1 Timothy 4

1 The Spirit clearly says that in latter times some people will turn away from the faith. They will pay attention to spirits that deceive and to the teaching of demons.2 They will be controlled by the pretense of lying, and their own consciences will be seared.3 They will prohibit marriage and eating foods that God created—and he intended them to be accepted with thanksgiving by those who are faithful and have come to know the truth.4 Everything that has been created by God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected.5 These things are made holy by God’s word and prayer.6 If you point these things out to the believers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus who has been trained by the words of faith and the good teaching that you’ve carefully followed.

7 But stay away from the godless myths that are passed down from the older women.
Train yourself for a holy life!

Practices of spiritual leadership

8 While physical training has some value, training in holy living is useful for everything. It has promise for this life now and the life to come.9 This saying is reliable and deserves complete acceptance.10 We work and struggle for this: "Our hope is set on the living God, who is the savior of all people, especially those who believe."11 Command these things. Teach them.12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. Instead, set an example for the believers through your speech, behavior, love, faith, and by being sexually pure.13 Until I arrive, pay attention to public reading, preaching, and teaching.14 Don’t neglect the spiritual gift in you that was given through prophecy when the elders laid hands on you.15 Practice these things, and live by them so that your progress will be visible to all.

16 Focus on working on your own development and on what you teach. If you do this, you will save yourself and those who hear you.

1 Timothy 4

Timothy’s Ministry in the Later Times

1 Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will desert the faith and occupy themselvest with deceiving spirits and demonic teachings,t2 influenced by the hypocrisy of liarst whose consciences are seared.ts3 They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.4 For every creation of God is good and no foodt is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.

5 For it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer.
6 By pointing out such things to the brothers and sisters,t you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, having nourished yourself on the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.s7 But reject those mythss fit only for the godless and gullible,t and train yourself for godliness.8 For “physical exerciset has some value, but godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.”9 This sayingts is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance.

10 In fact this is whyt we work hard and struggle,s because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people,t especially of believers.
11 Command and teach these things.12 Let no one look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in your speech, conduct, love, faithfulness,t and purity.13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of scripture,ts to exhortation, to teaching.14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you have,t given to you and confirmed by prophetic wordsts when the elders laid hands on you.t15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that everyone will see your progress.t

16 Be conscientious about how you live and what you teach.t Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.