1 Timothy 4

Notes

Ver. 1. And to stir you and others up to a steadfast adherence to this mystery of godliness, and to the rules which Christ issues forth for the government of his church, know that the Spirit of God has revealed to me, as well as to the ancient prophets, that in some future period of the Christian dispensation many professors will apostatize from the doctrines of Christ, and give heed to such as shall seduce them into idolatrous principles and practices, viz. the worshipping of angels and saints as a kind of subordinate gods or mediators; 2. And who, under hypocritical pretences of zeal for religion, will utter falsehoods to delude their followers and establish their own authority; and will refuse nothing, however wicked or absurd, to carry on their corrupt designs—their consciences being as unaffected with the guilt or dreadful consequences of sin as flesh seared with a hot iron is incapable of feeling; 3. And will forbid clergymen or others to marry, thus exposing them to temptations to unchastity; and will prohibit the use of those wholesome meats which God at first created for the sustenance of mankind, and which now, under the gospel dispensation, he allows all Christians their full freedom to use: 4. For everything, as God made it, is answerable to the purposes for which he created it; and nothing that is proper for food ought to be forbidden or scrupled, providing it be received with religious acknowledgments of God as the author and giver of it: 5. For it is sanctified to our lawful use of it by the gospel of God, which has removed all ceremonial uncleanness from it, and by his commanding a blessing on it, in answer to our prayers before and after our meals. 6. If you, my dear son in the faith, warn the Christian brethren of this great apostasy, and other things which I have mentioned to you, you will act the part of a useful, wise, and faithful servant of Jesus Christ, ordering your ministrations suitably to the circumstances and dangers of the times, and as one who has thoroughly digested and experienced the pure doctrines of faith in Christ. 7. But as for the fabulous traditions and useless genealogies, either of Jews or heathens, have nothing to do with them; but exercise yourself with the utmost labour, diligence, and vigour in promoting and exemplifying the doctrines and duties of true piety and obedience to God through Jesus Christ: 8. For no labour, in the mere external acts of religion, is either acceptable to God or useful to the souls of men; but evangelical, vital, and practical godliness in heart and life is everyway profitable, having manifold blessings annexed to it, by the promise of God, in this life and that which is to come. 9. And these promises of divine favours, temporal, spiritual, and eternal, are glorious in their accomplishment, and worthy of our highest regard, esteem, and entertainment, as they afford a rich encouragement to serve the Lord, and cleave to him, amidst all difficulties, oppositions, and dangers. 10. Yea, in virtue of our assured trust in these promises of God—who has all life in himself, and is the Bestower and Preserver of all created life; and who is the providential Deliverer of all men, and the spiritual and eternal Saviour of the world—we patiently and cheerfully undergo the greatest fatigues and most abusive revilings in our holy ministrations, to advance his glory, interest, and kingdom, and gain souls to him. 11. These things therefore fully explain, and, by the authority of Christ, inculcate upon the consciences of your hearers. 12. Endeavour also, by his gracious assistance, to acquit yourself therein with such diligence, gravity, good judgment, prudence, and fidelity, and such evidence of your faith, and experience of what you preach to others, that none may have occasion to slight and contemn your person or admonitions, your office, or administrations of it, on account of your youth. And to prevent this, study to be always an amiable and shining example to other believers, in the excellency of your doctrine and edifying discourse; in the regularity of your religious and moral behaviour; in the sincerity and ardour of your love to God, to Christ, and to immortal souls; in your spiritual-mindedness, fervent zeal for God, and abounding in the fruits of the Spirit; in a steady and lively exercise and profession of your faith, and maintenance of the doctrines thereof; and in all chastity and purity of heart. 13. And, till I have an opportunity of seeing and further directing you, addict yourself to and spend much of your time in reading and praying over the Holy Scriptures, for the improvement of your own soul in gifts, graces, and comforts, that you may be the better qualified to instruct, exhort, and comfort others, for their conversion, or their establishment and growth in grace. 14. Yea, as God has richly furnished you with extraordinary gifts for his service, according to the predictions of the Spirit of God concerning you, and in consequence of your solemn ordination to your office by a meeting of church-rulers, constituted in the name of Christ his Son, take care that you stir them up, and exercise and improve them to the best advantage. 15. Let the things which I have just now mentioned, and other important articles of divine revelation, be the constant subject of your most earnest meditation; let your attention to, ministration of, and prayer for, a blessing upon them be the entire and delightful business of your life, that your proficiency in wisdom, gifts, and grace, and the experience of God's love, may in all things appear evident to all about you. 16. And if you wish your ministerial labours to succeed, see that your heart be right with God, in its principles, frame, temper, motives, and ends; that your gifts be duly cultivated, and the whole of your behaviour towards himself or your fellow-creatures be well-pleasing in his sight through Christ; and then take heed what doctrine ye preach—that it be sound, clear, important, and seasonable; evangelical and practical; and that it be well explained, confirmed, defended, and applied. And in a constant, persevering, and increasing study of this kind you will, under the influence of the Holy Ghost, be instrumental in promoting the spiritual and eternal salvation of yourself, and others who attend your ministry.

