1 Timothy 4
- Who wrote it
- Paul (debated)
- Who it was for
- Timothy, in Ephesus
- What was happening
- Warning against teaching that forbids marriage and foods; a young leader is to be an example and to attend to reading, exhortation, and teaching
What’s happening
"The Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron, forbidding marriage and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with thanksgiving. For it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer." If Timothy teaches these things, he will be "a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith." He is to "refuse profane and old wives' fables" and "exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value in all things, having the promise of the life which is now, and of that which is to come." This is a faithful saying: "we both labor and suffer reproach, because we have set our trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe." Timothy is to "command and teach these things." "Let no man despise your youth; but be an example to those who believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity." Until Paul comes, Timothy is to "pay attention to reading, to exhortation, and to teaching" and not to neglect the gift given "by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the elders." He is to give himself wholly to these things, so that his progress may be seen, and to "pay attention to yourself and to your teaching. Continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you."
Why the setting matters
The false teaching Paul describes in 4:1-5 has two marks: forbidding marriage and requiring abstinence from certain foods. Paul answers both from creation: God made food and marriage, and both are good when received with thanks. This sets the teaching against several movements known in the period, including Jewish groups that kept strict rules about food and Greek ideas that saw the body and its pleasures as inferior; the letter does not say which, and scholars differ. "In later times" speaks of something Paul sees already beginning (compare 1:19-20 and 6:21). The comparison between bodily and spiritual training in 4:7-8 would have been familiar in a city such as Ephesus, which held athletic games; Paul does not dismiss bodily exercise but gives it a smaller place. The line that God is "the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe" (4:10) has been read as universal salvation, as God's offer being open to all, or as God's care for all and salvation for believers; it should be read with 2:4. Timothy's youth is relative: the word could be used of a man into his thirties or forties, and (if Paul wrote this letter) Timothy had by then worked with him for well over a decade. The "laying on of hands" with prophecy (4:14) probably refers to a commissioning by the elders at which prophetic words were spoken, perhaps the event Paul mentions in 2 Timothy 1:6.
Who’s in this chapter
Paul
Warns Timothy and expects to come soon.
Timothy
Urged to be an example, to read, exhort, and teach, and not to neglect his gift.
The false teachers
Forbidding marriage and certain foods.
Elders
Laid their hands on Timothy with prophecy.
Talk it through
- Paul says every creature of God is good when received with thanksgiving. How could that line help or challenge both rule-keepers and those who care little about rules?
- "Let no man despise your youth." What does it take to be heard when others think you are too young, or too new?
- Timothy is told to give attention to "reading, exhortation, and teaching." What would a church that gave attention to all three look like?
- Paul says Timothy will "save both yourself and those who hear you." How does the idea that a leader's life and teaching are linked sit with you?
Read 1 Timothy 4
World English Bible
1But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, 2through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron, 3forbidding marriage and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with thanksgiving. 5For it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.
6If you instruct the brothers of these things, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which you have followed. 7But refuse profane and old wives’ fables. Exercise yourself toward godliness. 8For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value in all things, having the promise of the life which is now, and of that which is to come. 9This saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance. 10For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we have set our trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11Command and teach these things.
12Let no man despise your youth; but be an example to those who believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity. 13Until I come, pay attention to reading, to exhortation, and to teaching. 14Don’t neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the elders. 15Be diligent in these things. Give yourself wholly to them, that your progress may be revealed to all. 16Pay attention to yourself and to your teaching. Continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Text: World English Bible, Public domain. About our sources