1 Timothy 4

The Spirit says plainly that in later times some people will walk away from the faith. They will pay attention to spirits that deceive them and to teachings that come from demons.

1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

NoteThe King James "devils" translates a Greek word meaning demons, lesser hostile spirits, and not the Devil himself; 1611 English used one word for both. "The latter times" renders a phrase meaning simply the seasons that come later than the present one, without fixing how far off they are.

2These teachings come through liars who pretend to be sincere. Their own sense of right and wrong has been burned numb, like skin scarred by a hot iron.

2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

NoteThe image in "having their conscience seared with a hot iron" can be read two ways in Greek: a conscience cauterized until it has no feeling left, or one branded the way a slave or a criminal was branded, marked as belonging to someone. Both senses were available to the first readers.

3They tell people not to marry, and they order people to stay away from certain foods. But God made those foods so that people who believe and know the truth could eat them and thank him for them.

3Forbidding 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.

Note"Meats" in 1611 English meant food of any kind, not flesh in particular, and the Greek word behind it is equally general. The teaching in view banned marriage outright and put whole classes of food off limits.

4Everything God created is good. Nothing should be turned down if it is received with thanks,

4For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

Note"Creature" in 1611 meant anything created, an object or a plant as much as an animal.

5because it is made holy by the word of God and by prayer.

5For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Note"Sanctified" means set apart as clean and fit to use. "The word of God" here most likely means the words of Scripture spoken in the blessing said over a meal, a Jewish household practice that the earliest Christians continued.

6If you keep reminding the brothers and sisters of these things, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus. You have been fed by the words of the faith and by the sound teaching you have followed.

6If 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.

Note"Minister" translates the ordinary Greek word for a servant or attendant, someone who waits at table. It carries none of the sense of a modern clergy title. "Brethren" was the standard way of addressing a mixed group of fellow believers, men and women together.

7Turn away from stories that treat holy things lightly, the kind of silly tales old women tell. Instead, train yourself to live a godly life.

7But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

Note"Profane" in 1611 meant belonging to ordinary rather than sacred use, not foul language. "Old wives' fables" was a stock Greek expression for the sort of tale nobody sensible believes; it was a jibe at the stories, not a verdict on any particular women. "Exercise thyself" begins an athletic image: the verb is the one behind the English word gymnasium.

8Training the body helps a little, but godly living helps in every way. It holds a promise for this life now and for the life that is coming.

8For 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.

Note"Bodily exercise" continues the athletic picture from verse 7, the physical training of a competitor. "Profiteth little" is ambiguous in Greek and can mean either useful only to a small degree or useful only for a short while.

9This saying is trustworthy and deserves to be fully accepted.

9This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.

Note"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation" is a set formula that appears five times in the letters to Timothy and Titus. It flags a line already circulating and trusted in the churches. Readers have long disagreed over whether it points back to the saying in verse 8 or forward to verse 10.

10That is why we work hard and put up with insults: we have placed our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

10For 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.

Note"Suffer reproach" follows manuscripts with a Greek verb meaning to be insulted. Other early manuscripts have a similar looking verb meaning to struggle or compete, another athlete's word, which most modern translations follow. "Specially" in 1611 meant especially.

11Command these things and teach them.

11These things command and teach.

12Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young. Instead, be an example for the believers in the way you speak, the way you live, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.

12Let 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.

NoteThree words here have shifted since 1611. "Conversation" meant a person's whole conduct and manner of life, not talk. "Charity" meant love, with no suggestion of almsgiving. "Youth" covered a far wider span than it does now; a man could still be called young at close to forty. The phrase "in spirit" is absent from the oldest manuscripts, which is why some modern translations omit it.

13Until I come, give your attention to reading the Scriptures out loud, to urging people to do what is right, and to teaching.

13Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Note"Give attendance to reading" means reading aloud to the assembled congregation. Copies of the Scriptures were scarce and expensive, so most people met the text by hearing someone read it. "Exhortation" is urging hearers to act on what they have heard; "doctrine" simply means teaching, the content passed on, not a formal system of beliefs.

14Do not neglect the gift that is in you. It was given to you through prophecy, when the elders laid their hands on you.

14Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

Note"The presbytery" is the body of elders of a congregation acting together; the Greek word for elder lies behind both English "presbyter" and "priest". Placing hands on someone was the customary public gesture for setting a person apart for a task and asking God's blessing on it.

15Think carefully about these things. Give yourself completely to them, so that everyone can see how you are growing.

15Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

Note"Meditate" here does not mean quiet inward reflection. The Greek verb means to practice or work at something, the way an actor drills lines or a soldier drills with weapons. "Profiting" means progress, a word used of a student advancing in a subject.

16Watch yourself closely, and watch what you teach. Keep at both of them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and the people who listen to you.

16Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.