1 Timothy 4

A Prophecy About the Last Times

1 The Spirit says clearly that in later times some believers will desert the Christian faith. They will follow spirits that deceive, and they will believe the teachings of demons.2 These people will speak lies disguised as truth. Their consciences have been scarred as if branded by a red-hot iron.3 They will try to stop others from getting married and from eating certain foods. God created food to be received with prayers of thanks by those who believe and know the truth.4 Everything God created is good. Nothing should be rejected if it is received with prayers of thanks.

5 The word of God and prayer set it apart as holy.

Guidelines for Serving Christ

6 You are a good servant of Christ Jesus when you point these things out to our brothers and sisters. Then you will be nourished by the words of the Christian faith and the excellent teachings which you have followed closely.7 Don’t have anything to do with godless myths that old women like to tell. Rather, train yourself to live a godly life.8 Training the body helps a little, but godly living helps in every way. Godly living has the promise of life now and in the world to come.9 This is a statement that can be trusted and deserves complete acceptance.

10 Certainly, we work hard and struggle to live a godly life, because we place our confidence in the living God. He is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
11 Insist on these things and teach them.12 Don’t let anyone look down on you for being young. Instead, make your speech, behavior, love, faith, and purity an example for other believers.13 Until I get there, concentrate on reading Scripture in worship, giving encouraging messages, and teaching people.14 Don’t neglect the gift which you received through prophecy when the spiritual leaderst placed their hands on you to ordain you.15 Practice these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress.

16 Focus on your life and your teaching. Continue to do what I’ve told you. If you do this, you will save yourself and those who hear you.

1 Timothy 4

1 But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,2 through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron;3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth.4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it be received with thanksgiving:5 for it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.6 If thou put the brethren in mind of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which thou hast followed until now:7 but refuse profane and old wives’ fables. And exercise thyself unto godliness:8 for bodily exercise is profitable for a little; but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come.9 Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation.10 For to this end we labor and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of them that believe.11 These things command and teach.12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity.13 Till I come, give heed to reading, to exhortation, to teaching.14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.15 Be diligent in these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress may be manifest unto all.16 Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee.