CHAPTER 4

(A.D. 65)

APOSTASY

¹Now the Spirit (Holy Spirit) speaks ex pressly (pointedly), that in the latter times (the times in which we now live, the last of the last days, which begin the fulfillment of Endtime Prophecies) some shall depart from the Faith (anytime Paul uses the term the Faith, in short he is referring to the Cross; so, we are told here that some will depart from the Cross as the means of Salvation and Victory), giving heed to seducing spirits (evil spirits, i.e., religious spirits, making something seem like what it isnt), and doctrines of devils (should have been translated, doctrines of demons; the seducing spirits entice Believers away from the true Faith, causing them to believe doctrines inspired by demon spirits);

²Speaking lies in hypocrisy (concerns the teachers of these doctrines of demons, which pertain to anything that leads one away from the Cross); having their conscience seared with a hot iron (refers to the fact that these deceivers are not acting under delusion, but deliberately and against conscience);

³Forbidding to marry (is an attack against the home, even against Gods original Command that a husband and wife is His Plan for society [Gen. 2:23-24]), and commanding to abstain from meats (claiming the keeping of certain man-made Laws brings about Holiness), which God has created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the Truth. (The reason for the error these have rejected Truth, i.e., the Cross.)

⁴For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused (that is if its used for the right purpose), if it be received with thanksgiving (proclaims the fact that every kind of food and drink may become hateful in the eyes of the all-pure God if misused, or if partaken of without any sense of gratitude to the Divine Giver):

⁵For it is Sanctified (made clean) by the Word of God (realizing our Sanctification and Holiness come by our Faith in Christ and the Cross, and not by the keeping of particular rules and regulations) and prayer (a prayer of thanksgiving).

A GOOD MINISTER

⁶If you put the Brethren in remembrance of these things (call attention to it), you shall be a good Minister of Jesus Christ (at the same time, in effect, says if attention is not called to these things, one will not be a good Preacher of the Gospel), nourished up in the words of Faith and of good doctrine, whereunto you have attained (constantly nourishing ones self on the Word).

⁷But refuse profane and old wives fables (that which does not have the true character of the Word of God), and exercise yourself rather unto Godliness. (Pauls thought moves on immediately to a contrast between the discipline of the body and the discipline of the soul.)

⁸For bodily exercise profits little (should have been translated, profitable for a little): but Godliness is profitable unto all things (covers every aspect of life and living), having Promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. (Godliness affects our life and living now, and also the life that is to come, proving life after death.)

⁹This is a Faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. (The Apostle is referring to the statement made in Verse 8. It must be faithfully accepted and attended.)

¹⁰For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach (neither the Devil nor his followers are in sympathy with the Believer), because we trust in the Living God (the Salvation afforded by God through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ), Who is the Saviour of all men (refers to all men who will believe [Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:4; 10:9-10, 13; Eph. 2:8-9]), specially of those who believe. (This refers to conditions laid down for Salvation.)

¹¹These things command and teach. (Jesus Christ Alone is the Saviour, and is so by virtue of what He did at the Cross.)

EXAMPLES

¹²Let no man despise your youth (he had been well developed by Paul); but be thou an example of the Believers, in word, in conversation (in lifestyle), in charity, in spirit, in Faith, in purity (which can only be brought about by the Cross ever being the Object of our Faith, with the Holy Spirit then able to bring about these graces).

COMMANDS

¹³Till I come, give attendance to reading (to the simple reading of the Word of God), to exhortation (proclaiming the Truth or preaching the Gospel), to doctrine. (This refers to properly teaching the Word.)

¹⁴Neglect not the Gift that is in you (refers to the Call of God, and the Anointing of the Holy Spirit upon the individual to carry out the Call!), which was given you by Prophecy (the Prophecy verified what the Lord had already done; Paul is reminding Timothy of this verification), with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery. (This actually refers to the Pastors of that particular local Church, in this instance either at Lystra or Derbe [Acts 16:1-3].)

¹⁵Meditate upon these things (attend carefully); give yourself wholly to them (total devotion); that your profiting may appear to all (better translated, so that your progress may be evident to all).

¹⁶Take heed unto yourself, and unto the Doctrine (keep on paying attention to yourself, what you believe, and also to what youre teaching); continue in them (refers to not allowing any false doctrine to enter in, or sin to enter the personal life): for in doing this you shall both save yourself, and them who hear you. (Unfortunately, most Believers are hearing Preachers who are leading them in the wrong direction.)