1 Tim. 4 1 Tim. 4:1–5 Paul foretelleth and describeth a great apostacy to happen in the latter times. 1 Tim. 4:6–11 He directeth Timothy what doctrines to teach, 1 Tim. 4:12–16 and by what rules to regulate his conduct, so as to save both himself and his hearers.

It was usual with the prophets, when they declared the oracles of God, to assert in the beginning of their revelations, that the Lord hath spoken, Isa. 1:2, Jer. 1:2, Joel 1:1.

The words, as translated by us, are very difficult; for the word which we translate speaking lies, being the genitive case, will neither agree with spirits nor doctrines, in the former verse, they being both the dative: but neither is our translation agreeable to the Greek, which is thus: In or…

Forbidding to marry: the Greek is, hindering to marry, but that might be by forbidding it by a law under a severe penalty. There are great disputes whom the apostle speaketh of, to find out which it is considerable: 1. That the apostle speaketh of a time that was then to come; 2.

For every creature of God is good; not only good in itself, as all was which God made, Gen. 1, but lawful to be used, pure, Titus 1:15, there is no uncleanness in it. And nothing to be refused; and therefore nothing upon that account is to be refused, as unclean and defiling.

For it is sanctified: sanctified in this place signifies made pure, or lawful to be used. By the word of God; by the gospel, which declares it so, Acts 10:15; or by God’s ordination, which hath so determined it. And prayer; and prayer to God for a blessing upon it.

If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things; if by thy preaching publicly, and by thy more private instructions of Christians at Ephesus, thou teachest them these things.

But refuse profane and old wives’ fables; all impertinent discourses, which tend nothing to promote either faith or holiness, which he disdainfully calls old wives’ fables, tales of a tub, as we say, discourses having no bottom in the word of God, are not fit for pulpits.

For bodily exercise profiteth little; bodily discipline, lying in abstaining from certain meats, keeping set fasts, watchings, lying upon the ground, going barefoot, wearing sackcloth or haircloth, abstaining from wine or marriage, is of little advantage, the mind and soul of man is not bettered by…

This saying about the advantage of godliness is true, and worthy to be received of all men. See the notes on 1 Tim. 1:15, where the same words are applied to the great proposition of the gospel: That Christ came into the world to save sinners.

If we did not believe this as a faithful saying, that godliness is profitable for all things, and trust in God, who liveth for ever, to see to the fulfilling of it, to what purpose should we labour and suffer reproach as we do; labouring in the work of God, suffering reproach in the cause of God,…

All the things before mentioned, in this or the former parts of this Epistle, he willeth Timothy to make the matter of his sermons and other discourses.

Let no man despise thy youth; so carry thyself in thy office, as not to give occasion to any to despise thee because thou art but a young man. But be thou an example of the believers: which thou wilt do if thou so livest as to be a just pattern unto Christians, imitable by them in word, in thy…

Till I come, and after that time too, but then I will further instruct thee. Give attendance to reading; be diligent in reading the Holy Scriptures, both for thine own instruction and for the edification of others.

Neglect not the gift that is in thee; neglect neither the ability which God hath given time for the discharge of the office of the ministry, nor the office to which God hath called thee; neither the improvement of them, nor the use, exercise, and discharge of them or it.

Meditate upon these things; Meleta, let these things be the business of thy thoughts, and take care of them. Give thyself wholly to them; be in them, (so it is in the Greek), let them be thy whole work, not thy work by the by, but thy chief and principal business.

Take heed unto thyself; take heed how thou livest, and orderest thy life, that it may be exemplary. And unto the doctrine; and take heed also both that thou teachest, and what thou teachest. Continue in them; and do both these things not for a time, but constantly.