1 Timothy 4:1-8
1: But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,
2: by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,
3: men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.
4: For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;
5: for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.
6: In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.
6: In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.
7: But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;
8: for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
Paul spoke of the revelation of the Spirit concerning later times when some would fall away from the faith. We saw in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 where he spoke of the falling away of believers and the rise of the antichrist which deceives them. This falling away occurs as a result of believers paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. This would be the hypocritical lies of those who appear holy and right with God, while their own consciences are seared—branded as a criminal.
The false teachings concerning abstaining from marriage and certain foods seemed to have begun first with Judaizers who tried to get the Gentiles who converted to Christianity to compromise with some of the Jewish Law and traditions. It was difficult for some Jews who believed in Jesus to fully let go of their past traditions and the Law. This lack of complete faith in the blood of Jesus to cleanse and sanctify them created many problems.
As a result, they presented a teaching as a sort of special class—a higher class—of Christian. The result was a type of Judaism, combined with a form of Christianity, along with their own false teaching forming an early Gnosticism, creating seeds for a religion which included the forbidding of marriage and abstaining from meats.
Paul clarified that everything created is good if received with gratitude. When we receive the creation of God—food or otherwise—with the Word of God and prayer, it is sanctified for our use. When our prayers align with the Word of God, our intentions and behavior are sanctified—aligned with His will as well. Paul told Timothy he would be a good servant of Christ to point out these things to the brethren and would continue to remain nourished in sound doctrine.
He instructed him to have nothing to do with worldly fables. Instead, to discipline himself with godliness. Paul admitted there is some profit in this life to disciplining the body in abstaining from such things as marriage relations for a time, or fastings. Yet godliness is always profitable now as well as in the life to come—eternally.
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Paul spoke of the revelation of the Spirit concerning later times when some would fall away from the faith. We saw in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 where he spoke of the falling away of believers and the rise of the antichrist which deceives them. This falling away occurs as a result of believers paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. This would be the hypocritical lies of those who appear holy and right with God, while their own consciences are seared—branded as a criminal.
The false teachings concerning abstaining from marriage and certain foods seemed to have begun first with Judaizers who tried to get the Gentiles who converted to Christianity to compromise with some of the Jewish Law and traditions. It was difficult for some Jews who believed in Jesus to fully let go of their past traditions and the Law. This lack of complete faith in the blood of Jesus to cleanse and sanctify them created many problems.
As a result, they presented a teaching as a sort of special class—a higher class—of Christian. The result was a type of Judaism, combined with a form of Christianity, along with their own false teaching forming an early Gnosticism, creating seeds for a religion which included the forbidding of marriage and abstaining from meats.
Paul clarified that everything created is good if received with gratitude. When we receive the creation of God—food or otherwise—with the Word of God and prayer, it is sanctified for our use. When our prayers align with the Word of God, our intentions and behavior are sanctified—aligned with His will as well. Paul told Timothy he would be a good servant of Christ to point out these things to the brethren and would continue to remain nourished in sound doctrine.
He instructed him to have nothing to do with worldly fables. Instead, to discipline himself with godliness. Paul admitted there is some profit in this life to disciplining the body in abstaining from such things as marriage relations for a time, or fastings. Yet godliness is always profitable now as well as in the life to come—eternally.
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