First Timothy Chapter Four Series

1 Timothy

Chapter 4

(What you will find here are my notes from a Bible Study I attended on 1 Timothy. I hope they will prove helpful. The text that I am using in the New American Standard Bible. Here are other Bible translations that were used: KJV – King James Version. AMP – Amplified Bible. MSG – Message Bible. BBE – Bible in Basic English. UDB – Unlocked Dynamic Bible. NET – New English Translation.)

Some Will Depart from the Faith

1Ti 4:1 – But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,

Notice here that Paul is quoting the Spirit. What is quoted here is a prophecy of what will happen in the “later times”.

“later times” – “as time goes on” MSG – In the times that we await the second coming of Christ.

“some will fall away from the faith” – “depart from the faith” KJV – “turn away from the faith” AMP – “give up on the faith” MSG – “will be turned away from the faith” BBE – “will desert the faith” NET

It seems that this “falling away” has to do with false teachers which Paul will continue to discuss in the next two verses.

Note that this verse does not say, “fall away from their salvation." Is it possible to fall away from the faith and get back up? Is it possible to fall down and rise again? I believe it is.

“paying attention to” – “giving heed” KJV – “occupy themselves” NET – “giving their minds” BBE – their view was taken off that which was true and placed on that which was false. Rather then putting their thoughts on Christ they placed their thoughts on “deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons”.

Note that two opponents of the gospel are mentioned here – “deceitful spirits” and “demons”. Both of them are on Satan’s side.

It seems quite clear that Christians can be distracted. Satan deceives people by offering a clever imitation of the real thing. It sounds very holy to live a celibate life just as it sounds very holy to abstain from “unclean” food. But do these restrictions on marriage and diet really lead to a holy life? To put it another way – is my salvation based on my marital status or what food I eat? No – it is given to me through the blood Christ.

Constable asks on this verse: Are these who fall away from the truth believers or unbelievers? The Greek verb Paul used to describe their activity (aphistemi, to withdraw from, lit. to stand away) and the noun he used to describe their action (apostasia, defection, apostasy) do not answer this question. Either could be in view… A Christian who follows the impulses of his or her sinful human nature rather than those of the Holy Spirit is a carnal believer (1Co_3:3).

1Ti 4:2 – by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,

This verse centers on the false teachers. They are “liars”.

These false teachers were so set in their ways it is almost like they have been branded with a hot iron so that the imprint was forever embedded into their flesh. They had been lying so much that there was no longer any shame in it.

1Ti 4:3 – men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.

In this verse we find some of their false teaching. They (1) forbid marriage and (2) advocate abstaining from some foods). The false teachers were developing a “to do” list that must be practiced in order to please God.

The old rules (the Law) said that there were only certain foods that one could eat in order to please God. But the rules changed. (Acts 11:5-9) Even Jesus said, "Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man." Matthew 15:17-20

These false teachers were trying to impose the old law upon the new understanding that we have been free from the Law. We have died to the law (Romans chapter seven) but the false teachers want us to go back to living under the law rather than moving forward and living under grace.

1Ti 4:4 – For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;