1 Timothy 4 - International Children’s Bible (ICB)

A Warning About False Teachers

4 The Holy Spirit clearly says that in the later times some people will stop believing the true faith. They will obey spirits that lie and will follow the teachings of demons. 2 Such teachings come from hypocrites, men who cannot see what is right and what is wrong. It is as if their understanding were destroyed by a hot iron. 3 They tell people that it is wrong to marry. And they tell people that there are some foods that must not be eaten. But God made those foods, and the people who believe and who know the truth can eat those foods with thanks. 4 Everything that God made is good. Nothing that God made should be refused if it is accepted with thanks to God. 5 Everything God made is made holy by what God has said and by prayer.

Be a Good Servant of Christ

6 Tell these things to the brothers. This will show that you are a good servant of Christ Jesus. You will show that you are made strong by the words of faith and good teaching that you have been following. 7 People tell silly stories that do not agree with God’s truth. Do not follow what those stories teach. But teach yourself only to serve God. 8 Training your body helps you in some ways, but serving God helps you in every way. Serving God brings you blessings in this life and in the future life, too. 9 What I say is true, and you should fully accept it. 10 For this is why we work and struggle:[a] We hope in the living God. He is the Savior of all people. And in a very special way, he is the Savior of all who believe in him.

11 Command and teach these things. 12 You are young, but do not let anyone treat you as if you were not important. Be an example to show the believers how they should live. Show them with your words, with the way you live, with your love, with your faith, and with your pure life. 13 Continue to read the Scriptures to the people, strengthen them, and teach them. Do these things until I come. 14 Remember to use the gift that you have. That gift was given to you through a prophecy when the group of elders laid their hands on[b] you. 15 Continue to do those things. Give your life to doing them. Then everyone can see that your work is progressing. 16 Be careful in your life and in your teaching. Continue to live and teach rightly. Then you will save yourself and those people who listen to you.

Footnotes

  1. 4:10 struggle Some Greek copies read “suffer.”
  2. 4:14 laid their hands on A sign to show that Timothy was being given a special work of God.

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1 Timothy 4 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

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1 Timothy 4 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

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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