1 Timothy 4
Lexham English Bible
The Coming Apostasy
4 Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the last times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 by the hypocrisy of liars, who are seared in their own conscience, 3 who forbid marrying and insist on abstaining from foods that God created for sharing in with thankfulness by those who believe and who know the truth, 4 because everything created by God is good and nothing is to be rejected if it is[a] received with thankfulness, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.
The Good Servant of Christ
6 By[b] teaching these things to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, trained in the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed faithfully. 7 But reject those worthless myths told by elderly women[c], and train yourself for godliness. 8 For the training of the body is somewhat[d] profitable, but godliness is profitable for everything, because it[e] holds promise for the present life and for the life to come. 9 The statement is trustworthy and deserving of complete acceptance. 10 For to this end we labor and suffer reproach,[f] because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of believers.
11 Command these things and teach them. 12 Let no one look down on your youth, but be an example for the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, pay attention to the public reading,[g] to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, that was granted to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. 15 Practice these things. Be diligent[h] in these things, in order that your progress may be evident to everyone. 16 Fix your attention on yourself and on your teaching. Continue in them, for by[i] doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Footnotes
- 1 Timothy 4:4 Here “if” is supplied as a component of the participle (“received”) which is understood as conditional
- 1 Timothy 4:6 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“teaching”) which is understood as means
- 1 Timothy 4:7 Literally “worthless and characteristic of an elderly woman myths”
- 1 Timothy 4:8 Literally “for a little”
- 1 Timothy 4:8 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“holds”) which is understood as causal
- 1 Timothy 4:10 Some manuscripts have “and strive”
- 1 Timothy 4:13 Many English translations supply “of scripture” here to clarify what is to be read aloud
- 1 Timothy 4:15 Literally “be in these things,” though most English versions supply a predicate here
- 1 Timothy 4:16 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“doing”) which is understood as means
1 Timothy 4
Worldwide English (New Testament)
4 The Spirit of God says very plainly that in later times some people will stop believing. They will listen to other spirits that fool them, and to the teaching of bad spirits.
2 Men will tell lies and make people believe they are something when they are not. These men will have made their hearts so hard that they will not know they are doing wrong.
3 They will teach people that they should not marry. They will teach them not to eat some kinds of food. God made the food and he wanted people to take it and thank him for it. Those who believe and know what is true do this.
4 Everything that God has made for food is good. It is all right to eat it if people thank God for it.
5 God's word and asking him to bless the food makes it good for people to eat.
6 Tell the Christian brothers and sisters these things and you will do the work of Christ Jesus well. Your own heart will be fed by the things you have believed and the good teaching you have followed.
7 Have nothing to do with foolish stories. Make yourself strong in the things that please God.
8 `To make the body strong helps a little, but the things of God help us in all ways. The things of God promise us life now and life in heaven.'
9 These are true words and everyone should believe them.
10 That is why we work hard and put up with troubles. We trust in the living God who came to save all people. He makes a way for those who believe in him.
11 Tell people these things and teach them to do them.
12 Do not let anyone despise you because you are a young man. Show those who believe how they should live. Show them by the way you talk. Show them by the way you live. Show them by the way you love. Show them how to believe by the way you believe. Show them how to live a clean life by the way you live a clean life.
13 Until I come, read the holy writings to people. Talk to them and teach them.
14 Use the gift you have. It was given to you when the church leaders put their hands on your head and gave you a message from God.
15 Take time to think about these things. Then everybody will see how well you are going ahead in your work.
16 Take care of yourself and what you teach. Keep on doing this. If you do, you will save yourself and those who listen to you.
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