Bible Commentaries
1 Timothy 4

Verses 1-5

Warnings of Apostasy In 1 Timothy 4:1-5 Paul prophesies of a coming apostasy within the Church in the last days. Why is this passage on apostasy in 1 Timothy 4:1-5 following 1 Timothy 3:14-16 in which Paul states his purpose for writing this first epistle to young Timothy, which is to set the church in order while he is absent? Because when these times come, it will be important to know how to live godly in Christ Jesus when people begin to depart from the faith and live worldly. It takes a strong Christian to not be moved away the Word of God when many others have left the faith.

Paul knew what it was like to contend with the doctrines of men, such as those who adhered to extreme asceticism, which taught, “Touch not, taste not, handle not,” (Colossians 2:20-23).

Colossians 2:20-23, “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.”

Paul knew the burdensome rules and regulations of strict Judaism, which reduced everyday life to a ritual. Paul contended with these Judaistic beliefs within the Church in Acts 15:1-41. This passage says that they “had no small dissension and disputation with them” (Acts 15:2).

Acts 15:2, “When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.”

Jesus contended with the Pharisees about their distorted views of tithing because they “made clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but their inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.” So, Jesus said in Luke 11:41 to “give alms as you are able and all things become clean.” In other words, they were to serve the Lord with their act of tithing so that would serve as an act of worship and sanctification in their lives.

Luke 11:41, “But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.”

This passage in 1 Timothy 4:1-5 clear shows that the apostasy will take place with some of those within the Church, who initially embraced the Faith. This passage is actually a prediction of the fragmentation of the Church into denominations and religion sects and cults that will take place, especially in these last days before the Coming of Jesus Christ. Never before have there been so many cults and denominations using the name of Christ. There will be a progression of events that take place in their lives to gradually lure them away from Christ Jesus as their Saviour. They will first “give place” to other information (1 Timothy 4:1). This will leads to them “speaking lies in hypocrisy” (1 Timothy 4:2). Finally, their conscience will “become seared” so that they no longer are able to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit, and between right and wrong (1 Timothy 4:2). The sad part is that these former believers have been deceived in such a way that they believe they are still in the way of righteousness. They will form doctrines that deny all fleshly pleasures, such as marriage and foods for the body (1 Timothy 4:3). In 1 Corinthians 8:1 to 1 Corinthians 11:34 Paul gave a lengthy discourse to the Corinthian church about idolatry and foods offered unto idols. This was on extreme view of how to deal with the flesh, which was by satisfying it with all manner of sinful acts. Now, the deception that Paul predicts in 1 Timothy 4:1-5 will take the opposite extreme position of totally denying marriage and sex, as well as certain foods. Thus, Paul tells Timothy to keep this truth balanced so as not to fall in the ditch on either side of the extreme. He says that marriage and foods are sanctified by God when they are received and used as a gift and blessing from God (1 Timothy 4:4-5). Thus, we see progression of someone becoming indoctrinated into demonic doctrines induced by seducing spirits. They are no longer able to receive the indoctrination from the Word of God by servants of God. Their ears and mind hear words of seduction and they give place to it within their hearts (1 Timothy 4:1). Their mouth then speaks these doctrines that they have embraced (1 Timothy 4:2). This process of indoctrination causes them to deny what their pure consciences have been telling them so that it becomes dysfunctional, or “seared” (1 Timothy 4:2). Their lying words progress into false teachings as they endeavour to indoctrinate others (1 Timothy 4:3). Paul mentions such people in his second epistle to Timothy, by saying, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” (2 Timothy 4:3) Paul wants this process of indoctrination to work for good in the lives of the believers, but he explains to Timothy how Satan can use the process of indoctrination to work for evil and cause some to be lost.

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;

1 Timothy 4:1 Word Study on “seducing” Strong says the Greek word “seducing” “planos” ( πλα ́ νος ) (G4108) means, “roving (as a tramp), an imposter, misleader,” and is of uncertain origin. The Enhanced Strong says it is used 5 times in the New Testament and is translated in the KJV as, “deceiver 4, seducing 1.”

