Bible Commentaries
1 Timothy 4

Verse 1

1 Timothy 4:1

But the Spirit saith expressly,—There are two kinds of revelations made by the Spirit as presented in the Bible: one was a revelation to an individual for his obedience, the other a revelation by inspiration to enable those inspired to work miracles and teach others. The prophets and apostles were subjects of this latter inspiration. Connected with the knowl­edge to be revealed was the ability to work miracles to prove that the message was from God. This species of inspiration, miraculous in character, was confined to the apostolic age of the church, and continued in force only until the full reve­lation of God to man was made and confirmed by testimonies that no one can gainsay. This inspiration was effected by God’s Spirit taking possession of the human body, using the human tongue and through it speaking to the world. God’s Spirit on the day of Pentecost took possession of the tongues of the apostles and gave the very words then spoken. (Acts 2:4; Acts 2:14-36; Acts 2:40.) The Spirit used the apostles’ organs of speech, through which to make known to the world his message. Sometimes the Spirit spoke without the interven­tion of man’s tongue. (Acts 8:29.) He spoke in an audible voice on the occasion of the baptism of Jesus. (Matthew 3:17.)

that in later times some shall fall away from the faith,—From the time at which he was writing and forward in all periods of the church, men nave apostatized from the faith.

giving heed to seducing spirits—Spirits that so beguile them as to lead them from the truth. Every spirit that teaches that man can in any manner set aside the law and appointment of God, or substitute man’s devices for the order of God, is a seducing spirit that turns man from the truth.

and doctrines of demons,—Demons are the evil spirits. The means the devil used to beguile Eve was to convince her that another way was better than that which God had directed, and thus he beguiled her and led her to follow what seemed best to her rather than to give heed to God’s directions.

Verse 2

1 Timothy 4:2

through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies,—These seducing spirits speak lies, pretending to lead them into the way that will bless them. No greater hypocrisy was ever shown than Satan when persuading Eve to believe that to eat the fruit would bring good to her, when he knew it would bring her and the world into subjection to him, and that the wages of sin is death. These demons work through evil men who hypocritically speak lies to accomplish their wicked designs.

branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron;—These men have become hardened and insensible to all feelings of justice and right. To live in neglect of a known duty or vio­lation of a principle of right is to demoralize the spiritual man, weaken his moral character, and sear his conscience. This unfits man for the higher duties of life and gradually fits him for a life of sin and wrongdoing. Habitual violation of the sense of right educates a man for doing what is wrong. An occasional outburst, a great wrong repented of is not so fatal in its tendency, not so hardening in its influence on the heart and character of men as a continual violation of the principles of right in what are regarded as small matters. Peter, under the impulse of fear, could deny hid Master and repent of it, and yet have a better conscience and a truer character than Judas Iscariot, who, during the time he carried the bag for the disciples, was doubtless guilty of petty peculations and pilferings continually. The man who cherishes some private or secret sin, which he thinks is petty and unimportant, is gradually hardening his heart and fitting himself for a total breakdown of his moral character that will develop itself in permanent open sinfulness and degradation. The conscience should be kept good and tender; the heart pure.

Verse 3

1 Timothy 4:3

forbidding to marry,—Some of the errors into which they lead men are here enumerated. Now and then men may be found like. Paul who can live lives of virtue and purity without marriage and develop themselves more faithfully in the service of the gospel; but usually to hinder a man from marriage is to lead to a life of sin and uncleanness. The universality of marriage is an indication of a high state of virtue and civili­zation.

and commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving—God created meats for man and they will administer to his good if they are received with thanksgiving.

by them that believe and know the truth.—By those who understand how properly to use them.

Verse 4

1 Timothy 4:4

For every creature of God is good,—This refers to all the appointments and gifts of God—marriage and meats. God created all things on earth for man (Genesis 1:28-29), and every­thing properly used for the purpose for which he created them will bring good to man.

and nothing is to be rejected,—It is not the part of wisdom to reject or refuse what God does not reject.

if it be received with thanksgiving:—God’s appointments and gifts are to be received with thanksgiving and used as God directs that they should be used.

Verse 5

1 Timothy 4:5

for it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.—But all these blessings given by God should be received with prayer that we might use them as God directs and that we may be blessed in the use of them. This is an indication of how we should pray in all things, as we give thanks to God for our food that we may be blessed in its use and be guided by God in using it. So we should receive all blessings and favors. [Thus all food is sanctified, not only by the thanksgiving before partaking of it. which too often degener­ates into a mere form of words—into lip service of the most heartless form. The sanctification to which reference is made is the constant habit of looking to God as the giver of every good and perfect gift.]

