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
Some Will Depart from the Faith
1Now #See John 14:17 the Spirit expressly says that #[2 Thess. 2:3-9; 2 Tim. 3:1]; See 1 Cor. 11:19 in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to #1 John 4:6 (Gk.); See Matt. 7:15deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2through the insincerity of #[1 Thess. 2:3; 2 Thess. 2:11]liars whose consciences are seared, 3#[Dan. 11:37; Heb. 13:4] who forbid marriage and #See Col. 2:16 require abstinence from foods #Gen. 1:29; 9:3 that God created #See Rom. 14:6to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4For #Gen. 1:31 everything created by God is good, and #See Acts 10:15 nothing is to be rejected if it is #[See ver. 3 above]received with thanksgiving, 5for it is made holy #Gen. 1:25, 31by the word of God and prayer.
A Good Servant of Christ Jesus
6 # [2 Tim. 3:14, 15] If you put these things before the brothers,#4:6 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have #2 Tim. 3:10followed. 7Have nothing to do with irreverent, #See ch. 1:4 silly myths. Rather #Heb. 5:14train yourself for godliness; 8for while #[Col. 2:23] bodily training is of some value, godliness #[ch. 6:6] is of value in every way, as #Ps. 37:4, 9, 11; 84:11; 112:2; 145:19; Prov. 19:23; 22:4; Matt. 6:33; Mark 10:30; 1 Pet. 3:9it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9The saying is #See ch. 1:15trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10For to this end we toil and strive,#4:10 Some manuscripts and suffer reproach because we have our hope set on the living God, #See ch. 2:4; John 4:42who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
11Command and teach #ch. 5:7; 6:2these things. 12#1 Cor. 16:11; [2 Tim. 2:22; Titus 2:15] Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers #Titus 2:7; 1 Pet. 5:3an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14#See 1 Thess. 5:19 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you #ch. 1:18 by prophecy when the council of elders #See Acts 6:6laid their hands on you. 15Practice these things, immerse yourself in them,#4:15 Greek be in them so that #Phil. 1:12all may see your progress. 16#[Acts 20:28] Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save #Ezek. 33:9 both yourself and #See Rom. 11:14your hearers.
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