Comments - It is interesting to note that from the Greek word we get the English word “planet.” This is easy to understand from the perspective of astronomy. For we know that a planet may look like a regular star at first, but over time it wanders out of its place and is no fixed in position like a true star. This is why Jude calls the planets “wandering stars” (Jude 113).

Jude 1:13, “Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars , to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.”

1 Timothy 4:1 Comments - In 1 Timothy 4:1 Paul tells Timothy that there will be those who have been saved, but leave the Bible doctrine for false teachings, therefore forsaking God. They will turn to demonic teachings brought by seducing spirits. There are two ways to depart from the faith. (1) Men can give heed to seducing spirits by listening to the spiritual voices of devils and following these voices. There are many different types of demon spirits mentioned in the Scriptures. There are familiar spirits, unclean spirits, spirits of divination, lying spirits, spirits of infirmity and seducing spirits. Each one of these titles describes the office of these demons. Thus, a seducing spirit is a demon that brings doctrines of devils to deceive men. (2) They can also embrace doctrines of devils by allowing themselves to be taught by men whose doctrines are not scriptural. These doctrines came to these men through seducing spirits. These doctrines come by the hypocrisy of lying men who are no longer sensitive to God through a seared conscience (verse 2). These teaching devised in hell by Satan and his fallen angels are designed to send strong delusions. These doctrines are cause people to think that they can sin and disobey God’s Word and go to heaven. Note how the serpent tricked Eve in the Garden of Eden with a false doctrine.

Paul warned Timothy in the opening passage of this epistle not to give heed to teachings that minister doubt rather than godly edifying:

1 Timothy 1:4, “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.”

Jesus warned about those who allow demons to return into a house and bring seven more with him more wicked than himself and leave a person in worse condition (Matthew 12:43-45). This appears to be the case in Paul’s description of a person departing from the faith and giving heed to seducing spirits with doctrines of devils.

Matthew 12:43-45, “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.”

The Bible says not to spend time giving our attention to cults and their literature. However, it is good to study them to know how to combat against their false doctrines. But, we are to train ourselves for combat in this world through striving for godliness. This will prepare us for spiritual warfare. We must give our energies to obtaining knowledge of God and having fellowship with Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. We cannot do this if we entertain our time with foolish fables and ideas.

1 Timothy 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

1 Timothy 4:2 “Speaking lies in hypocrisy” Comments - It will be those who have departed from the faith that will speak lies in hypocrisy, and not the seducing spirits doing the speaking.

1 Timothy 4:2 “having their conscience seared with a hot iron” Comments - These men have so branded their minds with false doctrines of devils that they are no longer sensitive to the doctrine of the Holy Bible, nor are they open to receive any other corrections in their beliefs. How many people today do we see like this? Branded, or cauterized, flesh is dead and has no more life. It becomes insensitive, numb or callous to feelings. So is this man’s conscience and heart to the Holy Spirit.

The opposite of a seared conscience is a sensitive heart, which is referred to in the prophecy in Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 11:19, “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:”

1 Timothy 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.

1 Timothy 4:3 “Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats” Word Study on “meats” Strong says the Greek word “meats” ( βρωμα ) (G1033) means, “food,” that is, solid food in contrast to milk. He says it comes from the verb ( βιβρω ́ σκω ) (G977), which means, “to eat.” The Enhanced Strong says this word is used 17 times in the New Testament, being translated in the KJV as, “meat 16, victual 1.”

Comments - The two doctrines mentioned in 1 Timothy 4:3 regarding forbidding marriage and abstaining from meats appear to be extreme reactions to the pagan rituals of the Greco-Roman culture where feasting on meats offered unto idols and fornication were acts of worship to their gods. Paul deals with these to pagan practices in 1 Corinthians 8-10, where he gives the Corinthian church guidelines on how to conduct themselves in the midst of such heathen practices.

1 Timothy 4:3 “which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth” Comments - Both the institution of marriage and the eating of meats was designed by God. God’s original diet in the Garden of Eden was made up of plants and no meats of animals. God only allowed man to eat certain meats after the Flood. Thus, in the beginning man’s diet was vegetarian. 1 Timothy 4:3 uses the word meat in a general sense to mean solid food. Thus, we know that God did not originally create animals for man’s food. Thus, the word ( βρωμα ) most likely refers to the plant kingdom, but allows the consumption of animals if pressed to the point.

