4 1 He condemneth as well false doctrine, 3 of marriage and the choice of meats, 7 as also profane fables: 8 and commendeth the godly exercise, 13 and the daily reading of the Scriptures.
1 Now [a]the Spirit speaketh evidently, that in the latter times some shall depart from the [b]faith, and shall give heed unto spirits of error, and doctrines of devils,
2 [c]Which speak lies through [d]hypocrisy, and have their [e]consciences burned with an hot iron,
3 [f]Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats [g]which God hath created [h]to be received [i]with giving thanks of them which believe and know the truth.
4 [j]For every creature of God is good, and nothing ought to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.
5 [k]For it is [l]sanctified by the [m]word of God, and prayer.
6 [n]If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, which hast been nourished up in the words of faith, and of good doctrine which thou hast continually [o]followed.
7 [p]But cast away profane, and old wives’ fables, [q]and exercise thyself unto [r]godliness.
8 [s]For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, which hath the promise of the life present, and of that that is to come.
9 [t]This is a true saying, and by all means worthy to be received.
10 For therefore we labor and are rebuked, because we trust in the living God, which is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe.
11 These things warn and teach.
12 [u]Let no man despise thy youth, but be unto them that believe, an ensample, in word, in conversation, in love, in spirit, in faith and in pureness.
13 [v]Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, and to doctrine.
14 Despise not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the company of the Eldership.
15 These things exercise, and give thyself unto them, that it may be seen how thou profitest among all men.
16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto learning: continue therein: for in doing this thou shalt both [w]save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Footnotes
- 1 Timothy 4:1 He setteth against that true doctrine, false opinions, which he foretelleth that certain which shall fall away from God and his religion, shall bring in by the suggestion of Satan, and so that a great number shall give ear to them.
- 1 Timothy 4:1 From the true doctrine of God.
- 1 Timothy 4:2 Although heretics counterfeit holiness never so much, yet they have no conscience.
- 1 Timothy 4:2 For they will as it were practice the art of disguised persons and players, that we may not think they will lie lurking in some one corner, or keep any resemblance of shamefastness.
- 1 Timothy 4:2 Whose conscience waxed so hard, that there grew an hard fleshiness over it, and so became to have a canker on it, and now at length required of very necessity to be burned with an hot iron.
- 1 Timothy 4:3 He setteth down two kinds of this false doctrine, to wit, the Law of sole life, and difference of meats.
- 1 Timothy 4:3 He proveth that he justly called such doctrines devilish, first, because the teachers of them make laws of things which are not their own: for have they created the meats?
- 1 Timothy 4:3 Secondly, because they overthrow with their decrees, the end wherefore they were created of God, to wit, that we should use them.
- 1 Timothy 4:3 Thirdly, for that by this means they rob God of his glory, who will be honored in the use of them. And herewithal the Apostle declareth that we must use the liberality of God soberly, and with a good conscience.
- 1 Timothy 4:4 He setteth an Apostolical rule, for taking away the difference of meats, against that false doctrine.
- 1 Timothy 4:5 He useth God’s benefits rightly, which acknowledge the giver of them by his word, and calleth upon him.
- 1 Timothy 4:5 It is so made pure and holy in respect of us, so that we may use it with a good conscience, as received at the Lord’s hand.
- 1 Timothy 4:5 We confess and acknowledge that God is the maker and giver of those creatures which we use. Secondly, that we are of the number of those, who through Christ’s benefit have recovered that right over all creatures, which Adam lost by his fall. Thirdly, by our prayers we crave of the Lord, that we may use those meats with a good conscience, which we receive at his hands. Fourthly, we make an end of our eating and drinking, with thanksgiving and prayer: and so are our meats sanctified to us.
- 1 Timothy 4:6 The conclusion with an exhortation to Timothy, to propound these things diligently to the Churches, which he had sucked of the Apostle, even in a manner from the teat.
- 1 Timothy 4:6 Never departing from the side of it.
- 1 Timothy 4:7 He setteth again true doctrine not only against that false and apostatical doctrine, but also against all vain and curious subtleties.
- 1 Timothy 4:7 It is not only requisite that the minister of the word be sound in doctrine, but also that his life be godly and religious.
- 1 Timothy 4:7 In the true serving of God.
- 1 Timothy 4:8 Godliness consisteth in spiritual exercise, and not in outward austereness of life, which though it be something to be accounteth of, if it be rightly used, yet is it in no wise comparable with godliness: For it profiteth not of itself, but through the benefit of another, but this hath the promise both of the life present, and of that that is to come.
- 1 Timothy 4:9 He goeth a little from his matter, and showeth that they which give themselves to godliness, although they are afflicted and reproached, are notwithstanding not to be counted miserable as other men are, because they are not afflicted for that cause that other men are, and the end of them both is far different one from the other. For how can God forsake his, which is bountiful even towards his enemies? And he willeth that this doctrine be well beaten into their heads.
- 1 Timothy 4:12 Now he returneth to that exhortation, showing which are the virtues of a Pastor, whereby he may come to be reverenced, although he be but young, to wit, such speech and life as are witnesses of charity, zeal, faith, and purity, but here is no mention made of the crosier staff, ring, cloak, and such other foolish and childish toys.
- 1 Timothy 4:13 The private exercise of Pastors, is continual reading of the Scriptures, whence out they may draw matter of wholesome doctrine and exhortation, both to themselves and to others.
- 1 Timothy 4:16 Faith is by hearing, and hearing by preaching: and therefore the ministers of the word are so said to save themselves and others, for that in them the Lord hath put the word of reconciliation.