1Ti 4:1
4:1 Now {1} the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter
    times some shall depart from the {a} faith, giving heed to
    seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

 (1) He contrasts that true doctrine, with false opinions, which
     he foretells that certain ones who shall fall away from God
     and his religion, will bring in by the suggestion of Satan,
     and so that a great number will give ear to them.
     (a) From the true doctrine of God.

1Ti 4:2
4:2 {2} Speaking lies in {b} hypocrisy; having their {c}
    conscience seared with a hot iron;

 (2) Even though heretics pretend holiness ever so much, yet
     they have no conscience.
     (b) For they will as it were practise the art of disguised
         persons and players, so that we may not think they will
         lie lurking in some one corner or keep any resemblance
         of being shameful.
     (c) Whose conscience became so hard, that there grew a
         callous over it, and so became to have a canker in
         it, and now at length required by very necessity to be
         burned with a hot iron.

1Ti 4:3
4:3 {3} Forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from
    meats, {4} which God hath created {5} to be received {6}
    with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

 (3) He sets down two types of this false doctrine, that is, the
     law of single life, and the difference of meats.
 (4) He proves that he justly called such doctrines devilish,
     first, because the teachers of them make laws of things
     which are not their own: for have they created the meats?
 (5) Secondly, because they overthrow with their decrees the
     reason why they were created by God, that is, that we
     should use them.
 (6) Thirdly, because by this means they rob God of his glory,
     who will be honoured in the use of them.  And here with
     this, the apostle declares that we must use the liberality
     of God solemnly, and with a good conscience.

1Ti 4:4
4:4 {7} For every creature of God [is] good, and nothing to be
    refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

 (7) He sets an apostolic rule for taking away the difference of
     meats, against that false doctrine.

1Ti 4:5
4:5 {8} For it is {d} sanctified by the {e} word of God and
    prayer.

 (8) He properly uses God's benefits who acknowledges the giver
     of them by his word, and calls upon him.
     (d) It is so made pure and holy in respect of us, so that
         we may use it with a good conscience, as received from
         the Lord's hands.
     (e) We confess and acknowledge that God is the maker and
         giver of those creatures which we use.  Secondly, that
         we are of the number of those, who through Christ's
         benefit, have recovered that right over all creatures,
         which Adam lost by his fall.  Thirdly, by our prayers
         we crave of the Lord that we may use those meats with
         a good conscience, which we receive from his hands.
         Fourthly, we make an end of our eating and drinking,
         with thanksgiving and prayer: and so are our meats
         sanctified to us.

1Ti 4:6
4:6 {9} If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things,
    thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up
    in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou
    hast {f} attained.

 (9) The conclusion with an exhortation to Timothy, to propound
     these things diligently to the churches, which he had
     gotten from the apostle even as though he were being fed.
     (f) Never departing from it in the least.

1Ti 4:7
4:7 {10} But refuse profane and old wives' fables, {11} and
    exercise thyself [rather] unto {g} godliness.

 (10) He contrasts again true doctrine not only with the false and
      apostate doctrine, but also with all vain and curious wiles.
 (11) It is not only necessary that the minister of the word be
      sound in doctrine, but also that his life is godly and
      religious.
      (g) In the true serving of God.

1Ti 4:8
4:8 {12} For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is
    profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that
    now is, and of that which is to come.

 (12) Godliness consists in spiritual exercise, and not in
      outward strictness of life, which though it is something
      to be esteemed, if it is used correctly, yet it is in no
      way comparable with godliness.  For it profits not in and
      of itself, but through the benefit of another; but
      godliness has the promise both of the present life, and of
      that which is to come.

1Ti 4:9
4:9 {13} This [is] a faithful saying and worthy of all
    acceptation.

 (13) He goes a little from his matter, and shows that those who
      give themselves to godliness, even though they are
      afflicted and reproached, are nonetheless not to be
      considered miserable as other men are, because they are
      not afflicted for that reason that other men are, and the
      end of them both is far different one from the other.  For
      how can God forsake his own, who is bountiful even towards
      his enemies?  And he wishes that this doctrine is well
      learned by them.

1Ti 4:12
4:12 {14} Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example
     of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in
     spirit, in faith, in purity.

 (14) Now he returns to that exhortation, showing what are the
      true virtues of a pastor, by which he may come to be
      reverenced even though he is young, that is, such speech
      and life as are witnesses of charity, zeal, faith, and
      purity.  But here there is no mention made of the hooked
      staff, ring, cloak, and such other foolish and childish
      toys.

1Ti 4:13
4:13 {15} Till I come, give attendance to reading, to
     exhortation, to doctrine.

 (15) The private exercise of pastors, is the continual reading
      of the scriptures, from which they may draw water out of
      wholesome doctrine and exhortation, both for themselves
      and for others.

1Ti 4:16
4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in
     them: for in doing this thou shalt both {h} save thyself,
     and them that hear thee.

     (h) Faith is by hearing, and hearing by preaching: and
         therefore the ministers of the word are so said to save
         themselves and others, because in them the Lord has put
         the word of reconciliation.



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