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False Asceticism

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later[a] times some will renounce[b] the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,(A) through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. They forbid marriage and abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.(B) For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving,(C) for it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer.

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Footnotes

  1. 4.1 Or the last
  2. 4.1 Or move away from

Warnings against False Teachers

Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.[a]

They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth. Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. For we know it is made acceptable[b] by the word of God and prayer.

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Footnotes

  1. 4:2 Greek are seared.
  2. 4:5 Or made holy.