Skip to main content

Tag: 1 Timothy

Forbidding marriage

Written by LWOM Amsterdam on . Posted in What’s new?.

Who are the ones forbidding marriage in 1 Timothy 4:3?

First Timothy 4:3 is connected with preceding verses in describing a group of false teachers prevalent in the first century. The depiction unfolds as follows:

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
(1 Timothy 4:1‭–5)

The identity of these false teachers is implicit in the passage, perhaps because Paul expected Timothy to know who they are. They are only characterized as “hypocritical liars” from whom come deceptive teachings fueled by deceiving spirits that will lead some people from the faith. Alongside their forbidding of marriage, they also advocate abstinence from certain foods. Both instructions reflect ascetic practices, and it is clear why the teachings are deceptive. Ascetic rules “have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence” (Colossians 2:23). Paul labels such rules “human commands and teachings” (Colossians 2:22).

The injunction against marriage and certain types of food aligns with Gnostic doctrines, so it is probable that Paul was referring to Gnostic teachers. Gnosticism flourished in the first three centuries AD, and because many Gnostics claimed to be Christians, the heresy might have caused confusion.

Christianity and Gnosticism diverge on several fronts, one of which is the forbidding of marriage. Influenced by philosophers like Plato, Gnostics adopt a dualistic perspective in which the physical world is inherently evil, with only the spiritual world being virtuous. As marriage and sexuality are part of the physical world, some sects forbid them. Conversely, Christianity regards both the physical and spiritual realms as inherently good. While tainted by sin and death, creation remains fundamentally good. Although Paul remained unmarried and extolled celibacy as a valid choice, Christianity honors marriage and does not forbid it. Furthermore, while the Israelites adhered to dietary restrictions for the purpose of distinguishing themselves from other nations, this practice ended after Jesus declared all food to be clean (Mark 7:19). Now, dietary choices are determined by personal conviction (Romans 14:1–4).

While there is no consensus that Gnostics are the false teachers that forbade marriage, it remains likely they are the ones Paul had in mind. We can learn a lot about the nature of false teaching from the warnings of Scripture. False teachings often have the appearance of truth and may even seem wise, but they are at best “teachings of men” (Colossians 2:22) and at worst “doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1, AMP).

Doctrines of demons

Written by LWOM Amsterdam on . Posted in What’s new?.

What are doctrines of demons in 1 Timothy 4:1?

In many places, Scripture warns us against false doctrine. One such place is 1 Timothy 4:1: “The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons” (NASB). The KJV words it as “seducing spirits, and doctrines of demons.” A doctrine is a teaching or a set of principles. The “doctrines of demons,” then, are things that demons teach.

There can be good and bad doctrines. The word doctrine can refer to the biblical teachings of a church or a pastor. Or, in the case of 1 Timothy 4:1, the ungodly teachings of Satan. Those who follow the doctrines of demons “will fall away from the faith.” That is, heeding the doctrine of demons is a serious matter because it involves a departure from the truth of Christ’s gospel.

How are the doctrines of demons promulgated? They are delivered through human instructors: “Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:2). These false teachers are hypocritical; that is, their lives do not evidence the holiness they seemingly espouse. They are liars; that is, they deal in falsehood and knowingly lead others into apostasy. And they are beyond the reach of conscience; that is, they have found a way, in their own minds, to justify their lies. These false teachers may be personable, charming, and persuasive, but they do not receive their message from the Holy Spirit; rather, they spout the suggestions of evil spirits, whose work it is to lead people astray.

What exactly are the doctrines of demons? The immediate context gives an idea of the teachings to look out for: “They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:2–5). According to this passage, we should not follow any person or group that forbids marriage or that places restrictions on certain foods. Any person or group that says holiness comes through a select diet or complete sexual abstinence is lying.

In the Garden of Eden, Eve encountered the doctrines of demons as the serpent spoke to her: “He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, “You must not eat from any tree in the garden”?’” (Genesis 3:1). At the beginning of the conversation, Satan questioned the teaching of God, and, as they continued to talk, he substituted his own teaching for God’s. Satan has continued to use deception, doubt, and subtlety to lead people astray. Satan is the father of lies and a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44), and the doctrines taught by his demons through the agency of willing human accomplices continue to separate people from God and His blessing.

Satan knows how to manipulate us, and that is why the doctrines of demons are so effective. We can identify the doctrines of demons by immersing ourselves in the truth. We must read and study our Bibles. When we know what God says on any given subject, then any deviation from that teaching will send up a red flag. When we are in tune with God’s Word, aberrations from that keynote will ring hollow and off-key.

Let no one despise your youth

Written by LWOM Amsterdam on . Posted in What’s new?.

What does 1 Timothy 4:12 mean by, “Let no one despise your youth”?

First Timothy 4:12 is a personal message to Timothy. Paul exhorts, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12, NKJV). Timothy was likely in his 30s at the time Paul sent this letter, but he was a “youth” in comparison to Paul and likely to many in the congregation in Ephesus.

The words to Timothy are also an encouragement to all younger believers everywhere. It’s natural for people to look down on younger generations just because they are young and inexperienced. Paul says that young people can counter that tendency in their elders by paying attention to their own character. A young Christian can and should set an example for others and point them to God. In that way, no one will “despise” their youth.

