seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
1 Timothy 4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 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. 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
6 If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,[a] you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
a. 1 Timothy 4:6 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.
This is from the easy English site.
Paul turns from instructions to Timothy and the church members, to give a warning. He talks about a time when many will turn away from the Lord. These people said that they trusted in God. But then they changed their minds. They gave up their faith and turned their backs on the Lord. The Holy Spirit had said that this would happen in future times.
The last days here means some time after the Spirit had spoken. It is not just the final period, which is still to come. The last days here refer to the present, which began with the coming of Christ. Since the church started, there have been those who said that they believed. But later, they turned away from the Lord. The Bible does say that there will be a time when a large number will turn away. That will be in the period just before the Lord Jesus comes again (2 Thessalonians 2:3).
These people stop believing in the Lord. This is because they act on lies. They turn away from the truth and believe lies. They listen to what false teachers say. These lies come from evil spirits that lead them away from the truth. They start to accept what demons teach.
These spirits and demons are enemies of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Their aim is to make of no effect the work that the Lord has done for us. They will do all that they can to stop people from trusting in Christ. They also try to turn Christians from their belief in him.
Paul mentions two of the wrong things that these people taught. They forbade people to marry. And they told them that they must not eat certain foods.
Timothy has known the truth since he was a child. He has followed it from his youth. He should continue to live and grow in that truth.
What God gives has the promise of life. This is the life that is to come. He gives that life to all who believe and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. So, that life is far more important than the health of the body. Christ has promised us a different quality of life now. And it goes on when our body dies. Therefore, it should be the aim of all Christians to be like Christ. They cannot achieve it now, but they should work hard towards it. Such effort is well worthwhile because God will bless it.
This is from enduringword.com.Exercise yourself toward godliness: Ancient Greek and Roman culture put a high value on physical exercise. Paul tells Timothy that the same work and commitment that others put towards physical exercise should be put toward the pursuit of godliness.
“Here is an intentional paradox. Timothy is to meet the spurious asceticism of the heretics by exercising himself in the practical piety of the Christian life.” (White)
The word godliness comes from the old English word Godlikeness; it means to have the character and attitude of God. This was a worthy goal, much more worthy that the potential attainments of physical exercise.
Bodily exercise profits a little in that it has some value. Or, the idea can be translated bodily exercise is good for a while, while exercising unto godliness is good for all eternity.
Spiritual development and physical development share some similarities. With each, growth only comes with exertion and proper feeding.
The Savior of all men: This emphasizes the idea that the priority must be kept on the message of Jesus Christ. It isn’t that all men are saved in a Universalist sense; but that there is only one Savior for all men. It isn’t as if Christians have one Savior and others might have another savior.
But notice Paul’s point: especially of those who believe. Jesus’ work is adequate to save all, but only effective in saving those who come to Him by faith.
“What God intends for ALL, he actually gives to them that believe in Christ, who died for the sins of the world [1 John 2:2], and tasted death for every man [Hebrews 2:9]. As all have been purchased by his blood so all may believe; and consequently all may be saved. Those that perish, perish through their own fault.” (Clarke)
Paul and company really through that Jesus was coming right back. Now while Jesus was working on His Mission.... there was a group of disgruntle descendants of Jacob [Israel] who were working on a plot to overthrow the Roman occupation. They thought Jesus was the ticket. He was drawing large crowds and those large crowds were just what these men needed to further their cause. No doubt these men would linger around the edges of the crowds.... scoping out who they might get to join the movement. While there, they heard what Jesus was saying. Some believed.... others got good at repeating the important verses so they could use them to twist the tale a little to fit their needs.
