About doctrine
4
Things taught by demons
1 Now the Spirit says explicitly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceiving spirits and to things taught by demons 2 —through hypocritical liars whose own consciences have been cauterized,* 3 who forbid to marry and to eat foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and really know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated through the Word of God and prayer.†
A good servant of Jesus Christ
6 If you instruct the brothers in these things you will be a good servant of Jesus Christ, brought up in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have faithfully followed.‡ 7 But reject godless myths and old-wives' tales; rather, exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 Now physical exercise has some value,§ but godliness has value in all things, holding promises* for both this present life and the one to come.
A trustworthy word
9 Here is a trustworthy word, worthy of total acceptance 10 (which is also why we labor and suffer reproach):† We have set our hope on the living God, who is ‘Savior of all men’,‡ especially of those who believe.§
Watch your life and doctrine
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness,* but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit,† in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come give attention to public reading [of Scripture], to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you,‡ which was ‘given’ to you through prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the body of elders.§ 15 Cultivate these things; give yourself wholly to them, so that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Take pains with yourself and the doctrine; persevere in those things,* because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who hear you.†
* 4:2 Be not deceived, the churches (with exceptions, of course) are filled with a variety of ‘doctrines’ of demonic origin. The enemy uses a certain type of person to ‘sell’ them. † 4:5 I gain the impression that the dietary regulations in the Mosaic Law have been superseded. I may enjoy a pork chop if I first consecrate it. (The trouble is that many of us forget about the consecrating.) ‡ 4:6 To get to be a “good servant of Jesus Christ” is a process. § 4:8 Since a sick body definitely slows us down, we should give some attention to keeping physically fit. * 4:8 I follow 60% of the Greek manuscripts, including the best line of transmission, in reading the plural, “promises”—there are promises for down here and others for up there. † 4:10 Instead of “suffer reproach”, perhaps 7% of the Greek manuscripts have ‘strive’ (as in NIV, NASB, TEV, etc.). ‡ 4:10 This involves an exclusivist claim, which continues to give rise to opposition. If our God is “Savior of all men” then there cannot be any other ‘saviors’, at least not legitimate ones. Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). For preaching that exclusivist claim Paul suffered reproach, and anyone who follows his example today will also suffer. § 4:10 “Savior of all men” is a potentiality; for the salvation to become effective, one must believe. * 4:12 As a professor of mine once said, “Your youth is not the problem; it's the immaturity that goes with it”. † 4:12 Some 9% of the Greek manuscripts omit “in spirit” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). ‡ 4:14 The obvious implication is that a gift can be neglected. § 4:14 According to 1 Corinthians 12:11 the Holy Spirit distributes gifts as He chooses, but it is to ‘each one’. The impression I gain is that many (most?) Christians are not aware that they have a gift (or perhaps their church will not allow them to use it). But a prophetic declaration, backed by the authority of the body of elders, should remove all doubt. Note that “elders” is plural. * 4:16 Paul refers back to the “these things” at the beginning of verse 15. † 4:16 Paul here emphasizes human responsibility. If Timothy goes astray, those who trust him in spiritual matters will also go astray; if he remains firm those who follow him will too. This reminds me of James 3:1. “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”