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

1 Timothy 4:4 “For every creature of God is good” Comments This phrase means, “everything created by God is good.” In the creation story of the first chapter of Genesis, God said after each day of creation that what was created was good (Genesis 1:10). Everything created by God is good, which includes foods, marriage, the institution of the Church, Christian fellowship, etc.

Genesis 1:10, “And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good .”

Note other uses of the word “good”:

Psalms 84:11, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

Proverbs 3:27, “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.”

1 Timothy 4:5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

1 Timothy 4:5 “For it is sanctified” Comments - This means that God will look upon it as acceptable and He will bless it.

1 Timothy 4:5 “by the word of God” Comments - The type of food that we eat must be according to the Word of God. We find a list of foods that God has given to mankind to eat in Leviticus 11:1-42. The book of Leviticus prescribes ways in which the children of Israel were to sanctify themselves before the Lord, spirit, soul, and body. The dietary laws were given for the Israelites to sanctify their bodies. Thus, Paul says that the Word of God sanctifies what we eat. The context of 1 Timothy 4:3-5 says that all meats that God has sanctified are fit to eat. Paul is not saying in this passage that all meats are fit and healthy to eat. Rather, he is saying that the type of foods must be in accordance to God’s Word. Even Noah, who lived 1,500 years before the Mosaic Law, understood the divine truth of clean and unclean meats (Genesis 7:1-2). In addition, the manner in which we eat foods has to be in accordance with the Word of God. For example, Paul would not eat meat or drink wine if it caused a brother to stumble (1 Corinthians 8:9-13).

Genesis 7:1-2, “And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.”

1 Corinthians 8:9-13, “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.”

1 Timothy 4:5 “and prayer” Illustration - Note that Jesus prayed and blessed the food before feeding the five thousand and then the four thousand. In the Old Testament, an anointed altar (when the horns have been anointed by oil) sanctified every gift offered upon it (Matthew 23:19). Thus, prayer blesses and sanctifies a meal.

Matthew 23:19, “Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?”

1 Timothy 4:5 Comments - Everything that we receive must be in accordance with God’s Word, and if it is, our prayers will bring God’s blessings upon it. What we do must be done according to God’s Word and we should pray, or ask God's blessings the things that we do each day.

Verses 1-16

The Training of the Leaders: A Sincere Faith The next stage in setting a church in order is to train those who have been called out as bishops and deacons. Paul first establishes the purpose and function of the Church on earth by saying that it is “the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15), placed upon this earth to reveal the “mystery of the Gospel of Jesus Christ” (1 Timothy 3:16). Thus, 1 Timothy 3:14-16 establishes our faith. However, there are those who will depart from this foundation of faith in Christ because of seducing spirits that deceive men with doctrines of devils (1 Timothy 4:1-5). Therefore, Timothy is to teach sound doctrine by “reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:6-16). It is in the continuation of teaching sound doctrine that a sincere faith is developed among the leadership as well as laity.

Outline Here is a proposed outline:

1. Defining the Role of the Church 1 Timothy 3:14-16

2. Warnings of Apostasy 1 Timothy 4:1-5

3. Exhortation to Teach Sound Doctrine 1 Timothy 4:6-16

Verses 6-16

Exhortation to Teach Sound Doctrine After defining the role of the New Testament Church as the pillar and ground of truth in society (1 Timothy 3:14-16), and warning Timothy of apostasy (1 Timothy 4:1-5), Paul exhorts him to teach sound doctrine. Paul tells him to focus on reading, exhortation, and doctrine, and to stir up the gifts within him.

1 Timothy 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.

1 Timothy 4:6 Comments - Paul tells Timothy that he has been nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine. We see a reference to Timothy’s upbringing mentioned in 2 Timothy 1:5, where Paul reminds him of the faith that was passed down from his mother and grandmother to him.

