1 However, the Spirit very clearly explains that in the last times some will abandon their trust in God, and will listen to deceptive spirits and beliefs that come from demons. 2 These hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared, 3 tell people to not marry and not to eat certain foods made by God that should be accepted with thanks by those who trust and know the truth. 4 Everything created by God is good, and nothing should be rejected but should be received with thanks, 5 since it is made sacred by the word of God and by prayer. 6 If you point out these things to the brothers and sisters you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus. You gain strength by trusting in the truth, and in the good teaching you've followed. 7 Reject what is irreligious, and old wives' tales. Make sure your exercise is spiritual— 8 for while physical exercise is useful to some extent, spiritual exercise is much more useful. For “it has promise for the present life, and for the life to come.” 9 You can trust this saying that should be accepted by everyone. 10 The reason we work and do the best we can is because our hope is in the living God. He is the Savior of all people, especially of those who trust in him. 11 This is what you should teach. Tell everyone to follow your instructions. 12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young. Be an example to those who trust in God—in the way you speak, the kind of life you live, in love, in trust, and in purity. 13 Until I get there, make sure you read the Scriptures to the church, and encourage them by your speaking and teaching. 14 Don't neglect the gracious gift you have that was given to you by prophetic inspiration when the church elders laid their hands on you. 15 Think carefully about these things, and dedicate yourself completely to them so that everyone can see the progress you're making. 16 Mind what you're doing and what you're teaching. Keep going with all of this, because as you do so you'll save both yourself and those who listen to you.
1 Timothy · Free Bible Version
1 Timothy 4 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Cross references (16)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 2 Timothy 3:1–9; 2 Peter 2:1; 2 Corinthians 11:13–15; Jude 18; 2 Thessalonians 2:3–12
- 2 Ephesians 4:19; Romans 16:18; Acts 20:30; Romans 1:28; Matthew 24:24
- 3 Hebrews 13:4; 1 Timothy 4:4; Romans 14:6; Colossians 2:16; 1 Corinthians 10:30–31
- 4 Romans 14:20; 1 Corinthians 10:25; Romans 14:14; 1 Corinthians 10:23; Acts 21:25
- 5 1 Timothy 4:3; Luke 4:4; 1 Corinthians 7:14; Titus 1:15; Luke 11:41
- 6 Titus 2:7–10; Colossians 3:16; 2 Peter 3:1–2; Colossians 4:7; Matthew 13:52
- 7 2 Timothy 2:16; Titus 2:12; 1 Timothy 1:4; 2 Peter 1:5–8; Titus 3:9
- 8 Matthew 6:33; 1 Timothy 6:6; Psalm 37:3–4; Proverbs 19:23; Proverbs 22:4
- 9 1 Timothy 1:15
- 10 1 Timothy 2:4; 1 John 2:2; John 1:29; 1 John 4:14; 1 Timothy 2:6
- 11 1 Timothy 6:2; 2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 2:15; 1 Timothy 5:7; Titus 3:8
- 12 Titus 2:7; 2 Timothy 2:22; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 5:3; 2 Peter 1:5–8
- 13 Acts 6:4; Titus 2:15; 2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Timothy 4:16; Acts 17:11
- 14 2 Timothy 1:6; 1 Peter 4:9–11; 1 Timothy 1:18; Acts 6:6; 1 Timothy 5:22
- 15 Matthew 5:16; Psalm 143:5; Philippians 2:15–16; Psalm 104:34; Psalm 119:48
- 16 Titus 1:9; Titus 2:7; 2 John 8–9; 1 Corinthians 3:10–11; Ezekiel 33:7–9
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
As those who adhere to the faith are fixed on a safe anchor, so those who fall from the faith can nowhere rest; but after many wanderings to and fro, they are borne at last into the very gulf of perdition.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 13 (1889)
Thou hast taught me, good Father, that "unto the pure all things are pure;" but "it is evil for that man who eateth with offence;" "and that every creature of Thine is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with, thanksgiving;" and that "meat commendeth us not to God;" and that no man should "judge us in …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
… neither condemn the men as sinners, nor abhor the flesh as strange food; for the Apostle knows some of this sort, when he says: forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
In the First Epistle to Timothy do we not read: "These things command and teach?" What these things are, has been told previously.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
And that the Holy Ghost subsists, and lives, and speaks, and foretells, I have often said in what goes before, and Paul writes it plainly to Timothy: Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in later times some shall depart from the faith,--which we see in the divisions not only of former times but also of our own; so motley …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)