1 Timothy 4:1-16 Lesson 403

1 Timothy 4:1-16
Lesson 403

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

More instructions.
False teaching (apostasy) and suitable foods (4:1-5)
The good minister (4:6-16).

By American artist Jared Barnes.

Study Tip:

As you study, pray for wisdom and trust your informed interpretations.
God will open your heart and pour in knowledge as you're ready to receive it.

The First Epistle of Paul The Apostle To Timothy

The King James Bible

1 Timothy 4:1-16
False teachers

1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.

10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

11 These things command and teach.

12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Margin notes:

"The Spirit speaketh expressly." (4:1) - "The Spirit (of God) speaks plainly."

"In the latter times some shall depart from the faith." (4:1) - This is confirmed in 2 Timothy 3:1 and 2 Peter 3:3.

"Giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." (4:1) - "Obeying deceitful spirits, and teachings of devils."

"Speaking lies in hypocrisy." (4:2) - "Telling lies and being hypocrites."

"Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats." (4:3) - The Gnostics promoted the idea of forbidding marriage and banning certain foods. Gnostic comes from the Greek word "gnosis," meaning "knowledge." The Gnostics believed in salvation through knowledge, unlike Christians, who believe in salvation through faith. Gnosticism began around the time of the crucifixion and held that redemption was reserved for gifted intellectuals capable of grasping the secret of how the universe works and what role we play in it. They believed in God but thought that all matter (including the human body) in the universe was evil and could not have been created by God. They taught that an evil spirit created the universe. Because everything is evil, God rarely interacts with the world. Gnostics held that Jesus was a messenger from God sent to help mankind, but hardly the Son of God. Gnostics believed that each person's spirit is a part of God that became separated and trapped in evil human bodies. We will escape these prisons when we die, but our spirits can only be reunited with God if we understand the true nature of the universe and that we are part of God's body. If we fail to grasp this "secret," our spirits will not know how to return to God after we die. Gnostics denied the deity of Jesus and threatened to corrupt the early Christian church.

"For every creature of God is good." (4:4) - See Genesis 1:31.

"For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer." (4:5) - Means every food God gave mankind is okay to eat (Genesis 9:3; Romans 14:14; 14:20; 1 Corinthians 10:25).

"If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things." (4:6) - "If you teach the brethren these things (the truth)."

"Nourished up in the words of faith." (4:6) - "Nourished by the words of faith."

"Refuse profane and Old wives' fables." (4:7) - Reject godless teachings that aren't based on biblical truths.

"Exercise thyself rather unto godliness." (4:7) - "Train yourself to be Godly."

"For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things." (4:8) - Although physical exercise offers benefits in this life, they are small compared to the eternal blessings of spiritual exercise.

"This is a faithful saying." (4:9) - "This is a true statement." Paul used this phase in his pastoral letters three times to show the truth of his words (1:15; 2 Timothy 2:11; and Titus 3:8).

"Worthy of all acceptation." (4:9) - "Worthy of accepting."

"The Saviour of all men." (4:10) - That is, the Savior of everyone who puts their faith in Jesus Christ.

"Specially of those that believe." (4:10) - It is faith that saves us.

"Let no man despise thy youth." (4:12) - "Don't let anyone look down on you (or your beliefs) because of your youth." Timothy was in his mid-thirties at this time.

"Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity." (4:12) - "Be a role model to Christians, in word, In life, in love."

"Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine." (4:13) - "Pay attention to reading (the Scriptures), to preaching, and to teaching."

"The laying on of the hands." (4:14) - To confirm the task assigned to him by God, church leaders laid hands on Timothy.

"Given thee by prophecy." (4:14) - Timothy's role as a church leader was set by prophecy (1 Timothy 1:18).

"Presbytery." (4:14) - A group of ministers, preachers, or elders.

"Meditate upon these things." (4:15) - "Concentrate on these things."

"That thy profiting may appear to all." (4:15) - "That your progress will be apparent to all."

"The doctrine." (4:16) - "The teaching."

The Bible repeatedly warns us about false teachers (Mark 13:21-23; Acts 20:29-31; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; 1 Timothy 1:3-7; 2 Peter 3:3-7).

New Living Translation

1 Timothy 4:1-16
Warnings against False Teachers

1 Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.

2 These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.

3 They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth.

4 Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks.

5 For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.

A Good Servant of Christ Jesus

6 If you explain these things to the brothers and sisters, Timothy, you will be a worthy servant of Christ Jesus, one who is nourished by the message of faith and the good teaching you have followed.

7 Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives' tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly.

8 "Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come."

9 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it.

10 This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers.

11 Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them.

12 Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

13 Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.

14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you.

15 Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress.

16 Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's questions:

1. When do the "latter times" ("the last days") begin (4:1)?

2. What are the main characteristics that make Christians good role models?

Pray for the strength to resist sin.
Ask God for forgiveness when you fall into temptation and give thanks when you don't.

Answers: (Do you agree?)

1. The "last days" began during the time of Jesus (Hebrews 1:1-2; 1 Peter 1:19- 20; 1 John 2:18) and will continue until His return.

2. According to verse 4:12, the characteristics that make Christians good role models are their speech, lifestyle (in public and private), love (of God and fellow man), spirit, faith, and purity (living free from sin). Which of these characteristics are strongest in you? Which needs some work and prayer?

Application thought for the day:

What are your God-given talents?
Are you using them to serve God?

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2023 evolke

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