2 Timothy 1:5, “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.”

1 Timothy 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

1 Timothy 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.

1 Timothy 4:8 “For bodily exercise profiteth little” - Comments That is, “bodily exercise profits for a while,” with the idea supporting the element of time. The last part of this verse talks about godliness being profitable forever, thus the time element.

A person's health is important to God. Exercise is a part of good health. Thus, this verse is not downgrading balanced exercise for a healthy body. But any athlete knows how quickly he loses his skills after he stops physical training. It takes a lot of work and long training to acquire skills and the body quickly loses its skill when the training stops. Therefore, physical exercise benefits the body for only a short while, because it takes constant training to keep the body strong.

1 Timothy 4:8 “having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” - Comments - Bodily exercise only profits us in this life, but godly living profits both now and in the life to come. In this life, now, we have a promise of joy and blessings (John 10:10).

John 10:10, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly .”

1 Timothy 4:9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.

1 Timothy 4:9 Comments - Paul will use the same phrase ( πιστο ̀ ς ο ̔ λο ́ γος ) on five occasions within the Pastoral Epistles in the phrases “This is a faithful saying,” or “This is a true saying.” (1 Timothy 1:15; 1 Timothy 3:1; 1 Timothy 4:9, 2 Timothy 2:11, Titus 3:8). In 1 Timothy 1:15; 1 Timothy 4:9 he makes the same statement, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.”

1 Timothy 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.

1 Timothy 4:10 “who is the savior of all men” Comments - This shows that God does not divinely elect to send some people to heaven and some to hell. God has divinely elected to make a way of salvation to all those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

1 Timothy 4:10 Comments - Paul and his companions are laboring and striving for godliness.

1 Timothy 4:11 These things command and teach.

1 Timothy 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.

1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no man despise thy youth” Comments - In 1 Timothy 4:12 Paul tells Timothy no to allow any man to despise his youth. We read in Paul’s closing comments to the Corinthians how he charged them not to despise Timothy when he arrives to conduct ministry in Paul’s behalf.

1 Corinthians 16:10-11, “Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do. Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.”

Note a similar passage by Ignatius (A.D. 35-107), bishop of Antioch:

“Now it becomes you also not to despise the age of your bishop, but to yield him all reverence, according to the will of God the Father, as I have known even holy presbyters do, not having regard to the manifest youth [of their bishop], but to his knowledge in God; inasmuch as “not the ancient are [necessarily] wise, nor do the aged understand prudence; but there is a spirit in men.” For Daniel the wise, at twelve years of age, became possessed of the divine Spirit, and convicted the elders, who in vain carried their grey hairs, of being false accusers, and of lusting after the beauty of another man's wife. Samuel also, when he was but a little child, reproved Eli, who was ninety years old, for giving honour to his sons rather than to God. In like manner, Jeremiah also received this message from God, “Say not, I am a child.” Solomon too, and Josiah, [exemplified the same thing.] The former, being made king at twelve years of age, gave that terrible and difficult judgment in the case of the two women concerning their children. The latter, coming to the throne when eight years old cast down the altars and temples [of the idols], and burned down the groves, for they were dedicated to demons, and not to God. And he slew the false priests, as the corrupters and deceivers of men, and not the worshippers of the Deity. Wherefore youth is not to be despised when it is devoted to God. But he is to be despised who is of a wicked mind, although he be old, and full of wicked days. Timothy the Christ-bearer was young, but hear what his teacher writes to him: “Let no man despise try youth, but be thou an example of the believers in word and in conduct.” ( The Epistle Of Ignatius to the Magnesians Shorter and Longer Versions 3) [116]

[116] Ignatius, The Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, The Apostolic Fathers With Justin Martyr and Ireneaus, eds. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson (electronic edition), in Libronix Digital Library System, v. 2.1c [CD-ROM] (Bellingham, WA: Libronix Corp., 2000-2004).

1 Timothy 4:12 “but be thou an example of the believers” Illustration - In 2002, my oldest child was three and a half years old. While preaching on a Sunday morning in a large church, the Lord impressed upon me to bring her into the service in order that she could see her dad preaching. My wife and I agreed that this issue was on both of our hearts. For several months, see observed her dad in the pulpit. Finally, during her playtime, she began to preach sermons to herself and also to her playmates. How quickly this principle began to work in her life.

