The Letters · New Testament
1 Timothy 4
1 Timothy 4: a warning about later teaching and a charge to a young minister
General context
The Spirit, the writer says, speaks expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, taught by people speaking lies in hypocrisy whose conscience is seared with a hot iron. Two practices are named: forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats which God created to be received with thanksgiving. Against this the writer states that every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused if received with thanksgiving, since it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. The address then turns to Timothy. Putting the brethren in remembrance of these things will make him a good minister of Jesus Christ. He is to refuse profane and old wives' fables and exercise himself unto godliness, since bodily exercise profits little while godliness is profitable unto all things, with promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. The writer marks this a faithful saying and the reason they labour and suffer reproach. Commands follow in quick order: command and teach these things, let no man despise thy youth, be an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine until the writer comes, neglect not the gift given by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery, meditate on these things, and take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine, which the writer says will save both Timothy and his hearers.
Cited passages: 1 Timothy 4:1, 1 Timothy 4:2, 1 Timothy 4:3, 1 Timothy 4:4, 1 Timothy 4:5, 1 Timothy 4:6, 1 Timothy 4:7, 1 Timothy 4:8, 1 Timothy 4:9, 1 Timothy 4:10, 1 Timothy 4:11, 1 Timothy 4:12, 1 Timothy 4:13, 1 Timothy 4:14, 1 Timothy 4:15, 1 Timothy 4:16
1 Timothy 4 (KJV)
1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3Forbidding 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.
4For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
6If 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.
7But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
8For 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.
9This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
10For 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.
11These things command and teach.
12Let 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.
13Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
14Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
15Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
16Take 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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Historical context
The warning is attributed to the Spirit and placed in the latter times, with no date, interval or sign given for when that begins. Two teachings are named concretely, forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats, and no teacher or group is named as holding them here. Two details about Timothy are established: he is young enough for the writer to say Let no man despise thy youth, without any age being given, and he received a gift by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery, which connects with the prophecies mentioned in the first chapter but is given no date, place or list of participants. The instruction to give attendance to reading assumes texts read aloud, and the letter does not say which. Till I come repeats the expectation of a visit stated earlier without fixing a time.
Cited passages: 1 Timothy 4:1, 1 Timothy 4:3, 1 Timothy 4:12, 1 Timothy 4:13, 1 Timothy 4:14, 1 Timothy 1:18
Literary context
The chapter is built on one reversal. What the predicted teachers forbid, the writer receives, so forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats is answered by nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving. It then swings from a third-person prediction to second-person commands, and the density of imperatives increases toward the end, refuse, exercise, command, teach, be thou an example, give attendance, neglect not, meditate, take heed. A phrase stitches the parts together, these things, used three times for what Timothy must remember, command and meditate on. The faithful saying formula returns here after its first use in the opening chapter. The last verse joins the two objects of attention that the chapter has kept side by side, thyself and the doctrine.
Cited passages: 1 Timothy 4:3, 1 Timothy 4:4, 1 Timothy 4:6, 1 Timothy 4:7, 1 Timothy 4:9, 1 Timothy 4:11, 1 Timothy 4:12, 1 Timothy 4:15, 1 Timothy 4:16, 1 Timothy 1:15
Key moments
- The Spirit speaks expressly (1 Timothy 4:1). A departure from the faith in the latter times is predicted.
- Marriage and meat forbidden (1 Timothy 4:3). Two named prohibitions are attributed to the predicted teachers.
- Nothing to be refused (1 Timothy 4:4). Every creature of God is called good if received with thanksgiving.
- Godliness over exercise (1 Timothy 4:8). Bodily exercise is said to profit little by comparison.
- Let no man despise thy youth (1 Timothy 4:12). Timothy is told to be an example instead.
- The gift by prophecy (1 Timothy 4:14). A gift given with the laying on of hands is recalled.
- Take heed to yourself (1 Timothy 4:16). Timothy is told to watch both his life and his teaching.
For reflection
The writer tells Timothy to take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine, as if the two could not be separated. Where does that leave a teacher whose life and message pull apart?
