1 Timothy 4

(1)  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
(2)  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
(3)  Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
(4)  For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
(5)  For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
(6)  If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
(7)  But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
(8)  For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto 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 acceptation.
(10)  For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
(11)  These things command and teach.
(12)  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
(13)  Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
(14)  Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
(15)  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
(16)  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

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Study Questions

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1. To whom did the Spirit speak expressly or distinctly and to whom was the message transmitted? Verse 1.

2. What was “the faith”? Was the faith so organized and defined that it could be known if someone fell away or departed from it? Verse 1.

3. Are these teachers who tell lies being influenced by supernatural evil powers? What is hypocrisy? Why doesn’t their conscience stop them from telling these lies? Verse 2.

4. Evidently the Gnostics taught that God did not create matter because matter is evil. What two forms of matter did they teach people to abstain from because of this? Verse 3.

5. Who receives meats and marriage with the deepest gratitude? Verse 3.

6. What is re-stated here that God said of the things he had created? Verse 4

7. What can we say about those who refuse or reject what God has created? What should accompany our reception of God’s gifts? Verse 4.

8. When and where were meats as well as herbs sanctified or set apart for our use? How does prayer set apart or sanctify the food we eat? Verse 5. (See Genesis 9:3-4)

9. What does it mean “to put the brethren in remembrance of these things”? Verse 6.

10. When could Timothy know he was a good minister? What was to be his benefit in carrying out these instructions? Verse 6.

11. Did the “old wives’ fables” really come from old wives? What was to be done with profane and old wives’ fables? Verse 7.

12. Rather than trying to track down the details of these fables, what does Paul teach Timothy to do? Verse 7.

13. What is the little profit of bodily exercise? Verse 8.

14. What is another word for godliness and for what is it profitable? Verse 8.

15. Just what is the “faithful saying”? Verse 9.

16. Why did Paul and his companions “labor and suffer reproach”? Verse 10.

17. In what sense can we say that God is the Savior of all men? Verse 10.

18. In contrast to “putting the brethren in remembrance,” what is Timothy to do with the previous truths? To what truths does Paul refer? Verse 11.

19. How was Timothy to keep men from despising or looking down on his youth? Verse 12.

20. What was Timothy to do until Paul arrived? Verse 13.

21. What is the presbytery and what gift could they impart? Verse 14.

22. What is meant by “which was given thee by prophecy”? Verse 14.

23. What did Paul tell Timothy to do to make his profiting evident to all? Verse 15.

24. What is the advantage in continuing to teach and live for Christ? Verse 16.