1 Timothy 4:12 “in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” Comments Paul exhorts young Timothy to be an example in every aspect of his life and character.

1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

1 Timothy 4:13 Comments - The practice of the public reading of God’s Word goes back to the time of Moses and even Joshua. Moses commanded this public reading to be done every seven years. These leaders of Israel read to the people in order that they might understand God’s ways.

Deuteronomy 31:10-11, “And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles, When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.”

Joshua 8:34-35, “And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.”

The Scriptures reveal that Ezra and Nehemiah carried on this custom of the public reading of Scriptures.

Nehemiah 8:1-3, “And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.”

At this time, the Scriptures were interpreted for the people in order that they could have full understanding.

Nehemiah 8:8, “So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”

During the inter-biblical period, the priests began to read and exhort from the Scriptures in the Jewish synagogues. We see Jesus not only reading the Scriptures publicly in Luke 4:14-30, but exhorting and teaching the people publicly out of the Scriptures.

During the time of Timothy, the apostolic writings began to be read at church gatherings along with the Old Testament Scriptures. As a result, these writings began to hold equal authority to the Old Testament Scriptures. Thus, we see in this verse the beginning of the canonization of the New Testament Scriptures.

Several decades later, in John’s writings, we see a reference to public reading as it became established in the churches of Asia Minor:

Revelation 1:3, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”

1 Timothy 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.

1 Timothy 4:14 Comments - 1 Timothy 4:14 and 2 Timothy 1:6 refer to an event in Timothy’s life when the elders of the church laid hands upon him, very likely a reference to his ordination service. With the gifts of utterance and the laying on of the hands of the church elders, a gift was imparted unto young Timothy. 2 Timothy 4:5 reveals the office and ministry that Timothy was called into. It was this gift as an evangelist that was probably confirmed when Paul and other church elders laid hands upon him and prophesied over him.

2 Timothy 4:5, “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

2 Timothy 1:6, “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.”

The gifts of the Spirit are for serving others, and not for personal use. When we are not serving, we are not going to see the gifts operate through us. The way Timothy is going to stir up the gifts that are within him is by submitting to Paul’s charges in this epistle and do what he is being asked to do, which is to serve as a minister of God’s Word. Thus, Paul is telling Timothy that God has anointed him for the task that is being committed unto him within this epistle.

Scripture References - Note other passages where the laying on of hands was used to impart gifts and anointings:

2 Timothy 1:6, “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.”

Acts 6:6, “Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.”

Acts 13:1-3, “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.”

1 Timothy 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

1 Timothy 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.

1 Timothy 4:16 “Take heed unto thyself” Comments - The phrase “take heed unto thyself” refers to Timothy’s lifestyle.

1 Timothy 4:16 “and unto the doctrine” Comments - The phrase “and unto the doctrine” refers to what is taught in the Holy Bible.

1 Timothy 4:16 “both save thyself, and them that hear thee” - Comments - Those who hear Timothy are the ones who are in agreement with what he teaches and follows him.

1 Timothy 4:16 Comments - In his book Preaching With Variety, Jeffrey Arthurs comments on 1 Timothy 4:16 by explaining how a preacher’s character is as important as the message he delivers. [117] He quotes the ancient Greek orator Isocrates (436-338 B.C.), who said, “…for who does not know that words carry greater conviction when spoken by men of good repute than when spoken by men who live under a cloud, and that the argument which is made by a man’s life is of more weight than that which is furnished by words?” ( Antidosis, 278) [118] Arthurs then tells the story of someone who asked Charles Spurgeon’s brother the reason for the success of this great pulpiteer. The brother replied, “I think it lies in the fact that he loves Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus of Nazareth loves him.” [119]

[117] Jeffery D. Arthurs, Preaching With Variety (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 2007), 15.

[118] Isocrates Antidosis 278, in Isocrates, vol. 2, trans. George Norlin, in The Loeb Classic Library, ed. T. E. Page (London: William Heinemann Ltd, 1929), 339.

[119] Elizabeth R. Achtemeier, Creative Preaching: Finding the Words (Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 1980), 37.