1 Timothy 4
4
False Asceticism.#Doctrinal deviations from the true Christian message within the church have been prophesied, though the origin of the prophecy is not specified (1 Tm 4:1–2); cf. Acts 20:29–30. The letter warns against a false asceticism that prohibits marriage and regards certain foods as forbidden, though they are part of God’s good creation (1 Tm 4:3). 1Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the last times some will turn away from the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and demonic instructions#2 Tm 3:1; 4:3; 2 Pt 3:3; Jude 18. 2through the hypocrisy of liars with branded consciences. 3They forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.#Gn 9:3; Rom 14:6; 1 Cor 10:30–31. 4For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected when received with thanksgiving,#Gn 1:31; Acts 10:15. 5for it is made holy by the invocation of God in prayer.#The invocation of God in prayer: literally, “the word of God and petition.” The use of “word of God” without an article in Greek suggests that it refers to the name of God being invoked in blessing rather than to the “word of God” proclaimed to the community.
Counsel to Timothy. 6#Timothy is urged to be faithful, both in his teaching and in his own life, as he looks only to God for salvation. If you will give these instructions to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound teaching you have followed. 7Avoid profane and silly myths. Train yourself for devotion,#1:4; 2 Tm 2:16; Ti 1:14. 8for, while physical training is of limited value, devotion is valuable in every respect, since it holds a promise of life both for the present and for the future.#6:6. 9This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance.#1:15; 2 Tm 2:11; Ti 3:8. 10For this we toil and struggle,#Struggle: other manuscripts and patristic witnesses read “suffer reproach.” because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the savior of all, especially of those who believe.#2:4; Ti 2:11.
11#Timothy is urged to preach and teach with confidence, relying on the gifts and the mission that God has bestowed on him. Command and teach these things. 12Let no one have contempt for your youth,#Youth: some commentators find this reference a sign of pseudepigraphy. Timothy had joined Paul as a missionary already in A.D. 49, some fifteen years before the earliest supposed date of composition. but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.#1 Cor 16:11; Ti 2:15 / Phil 3:17. 13Until I arrive, attend to the reading,#Reading: the Greek word refers to private or public reading. Here, it probably designates the public reading of scripture in the Christian assembly. exhortation, and teaching. 14Do not neglect the gift you have, which was conferred on you through the prophetic word#Prophetic word: this may mean the utterance of a Christian prophet designating the candidate or a prayer of blessing accompanying the rite. Imposition of hands: this gesture was used in the Old Testament to signify the transmission of authority from Moses to Joshua (Nm 27:18–23; Dt 34:9). The early Christian community used it as a symbol of installation into an office: the Seven (Acts 6:6) and Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:3). Of the presbyterate: this would mean that each member of the college of presbyters imposed hands and appears to contradict 2 Tm 1:6, in which Paul says that he imposed hands on Timothy. This latter text, however, does not exclude participation by others in the rite. Some prefer to translate “for the presbyterate,” and thus understand it to designate the office into which Timothy was installed rather than the agents who installed him. with the imposition of hands of the presbyterate.#5:22; Acts 6:6; 8:17; 2 Tm 1:6. 15Be diligent in these matters, be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to everyone. 16Attend to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in both tasks, for by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
1 Timothy 4
4
False Teachers
1The Spirit says clearly that some people will abandon the faith in later times; they will obey lying spirits and follow the teachings of demons. 2Such teachings are spread by deceitful liars, whose consciences are dead, as if burnt with a hot iron. 3Such people teach that it is wrong to marry and to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten, after a prayer of thanks, by those who are believers and have come to know the truth. 4Everything that God has created is good; nothing is to be rejected, but everything is to be received with a prayer of thanks, 5because the word of God and the prayer make it acceptable to God.
A Good Servant of Christ Jesus
6If you give these instructions to the believers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, as you feed yourself spiritually on the words of faith and of the true teaching which you have followed. 7But keep away from those godless legends, which are not worth telling. Keep yourself in training for a godly life. 8Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way, because it promises life both for the present and for the future. 9This is a true saying, to be completely accepted and believed. 10We struggle#4.10 struggle; some manuscripts have are reviled. and work hard, because we have placed our hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all and especially of those who believe.
11Give them these instructions and these teachings. 12Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for the believers in your speech, your conduct, your love, faith, and purity. 13Until I come, give your time and effort to the public reading of the Scriptures and to preaching and teaching. 14Do not neglect the spiritual gift that is in you, which was given to you when the prophets spoke and the elders laid their hands on you. 15Practise these things and devote yourself to them, in order that your progress may be seen by all. 16Watch yourself and watch your teaching. Keep on doing these things, because if you do, you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.