1 Timothy 4 - Contemporary English Version (CEV)

People Will Turn from Their Faith

4 God's Spirit clearly says that in the last days many people will turn from their faith. They will be fooled by evil spirits and by teachings that come from demons. 2 They will also be fooled by the false claims of liars whose consciences have lost all feeling. These liars 3 will forbid people to marry or to eat certain foods. But God created these foods to be eaten with thankful hearts by his followers who know the truth. 4 Everything God created is good. And if you give thanks, you may eat anything. 5 What God has said and your prayer will make it fit to eat.

Paul's Advice to Timothy

6 If you teach these things to other followers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus. You will show you have grown up on the teachings about our faith and on the good instructions you have obeyed. 7 Don't have anything to do with worthless, senseless stories. Work hard to be truly religious. 8-9 As the saying goes,

“Exercise is good
for your body,
but religion helps you
in every way.
It promises life
now and forever.”

These words are worthwhile and should not be forgotten. 10 We have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, but especially of those who have faith. This is why we work and struggle so hard.[a]

11 Teach these things and tell everyone to do what you say. 12 Don't let anyone make fun of you, just because you are young. Set an example for other followers by what you say and do, as well as by your love, faith, and purity.

13 Until I arrive, be sure to keep on reading the Scriptures in worship, and don't stop preaching and teaching. 14 Use the gift you were given when the prophets spoke and the group of church leaders[b] blessed you by placing their hands on you. 15 Remember these things and think about them, so everyone can see how well you are doing. 16 Be careful about the way you live and about what you teach. Keep on doing this, and you will save not only yourself, but the people who hear you.

Footnotes

  1. 4.10 struggle so hard: Some manuscripts have “are treated so badly.”
  2. 4.14 group of church leaders: Or “group of elders” or “group of presbyters.” This translates one Greek word, and it is related to the one used in 5.17,19.

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4 And the Spirit expressly speaketh, that in latter times shall certain fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and teachings of demons, 2 in hypocrisy speaking lies, being seared in their own conscience, 3 forbidding to marry -- to abstain from meats that God created to be receive...
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4 But the Spirit saith openly, that in the last times some men shall depart from the faith [Forsooth the Spirit saith openly, for in the last times some shall depart from the faith], giving attention to spirits of error, and to teachings of devils; 2 that speak lying in hypocrisy, and have their co...
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1 Timothy 4 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

4 The Spirit of God says very plainly that in later times some people will stop believing. They will listen to other spirits that fool them, and to the teaching of bad spirits. 2 Men will tell lies and make people believe they are something when they are not. These men will have made their hearts so...
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1 Timothy 4 - World English Bible (WEB)

4 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 f...
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1 Timothy 4 - The Voice (VOICE)

4 But even so, the Spirit very clearly tells us that in the last times some will abandon the true faith because of their devotion to spirits sent to deceive and sabotage, and mistakenly they will end up following the doctrine of demons. 2 They will be carried away through the hypocrisy of liars who...
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1 Timothy 4 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

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1 Timothy 4 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

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1 Timothy 4 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

False Asceticism4 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 through the pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and enjoin abstinence from foods which God created...
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1 Timothy 4 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

4 Now the Spirit clearly says that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, and shall consider spirits of error and doctrines of demons. 2 They speak lies through hypocrisy and have their consciences burned with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from foods whic...
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1 Timothy 4 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

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1 Timothy 4 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

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1 Timothy 4 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

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1 Timothy 4 - New Living Translation (NLT)

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