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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; 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their
conscience seared with a hot iron; 4:3 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.
4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if
it be received with
thanksgiving: 4:5 For it is sanctified by the word
of God and prayer.
4:6 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.
4:7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself
rather unto godliness.
4:8 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.
4:9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
4:10 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.
4:11 These things command and teach.
4:12 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.
4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to
doctrine.
4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by
prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the
presbytery.
4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy
profiting may appear to all.
4:16 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.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
1 Timothy
Book: 1 Timothy
Chapter: 4
Overview:
Of departures from the
Faith that began already to appear.
(1-5) Several directions, with motives for due discharge of
duties.
(6-16)
1-5 The Holy
Spirit, both in the Old and the New
Testament,
spoke of a general turning from the
Faith of
Christ, and the
pure
Worship of
God. This should come during the
Christian
Dispensation, for those are called the latter days. False
teachers forbid as evil what
God has allowed, and command as a
duty what he has left indifferent. We find
Exercise for
watchfulness and self-denial, in attending to the requirements
of
God's
Law, without being tasked to imaginary duties, which
reject what he has allowed. But nothing justifies an intemperate
or improper use of things; and nothing will be good to us,
unless we seek
By Prayer for the
Lord's blessing upon it.
6-10 Outward
Acts of self-denial profit little. What will it
avail us to mortify the body, if we do not mortify
Sin?
No
diligence in mere outward things could be of much use. The gain
of
Godliness lies much in the promise; and the promises to godly
people relate partly to the
Life that now is, but especially to
the
Life which is to come: though we lose for
Christ, we shall
not lose
By him. If
Christ be thus the
Saviour of all men, then
much more will he be the Rewarder of those who seek and serve
him; he will provide
Well for those whom he has made new
creatures.
11-16 Men's youth will not be despised, if they keep from
vanities and follies. Those who teach
By their doctrine, must
teach
By their
Life. Their discourse must be edifying; their
Conversation must be holy; they must be examples of
Love to
God
and all good men, examples of spiritual-mindedness. Ministers
must mind these things as their principal work and business.
By
this means their profiting will appear in all things, as
Well as
to all persons; this is the way to profit in knowledge and
Grace, and also to profit others. The doctrine of a
Minister of
Christ must be scriptural, clear, evangelical, and practical;
Well stated, explained, defended, and applied. But these duties
leave
No leisure for worldly pleasures, trifling visits, or idle
Conversation, and but little for what is mere amusement, and
only ornamental. May every believer be enabled to let his
profiting appear unto all men; seeking to experience the power
of the
Gospel in his own soul, and to bring forth its fruits in
his
Life.