Verse 6

1 Timothy 4:6

If thou put the brethren in mind of these things,—“These things" refer to all the things mentioned in verses 1-5. Timothy as a teacher was to warn the brethren against the teachings of these seducing spirits, to admonish them to re­ceive all the gifts and favors of God with prayer and thanks­giving, and to teach them to receive them in prayer and use them according to the will of God.

thou shalt be a good minister of Christ Jesus,—In doing this he himself would be nourished and built up in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine unto which he had attained or had learned. These evils and dangers were coming upon them, and Paul wished them to be warned of it that they guard against them.

nourished in the words of the faith,—From early youth he had been carefully trained in the truths of the Old Testa­ment. (2 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 3:15.) Paul had trained him in the gospel (2 Timothy 3:16) and now instructs him to continue this training by guarding the church against the doctrine of false teachers.

and of the good doctrine which thou hast followed until now:—[He had been faithfully taught, and with good under­standing of it had diligently followed it.]

Verse 7

1 Timothy 4:7

but refuse profane and old wives’ fables.—These may refer to Jewish traditions that were handed down and are now found in the Talmud. Many absurd and ridiculous things and fables and tales are told as a part of their religious instruction. The heathen worship also abounds in many ri­diculous and absurd tales of cures performed and wonders wrought.

And exercise thyself unto godliness:—As the athlete trains his body so do you with strenuous effort train yourself in true piety in your heart and life. A man needs to school himself to the restraint of his passions, lusts, and worldly ambitions, and to the use of his spiritual faculties and powers that he may practice godliness.

Verse 8

1 Timothy 4:8

for bodily exercise is profitable for a little;—The exer­cise or training of the body to fit it for skill in the athletic games—from the Christian viewpoint had but little profit. Any skill or success merely in earthly affairs was of but little value compared with the spiritual and eternal interests. The rewards and honors gained are unsatisfactory and short lived.

but godliness is profitable for all things,—[Godliness is not merely an inward holiness, but an operative, active piety, which, springing from an intense love for God, manifests itself in love for his creatures. This godliness transfigures and illumines with its divine radiance all busy, active life, every condition, every rank in all ages. This surely is that to which every faithful child of God should seek to attain.]

having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come.—A life according to the laws of God has the promise of protection, help, and the blessings of God in this life, and then all the blessings and powers of the throne of God in the world to come.

Verse 9

1 Timothy 4:9

Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation.—Paul emphasizes that this truth is a faithful saying and worthy of a full and hearty acceptance by all. It will bring good to all who follow this instruction.

Verse 10

1 Timothy 4:10

For to this end we labor and strive,—He explains that the practice and exercise in godliness that led him to toil and labor and suffer reproach for the cause of God would fit him for the glories of the eternal world.

because we have our hope set on the living God,—He did it because he trusted that the living God would bring bless­ings both in this world and in that which is to come.

who is the Saviour of all men, specially of them that believe.—The law of the Lord meets all the contingencies possible to arise in life. It meets every special case that arises, and in its working reaches every case as fully as God can reach it by special law or interference. God is always present in his laws. What is done through these laws, God does. Those who believe come more fully into harmony with his laws than those who believe not, and so they receive blessings of God more fully than others do. The answer to prayer requires no departure from this principle. The bless­ings of God flow through his laws to those who are in the proper state and condition. Tap the channel through which they flow and receive just such blessings as you are fitted to receive. God is personally present in all his laws to bless those who comply with them in spirit and in truth, and to curse those who refuse to comply with them. God is all-wise and all-powerful. He sees the end from the beginning. Eter­nity, past and future, is an everlasting present to him, and he provides for all contingencies that may arise in the onward march of his forces. Not a sparrow falls to the ground with­out a father’s care and the hairs of our head are numbered. Because we fail to see and understand how the laws of the spiritual and material world interlace and harmonize with each other, all composing parts of one harmonious whole, we are not to conclude that they are not such. God is in all his works.

Verse 11

1 Timothy 4:11

These things command and teach.—These truths that God is the Savior of all, desires that none should perish, but that all should repent and live, and that it is man’s highest duty to trust and obey God.

