1 Timothy 4:1-7

Warning Against False Teachers Who Seek To Enforce Asceticism, Rather Men Should Receive What Is Good From The Hand of God With Thanksgiving (1 Timothy 4:1-7 ).

Having been exalted into Heaven we are now brought down to earth with a bump. In contrast with the church of the living God which is upholding the truth (1 Timothy 3:15), are those who are influenced by the powers of evil, who come speaking lies. These may be the false teachers already referred to in 1 Timothy 1:19-20, and may even be connected with those described in 1 Timothy 1:3-4, although not necessarily so. For these ban marriage and the eating of what God had created in order that it might be ‘received with thanksgiving’ and prayer, while those mentioned previously gave heed to fables and endless genealogies. The ones in mind now are ascetics, the previously mentioned ones fantasists (but see 1 Timothy 4:7 a).

Unable to appreciate the fullness of the Gospel, these present false teachers seek by following the pathway of asceticism to attain the necessary purity that will make them acceptable to God. Such ideas are to be ‘refused’ (1 Timothy 4:7 a), and Timothy, like all God’s people, must rather be nourished in the words of faith and of good doctrine.

Analysis.

a But the Spirit says expressly, that in latter days some will fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies (1 Timothy 4:1-2 a).

b Branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron (1 Timothy 4:2 b).

c Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from certain types of food (1 Timothy 4:3 a).

d Which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth (1 Timothy 4:3 b).

c For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it be received with thanksgiving (1 Timothy 4:4).

b For it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer (1 Timothy 4:5).

a If you put the brothers (and sisters) in mind of these things, you will be a good minister (diakonos) of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which you have followed until now, but refuse profane and old wives’ fables (1 Timothy 4:6-7 a).

Note that in ‘a’ reference is made to falling away from the faith and to doctrines of demons, and the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, while in the parallel Timothy is to be nourished in the words of the faith, and in good doctrine, and is to refuse profane and old wives fables. In ‘b’ the false teachers are branded in their own conscience with a hot iron, while in the parallel creatures received with thanksgiving are sanctified through the word of God and through prayer. In ‘c’ there is a commanding to abstain from certain types of food, while in the parallel ever creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if received with thanksgiving and prayer. Centrally we learn that God created things to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.