freely addressing [him].
6 Laying these things before the brethren, thou wilt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished with the words of the faith and of the good teaching which thou hast fully followed up.
7 But profane and old wives' fables avoid, but exercise thyself unto piety;
8 for bodily exercise is profitable for a little, but piety is profitable for everything, having promise of life, of the present one, and of that to come.
9 The word [is] faithful and worthy of all acceptation;

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Footnotes 5

  • [a]. Or 'acknowledge:' from the same root as 'knowledge' in ch. 2.4.
  • [b]. It means 'intercourse with a person,' then 'petitions and intercession;' one person speaking personally to another. (See Note, ch. 2.1, same Greek word.) The creature, fallen through Adam, belongs to the faithful, and those who know the truth, by God's speaking to them, and their freely speaking to him. This has set all on a new footing, because we have met God again, the word of God having put us into communication by grace. And the 'faithful, and those who know the truth,' have availed themselves of it, and come and enter into intercourse. It is no longer by nature, but by the word of God.
  • [c]. Or 'servant,' diakonos, as ch. 3.8.
  • [d]. Or 'been thoroughly acquainted with:' see Luke 1.3; 2Tim. 3.10.
  • [e]. That is, 'some small thing,' rather than 'a little time.' It is in evident contrast with 'everything.'
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.