Paul’s command to Timothy, “Let no one despise your youth,” is followed by further instructions to prevent such attitudes in the church. To despise is to show contempt toward, to scorn, or to disregard. Timothy could avoid being despised by being an example to others in his speech, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity and by devoting himself to the public reading of Scripture, exhorting, and teaching (1 Timothy 4:13). All Christians, especially young Christians in ministry, still have the same calling.

Christians should live such that they are not despised as callow, naïve, or immature. We can stave off such contempt by being an example in everything and doing what is good: “In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us” (Titus 2:7–8). Our conduct matters. What we do and say either reflects Christ well to the world or misrepresents Him. Regardless of our stage in life, our goal should be to “let no one despise your youth.”

Paul gives Timothy specific areas where he can represent Christ well: in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity. A Christian has surrendered his life to the lordship of Christ and continues submitting to the Word and work of the Spirit to grow in godly character. A wise young Christian desires to submit to Christ’s lordship in all areas so that no one will despise his or her youth. God’s Word has much to say in each of these areas, and wise youths will prayerfully examine their lives to see if they reflect God well:

  1. Word: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21, ESV), so we should pray like the psalmist that the “words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).
  2. Conduct: “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12, ESV).
  3. Love: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).
  4. Spirit: “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16) and “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23).
  5. Faith: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
  6. Purity: “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God” (1 Thessalonians 4:3–5).

As part of the preventative against people despising his youth, Timothy was also to devote himself to the public reading of Scripture, preaching, and teaching (1 Timothy 4:13). God’s Word transforms us, sanctifies us, and gives us the opportunity to see and know God. By focusing on these disciplines and growing in godly character, Timothy would be a powerful influence for Christ. No one would look at his ministry and despise his youth. Timothy would be advancing in spiritual maturity and being the salt and light that God called him to be (see Matthew 5:13–15).

In a time when many youth seem to be falling away from the faith, young believers can stay encouraged to shine brightly for Christ and be an example to all believers, regardless of age. Youthfulness need not be a stigma. A young Christian’s character and priorities can point people to the salvation Christ offers. The best way to “let no one despise your youth” is to “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Bodily exercise profits a little

Written by LWOM Amsterdam on . Posted in 1 Timothy, What’s new?.

What does it mean that bodily exercise profits a little (1 Timothy 4:8)?

In 1 Timothy 4:8, the apostle Paul exhorts Timothy to keep his priorities straight: “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (NKJV). Here, Paul draws a contrast between bodily exercise and godliness. Both are profitable, but bodily exercise is of lesser value than godliness.

In 1 Timothy 4:6, Paul gives Timothy a friendly reminder to “put these things before the brothers” (ESV). Everyone needs a reminder now and again. Paul does not remind Timothy of his pastoral obligations because Timothy has forgotten or neglected to do them. On the contrary, Paul wants to encourage Timothy to do what he always has—a sort of positive reinforcement, if you will.

What things should Timothy put before the Ephesian church? The answer is contained in 1 Timothy 4:1–5: warnings against false teachings that “come through hypocritical liars” (verse 3). As Timothy faithfully teaches the church to distinguish truth from error, he will be “a good servant of Christ Jesus” who upholds “the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed” (verse 6, ESV). The “words of the faith” are the gospel. A summary of the gospel message is found in 1 Corinthians 15:3–4. There, note how Paul describes the gospel as being of “first importance.” Timothy’s primary responsibility as a bishop is to teach, equip, and remind his congregation of the truth.

Timothy needs to bring these things to his congregation’s remembrance because of the ubiquitous influence of false doctrine (1 Timothy 4:1–3, 7). False teachers are everywhere today: on radio, podcasts, and television and standing in church pulpits. They are a threat to sound doctrine because their teachings are contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ (see Galatians 1:8). If Timothy protects his congregation from false teachers, then he will be a “good minister of Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 4:6).

Timothy’s effectiveness as a servant of Jesus Christ was due to his being “nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching” (1 Timothy 4:6). He was trained, or disciplined, by his grandmother Lois and his mother, Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5), and, of course, by Paul. It should be noted that our service to God can only be as effective as the deposit that has been put within us. In other words, our output can only be as good as our input. Will we follow Timothy’s example of faithful service by setting “believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12)?

Believers who are preoccupied with righteousness do not have time for “irreverent, silly myths” (1 Timothy 4:7, ESV), because their hearts and minds are set on things above (see Colossians 3:2). The contrast between “words of the faith” and “irreverent, silly myths” is noteworthy. It indicates that the gospel is not a mythological or fictitious account of Jesus Christ. Quite the opposite! The gospel is a historical account of the life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The best way to detect false teachings is to “train [ourselves] for godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7, ESV). The Greek word for “train” is gymnaze, where we get the English words gym and gymnasium. Although gymnaze denotes physical training, Paul uses the word metaphorically to include spiritual training. The idea is that spiritual training requires “discipline,” which is how the NASB translates gymnaze.

In 1 Timothy 4:8, Paul says, “Bodily exercise profits a little” (NKJV), but he does not suggest that physical or bodily training is a bad thing. In fact, he acknowledges that it has some value, recognizing its benefit for overall health and well-being. He does assert, however, that godliness has eternal significance and holds promise for both the present life and the life to come. The present benefit of godliness is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). The future benefit of godliness is eternal fellowship with God in heaven (John 14:3).

In conclusion, 1 Timothy 4:8 highlights the surpassing worth of godliness and the promise that it holds for both the present and future life. Therefore, by embracing godliness and rejecting false teachings, believers can remain devoted to the truth of God’s Word.