Ver. 1. Latter times—the times of the last or Christian dispensation. See 2 Ti. 3. 1; Ja. 5. 3; 2 Pe. 3. 3; Jude 18.—Devils (demons). The worship of mahuzzim, angels, or the departed spirits of men and women, as foretold by Daniel, ch. 11. 38, and authorized in the Popedom. See the Creed of Pius IV. C.

Ver. 3. Forbidding to marry. The Encratites, Manichees, and Montanists all agreed in denouncing marriage as unfavourable to holiness; and in this description they are therefore, in some degree, included. But, in a special sense, the prophecy refers to the Popedom, which, by the enforced and authoritative celibacy of the priesthood, alone 'forbids' what these earlier heretics merely slighted or condemned. C.

Ver. 5. Sanctified, set apart for use.—By the Word of God, which authorizes the use.—And by prayer, which brings down the blessing. C.

Ver. 8. Bodily exercise. Not formal worship, as some, nor bodily mortification, as others imagine; but those gymnastic exercises which the athletæ practised to prepare them for the Grecian games—which exercises were profitable 'for a little' vainglory, or 'for a little' time, till the hard-earned praise was transferred to another, or the ear of the ambitious closed in death. See ver. 10; 1 Co. 9. 25. C.

Ver. 10. The Saviour—that is, the preserver of all men: of some, naturally, by his providence; and of the faithful, by his grace. C.

Ver. 14. By—rather, 'according to prophecy,' pointing thee out as 'a chosen vessel.'—The presbytery—the eldership who had joined with Paul in the act of ordination, 2 Ti. 1. 6; comp. Ac. 8. 17, 18. C.

Reflections.—Dreadful plagues to the Christian church are apostasy and error, especially those of the Romish antichrist! and yet what a verification are they of the divinity of the Scriptures in fulfilling their predictions! Seducers in a most fearful manner turn things upside down, pretending sin to be duty, and what is lawful to be sinful. But no uncertain traditions must be regarded in religion, and no bodily service must be rested in.—It is only lively practical religion that entails present or future blessings on men by the promise of God. And the more we labour for the spiritual edification of others, the more shall we be edified and fitted for our work.—With determined courage may ministers, or even Christians, both labour and suffer, if they trust firmly in God himself. And great exemplariness in faith, in love, in all holy conversation—much study of divine truth—much self-excitement—and heedfulness of their own state, temper, practice, and doctrine, is necessary to render ministers accepted of God in their work, or useful to souls. But it is infinitely absurd and criminal for ministers to indulge idleness, or apply themselves to worldly business, when their own and other men's eternal salvation so much depends upon their fidelity and diligence in their awful employment.