Verse 12

1 Timothy 4:12

Let no man despise thy youth;—This would indicate that Timothy was quite a young man at the time this was written. The Romans divided life into childhood—up to eighteen years, youth up to forty-four, and old age up to death. But Paul's language would imply that he was of an age that he would be liable to youthful indiscretions and follies.

but be thou an ensample to them that believe,—[An example in reference to the firmness with which he embraced the gospel, the fidelity with which he adhered to it in trials, and the zeal which he showed in spreading it abroad. He exhorts him to so live as to be a model or pattern after which the devotion of others should be molded.]

in word,—This has reference to teaching the word of God, but particularly to his words in social intercourse.

in manner of life,—In conduct, in deportment, in behavior. This certainly is of the deepest importance. [The words of men placed in such a position should ever be true and gen­erous, helpful and encouraging.]

in love,—In love to God and man which shows itself in honoring God and doing good to man.

in faith,—Faithful in all things, faithful in teaching the will of God, and in being an example of fidelity in keeping its requirements.

in purity.—He should be pure, holy, clean in thought, in life, and actions. Young preachers and all young men need to take these admonitions to heart and be guided by them.

Verse 13

1 Timothy 4:13

Till I come, give heed to reading,—Paul expected to give him more instruction when he would come to see him. Till then he exhorts him to give attendance to reading the Scriptures of the Old Testament. Books were not then plentiful, and the Old Testament foretold the coming of the Messiah. He was to study and use them in Jus teaching. Philip’s beginning at the prophecy of Isaiah and preaching Jesus (Acts 8:26-40) is a sample of much of the preaching of this early age. It was showing that these Scriptures fore­told the coming of Jesus and how he came in fulfillment of them. This reading was to be done in private to instruct and improve himself, and in public to improve and benefit others.

to exhortation,—On these Scriptures exhortations to obedience and faithful living were to be baaed.

to teaching.—He was to study the teachings of these Scrip­tures concerning Jesus and teach these to others that they should practically apply them to their own lives. The Old Testament must still be studied and taught, for it was typical of the New Testament. In the Old Testament we have the example of God applying his law to the conditions of life as they would arise. From these we are to learn how he will apply the spiritual and eternal laws given in the New Testa­ment.

Verse 14

1 Timothy 4:14

Neglect not the gift that is in thee,—This was a spiritual gift qualifying him for the work to which he had been called. Before the completion of revelation, spiritual gifts were given to qualify for the work of converting sinners and teaching saints till the completed will of God was fully made known. The gift seems to have been bestowed upon him by the laying on of the hands of the presbytery, Paul joining them in it. And by or through his hands the gift was bestowed, for he says: “For which cause I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee through the laying on of my hands." (2 Timothy 1:6.) This was possibly done by the elders at Lystra, for he says: “This charge I commit unto thee, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which led the way to thee, that by them thou mayest war the good warfare.” (1 Timothy 1:18.)

which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.—A prophecy at the time of his conversion or at some period had been made concern­ing him, to which reference is made in these two passages. I infer that these spiritual gifts needed to be used, not neg­lected. To be stirred up lest they should be lost through disuse. This is in accordance with the order of God. The talent used multiplies; disused, it is taken from the possessor and is lost. The apostles, including Judas, were gifted before the death of Jesus. They used these gifts for a time and re­joiced in them. In the later months of the Savior’s ministry, as the dark clouds overshadowed his pathway they seemed to lose faith, ceased to work, and they lost their gifts. Only with the renewal of their faith did the gifts again appear.

Verse 15

1 Timothy 4:15

Be diligent in these things;—Timothy was to give his whole time and attention to the study of the Scriptures and the cultivation and use of the gifts and graces bestowed on him.

give thyself wholly to them;—He was not to divide his attention with worldly aims and callings. [He was to devote his whole being, in every faculty of body and mind, to the attainment of that which had been made possible by the gift which had been bestowed upon him.]

that thy progress may be manifest unto all.—By this dili­gence in study and in the gifts bestowed, his improvement would be apparent to all. [There must be no standing still, no resting content with the knowledge already acquired, no being satisfied with the present attainments in the spiritual life; there must be a restless striving after the acquirement of new stores of knowledge ever deeper and more accurate; there must be a ceaseless endeavor to attain to a higher degree of eminence in the spiritual life; and the result of these efforts will be manifest to all.]

Verse 16

1 Timothy 4:16

Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching.—He was to be careful as to his life and conduct, watchful and faithful in the use of the gifts bestowed, and continue in that which he had received from Paul.

Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee.—Timothy could save himself only by faithfully teaching the word of truth delivered to him through the Holy Spirit. He could save others only by teaching the word which God had given him to teach. In striving to save others, he would really be striving to save himself.