Meanwhile.... on the goodie two shoes descendants of Jacob [Israel] side of the gatherings.... there were people who were crushed by the rules and regulations of the Jewish Traditions.... and those traditions made everything right or wrong.... including making everyone who isn't a descendant of Jacob [Israel] wrong. Those men said that Jesus couldn't possibly be the Messiah, because Rome put Him on the Cross. They didn't get it... Jesus knew He had to hung on a Cross to complete the mission. They thought the Messiah would be a great earthly king like Saul, David, or Solomon. They discounted the fact that Saul was insane, David was a womanizing murderer, and Solomon had 300 wives and 700 concubines who led him to build temples to their gods.
Two things are going on in this chapter..... there were men who were teaching that no one should be marrying... and there was a prophecy about the demise of the church. Both have to do with those who were expecting Jesus to return at any moment.
These men... thought that Jesus was coming back and they were going to war. They thought that any minute now... Jesus was going to come back, assemble His Army and throw Rome out of Jerusalem. The idea of planning a big marriage ceremony, complete with wine... [nope it hadn't been turned from water like the batch Jesus made... it would therefore get men drunk] and festivities did not compute. They didn't have time for women... they had freedom to fight for.
Those men had to be reminded that if they didn't have time for the wedding ceremony, they shouldn't be sniffing around the women. One of the commentaries I generally read... went way off the path the others were on... and discussed ramped homosexuality as the cause of the issues here. I guess they got that from the "marriage" problem. Apparently the author of that commentary figured that the reason the men didn't want to marry was that they were with other men... not women. I don't buy that... I see something totally different going on here.... something I actually heard preached in a number of churches.
Then there was the question of the prophecy.... Apparently Timothy had a gift and he knew that some would fall away from the church and during the end times people would just stop believing. The chapter and the commentary all seem to show a falling away of those who Believe. The commentator seems to think that these men heard the message... believed... but not really. The not really part is an assumption the Word didn't take. IMHO... that's just wrong.
Paul and company thought that Jesus was coming back right away. Timothy was saying the church was going south before Jesus returns. The church didn't suffer from the teachings of the day.... it faltered because over time.... people just got use to not sticking right to the scripture. Oh... and that might explain how the commentary is sometimes so off.
Over the centuries since the first churches.... the rich and powerful have donated a lot of money to the church. It's good business. Christians like to do business with fellow Christians. They think they will get a fair shake from a fellow Christian and helping them at the same time. Those wealthy members give money to the preachers... and then... after a while... they start to nudge the preacher to get certain ideas into the sermons. The preacher.... thinking of the "new church wing" at first..... and then their paycheck and the free housing became the reason.... starts to allow the little nudge... after all it's just a little nudge.
Meanwhile.... the rich guy who thinks his church should be exclusive... so he starts having the preacher remove certain people... claiming that marriage between descendants of Jacob [Israel] and gentiles is against the church... [wrong].... and people of color should worship with people of color.... [wrong].... and anyone who doesn't fit the rich guy's idea of a "good" Christian would be happier elsewhere. Remember... in the beginning of the church... in Corinth... the Christian Church rented a room in the temple of Aphrodite... a brothel... that employed male and female prostitutes.... who became members of the Christian Church in Corinth..... and that... needed to stop according to the rich guy.... male prostitutes made him uncomfortable... and the female prostitutes made him stare, making his wife angry... so they had to go. The rich guy nudged the preacher over and over and over during the centuries that followed.... and the church became an exclusive white only... blacks only... "pure in thought" place that tells people who don't look or act like the others.... they had to go.
So now... centuries later.... the church is not a church.... it's just buildings... There are no food banks or help for the less fortunate. The church stays locked when not in use.... most only visit the building on Sunday to see and be seen..... a few preachers preach the gospel... and are happy to accept all Believers in their services.... but the majority.... are preaching to the paycheck and the free housing... doing what ever the rich guy wants.
I'm rambling.... so time to stop.... IMHO.... this chapter is about how the church got perverted based on the stupid ignorant humans running the church.... humans got really good at pretending to be good Christians.... they just didn't take the time to actually accept Jesus into their hearts.... they didn't have time.. and now... it's too late because they would have to admit... they've been faking it all along.
