1 Timothy 4:4 - Exposition

Is to be rejected for to be refused , A.V. Nothing is to be rejected. The A.V., "nothing to be refused," manifestly uses "nothing" in its adverbial sense ("in no degree," "not at all," Johnson's 'Dict.'), as οὐδέν in Greek is also commonly used (Liddell and Scott). In fact, it is very difficult to construe the passage as the R.V. does. To say "nothing is to be rejected if it is received," is scarcely sense. But to say that every creature of God is good (and on that account not to be rejected) if it is received with thanksgiving is very good and edifying sense. Creature ( κτίσμα ). The form commonly used by St. Paul is κτίσις ( Romans 8:20 , Romans 8:21 , Romans 8:22 ; 2 Corinthians 5:17 , etc.). But κτίσμα stands by the side of κτίσις , like βρῶμα by the side of βρῶσις ὅραμα by the side of ὅρασις πόμα by the side of πόσις , and many more. The form κτίσμα is found in James 1:18 ; and twice in Revelation. Good ( καλόν ); with reference to Genesis 1:10 , Genesis 1:12 , etc. To be refused ( ἀπόβλητον ); only here in the New Testament, but found in classical Greek, and not uncommon in the LXX . and other Greek versions, for that which is "unclean," or "abominable." If it be received with thanksgiving. This clearly refers to "every creature of God," and is the condition on which it is good in relation to the receiver. Nothing can be clearer or more certain than that the apostle is not arguing against the Manichean doctrine of the evil of matter, or the works of the Demiurge, but against Jewish scruples about meats. "Every creature of God," he says, "is good"—words which would have no force if the creatures in question were not admitted to be the works of God, but thought to be the works of the Demiurge. But applied to the Jewish scruples, the words are perfectly relevant. Every creature of God is good, and on no account to be treated as common or unclean ( Acts 10:15 , Acts 10:28 ), provided only that it be received with thanksgiving.