This chapter includes instruction to Timothy about his ministry. Paul says the Lord said that in later times many will abandon their faith and start following many deceiving spirits. They will be taught things by demons. These teachings would come from hypocritical liars that had consciences that had been seared just like a hot iron.

Paul’s Response to False Teachers

These liars forbid the people to marry, as well as ordered them to avoid certain foods, that God had created in order to be received by the true believers. Paul goes on to say that everything God has created is good. Nothing of His should be rejected but be received with thanksgiving, since it has been consecrated by prayer and God’s word.

More Instructions to Timothy

Paul told Timothy to tell his sisters and brothers about these things and that would make him a wonderful minister of the Lord. Paul says that physical training does have some value, but that godliness has the most value because it is the promise for not only present life, but also for the life ahead.

This was a trustworthy declaration that should be fully accepted. Paul goes on to say that this is the reason why we strive and labor, because we have faith in our living God, the Savior of everyone, especially those that believe.

Being an Example

Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy Chapter 4 not to let any person look down upon him since he was young. Timothy was to be a good example for all of the believers in conduct, in speech, in faith, in purity, and in love. He told Timothy to devote himself to reading the Scripture in public, to keep preaching and teaching until he arrived.

He said that Timothy should not neglect his gift that was given to him by way of prophecy at the time when the elders had laid their hands upon him. Paul then tells Timothy to always be very diligent concerning these matters and to give himself wholly so everyone could see his progress. He warns Timothy to carefully watch his life, as well as the doctrine. Timothy was expected to persevere in them, and when he did this, Timothy would save himself and his faithful followers.

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1 Timothy 4 (King James Version)

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.

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