1 Timothy Chapter 4

1 Timothy 4:1-5 “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, ² speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, ³ forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. ⁴ For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; ⁵ for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”

This passage describes the second departure from the faith that Paul wrote about to Timothy.  The first departure from the faith was discussed in the first chapter of 1 Timothy; teachers would turn aside from teaching righteousness by grace and go back to teaching the Old Testament law in an attempt at self-righteousness through our own works.  The second departure from the faith is listed in chapter 4.  This is turning grace into lewdness or rejecting holiness since we are under grace.  This is described as giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons.  The lies spoken in hypocrisy are that we do not need to walk in holiness because we are under grace.  If we follow this teaching, we end up living as hypocrites before those around us.  Those who teach this have had their conscience seared with a hot iron; they have lost sensitivity to their own good conscience within them, which would convict them of their wrongdoing.  Instead of walking in holiness, they turn to attempts at false holiness, forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from various foods.  

As I mentioned before, Jesus spoke of these two departures from the faith in the parable of the sower and the seed.  The stony ground is the person who hears the gospel, and receives it, and it brings them immediate joy.  When persecution (from others) or tribulation (from within) arises because of the word of righteousness, immediately they stumble or fall away from the teaching of righteousness by grace and fall back into an Old Testament law and performance mindset.  The seed sown among thorns is being discussed here in chapter 4 of 1 Timothy.  We hear the word of grace and receive it but it is choked out by the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches and the desires or lusts of the flesh.  In both instances, the person is still born again, but is left unfruitful, or does not experience the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy and peace.

1 Timothy 4:6-11 “If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. ⁷ But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. ⁸ For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. ⁹ This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. ¹⁰ For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. ¹¹ These things command and teach.

Paul told Timothy to be nourished up in the faith, which is righteousness by faith apart from our works, and good doctrine, which is that grace leads us to walk in holiness.  Timothy was to reject any ideas that contradicted this foundation, and to exercise himself toward godliness.  Godliness, like exercise, requires some effort.  Godliness is profitable for now and for the life to come after we leave this earth.  For the second time, Paul used the phrase, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.  The first time was to emphasize God’s grace; that Jesus came into the world to save sinners.  As much as we accept this idea, we should also accept that God wants us to walk in holiness.  Unfortunately, some have rejected holiness, while others have rejected grace and attempt to win God’s favor through their own attempts at self-righteousness.

Verse 10 says that we trust in the Living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.  Jesus paid the price for every person who has lived in the past or will ever live in the future.  So He is the Savior of all men.  It becomes effective in our lives when we believe it.

1 Timothy 4:12-16 “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. ¹³ Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. ¹⁴ Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the elders. ¹⁵ Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. ¹⁶ Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”

Paul told Timothy to be an example in word (teaching), in conduct, love, in spirit, in faith, in purity (his actions and character).  He was to give attention to reading the Word, to exhortation, to doctrine.  The gift that was in Timothy was the Holy Spirit or the kingdom of God.  How do we not neglect this gift within us?  We make sure we do not err into the ditch on either side of grace.  We take heed to ourselves by walking in holiness; we take heed to the doctrine of grace and we do not fall away from righteousness by His grace back to the Old Testament law and condemnation.  We are to continue in grace and holiness, for in doing this we will save or preserve ourselves and those who hear us.  The word save is not talking about being saved again.  It is a reference to being preserved or made whole in the faith; we experience the kingdom of God within us and all of the good things God has for us.

Keith Oliver