1 Timothy 4
New Catholic Bible
General Regulations[a]
Chapter 4
False Asceticism. 1 The Spirit clearly says that during the last times some will abandon the faith. They will run after deceitful spirits and demonic doctrines, 2 through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences have been branded as with a burning iron. 3 They forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods[b] that God created to be accepted with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided that it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and by prayer.[c]
The Benefits of Godliness. 6 If you offer these instructions to the brethren, you will prove to be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with profane myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself in godliness.
8 While physical training has some value, the benefits of godliness are unlimited, since it holds out promise not only for this life but also for the life to come. 9 This saying can be trusted and merits complete acceptance. 10 For this is why we toil and struggle, because we have placed our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all, especially of all those who believe.
11 Pastoral Duties. These are the things you must insist upon in your teaching. 12 Let no one regard you with contempt because of your youth, but serve as an example to the believers in your speech and conduct, in your love, your faith, and your purity.
13 Until I arrive, devote yourself to reading,[d] to exhortation, and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift that was bestowed upon you when, as a result of prophecy, the elders laid their hands on you.[e]
15 Meditate on these things and put them into practice so that your progress may be evident to everyone. 16 Be conscientious about your life and your teaching. Persevere in both of these tasks, for by doing so you will save both yourself and your listeners.
Footnotes
- 1 Timothy 4:1 The time left to announce salvation to the whole world is limited; it is the end time, an age of crisis. In fact, troubled spirits jumble religious ideas together, seeking salvation in a pseudo-asceticism. But true Christians know how to celebrate creation and its realities in a positive way. Such an outlook in matters of doctrine rejects anything that is disordered and inconsistent; it endorses godliness, i.e., the worship of God and the desire to seek his will; attentiveness to the great virtues; love for the public reading of Sacred Scripture (v. 13); and teaching. An apostle finds the strength to persevere in this line of thought by ceaselessly renewing the gift that was given to him through the laying on of hands, i.e., when the community consecrated him for his office, in the name of the Lord.
- 1 Timothy 4:3 They forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods: this asceticism was not from the Bible but from the erroneous belief that the material world was evil, which was a principal tenet of Gnosticism.
- 1 Timothy 4:5 It is made holy by the word of God and by prayer: another possible translation is: “it is made holy by the invocation of God in prayer.”
- 1 Timothy 4:13 Reading: i.e., the public reading of Scripture.
- 1 Timothy 4:14 Laid their hands on you: an action that had various meanings in the Old Testament, among which was the transmission of authority (e.g., from Moses to Joshua: see Num 27:18-23; Deut 34:9). In the New Testament it symbolizes (1) the bestowal of blessings and benediction (see Mt 19:13, 15; Lk 24:50); (2) the restoration of health (see Mt 9:18; Acts 9:12, 17); (3) the imparting of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 8:17, 19; 19:6); and (4) the gifts and rights of an office (as in this verse and in Acts 6:6; 13:3; 2 Tim 1:6).
1 Timothée 4
Louis Segond
4 Mais l'Esprit dit expressément que, dans les derniers temps, quelques-uns abandonneront la foi, pour s'attacher à des esprits séducteurs et à des doctrines de démons,
2 par l'hypocrisie de faux docteurs portant la marque de la flétrissure dans leur propre conscience,
3 prescrivant de ne pas se marier, et de s'abstenir d'aliments que Dieu a créés pour qu'ils soient pris avec actions de grâces par ceux qui sont fidèles et qui ont connu la vérité.
4 Car tout ce que Dieu a créé est bon, et rien ne doit être rejeté, pourvu qu'on le prenne avec actions de grâces,
5 parce que tout est sanctifié par la parole de Dieu et par la prière.
6 En exposant ces choses au frères, tu seras un bon ministre de Jésus Christ, nourri des paroles de la foi et de la bonne doctrine que tu as exactement suivie.
7 Repousse les contes profanes et absurdes.
8 Exerce-toi à la piété; car l'exercice corporel est utile à peu de chose, tandis que la piété est utile à tout, ayant la promesse de la vie présente et de celle qui est à venir.
9 C'est là une parole certaine et entièrement digne d'être reçue.
10 Nous travaillons, en effet, et nous combattons, parce que nous mettons notre espérance dans le Dieu vivant, qui est le Sauveur de tous les hommes, principalement des croyants.
11 Déclare ces choses, et enseigne-les.
12 Que personne ne méprise ta jeunesse; mais sois un modèle pour les fidèles, en parole, en conduite, en charité, en foi, en pureté.
13 Jusqu'à ce que je vienne, applique-toi à la lecture, à l'exhortation, à l'enseignement.
14 Ne néglige pas le don qui est en toi, et qui t'a été donné par prophétie avec l'imposition des mains de l'assemblée des anciens.
15 Occupe-toi de ces choses, donne-toi tout entier à elles, afin que tes progrès soient évidents pour tous.
16 Veille sur toi-même et sur ton enseignement; persévère dans ces choses, car, en agissant ainsi, tu te sauveras toi-même, et tu sauveras ceux qui t'écoutent.
1 Timothy 4
New King James Version
The Great Apostasy
4 Now the Spirit [a]expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed (A)to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 (B)speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience (C)seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is [b]sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
A Good Servant of Jesus Christ
6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, (D)nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But (E)reject profane and old wives’ fables, and (F)exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For (G)bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, (H)having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end [c]we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, (I)who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11 These things command and teach.
Take Heed to Your Ministry
12 Let no one [d]despise your youth, but be an (J)example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, [e]in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to [f]doctrine. 14 (K)Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy (L)with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Footnotes
- 1 Timothy 4:1 explicitly
- 1 Timothy 4:5 set apart
- 1 Timothy 4:10 NU we labor and strive,
- 1 Timothy 4:12 look down on your youthfulness
- 1 Timothy 4:12 NU omits in spirit
- 1 Timothy 4:13 teaching
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
