1 Timothy 4
1 Now the Spirit speaketh euidently, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, and shall giue heede vnto spirits of errour, and doctrines of deuils,
But the Spirit distinctly says that in later times there will be some who will fall away from the faith, and devote their attention to misleading spirits, and to the teaching of demons,
2 Which speake lies through hypocrisie, and haue their cosciences burned with an hote yron,
who will make use of the hypocrisy of lying teachers. These people’s consciences are seared,
3 Forbidding to marrie, and commanding to abstaine from meates which God hath created to be receiued with giuing thankes of them which beleeue and knowe the trueth.
and they discourage marriage and enjoin abstinence from certain kinds of food; though God created these foods to be enjoyed thankfully by those who hold the faith and have attained a full knowledge of the truth.
4 For euery creature of God is good, and nothing ought to be refused, if it be receiued with thankesgiuing.
Everything created by God is good, and there in nothing that need be rejected – provided only that it is received thankfully;
5 For it is sanctified by the worde of God, and prayer.
for it is consecrated by God’s blessing and by prayer.
6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Iesus Christ, which hast bene nourished vp in the wordes of faith, and of good doctrine, which thou hast continually followed.
Put all this before the followers, and you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, sustained by the precepts of the faith and of that good teaching by which you have guided your life.
7 But cast away prophane, and olde wiues fables, and exercise thy selfe vnto godlinesse.
As for profane legends and old wives’ tales, leave them alone. Train yourself to lead a religious life;
8 For bodily exercise profiteth litle: but godlinesse is profitable vnto all things, which hath the promise of the life present, and of that that is to come.
for while the training of the body is of service in some respects, religion is of service in all, carrying with it, as it does, a promise of life both here and hereafter.
9 This is a true saying, and by all meanes worthie to be receiued.
How true that saying is and worthy of the fullest acceptance!
10 For therefore we labour and are rebuked, because we trust in the liuing God, which is the Sauiour of all men, specially of those that beleeue.
With that aim we toil and struggle, for we have set our hopes on the living God, who is the Saviour of all, and especially of those who hold the faith.
11 These things warne and teache.
Remember these things in your teaching.
12 Let no man despise thy youth, but be vnto them that beleeue, an ensample, in worde, in conuersation, in loue, in spirit, in faith, and in purenesse.
Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but, by your conversation, your conduct, your love, your faith, and your purity, be an example to those who hold the faith.
13 Till I come, giue attendance to reading, to exhortation, and to doctrine.
Until I come, apply yourself to public reading, preaching, and teaching.
14 Despise not the gift that is in thee, which was giuen thee by prophecie with the laying on of the hands of the companie of the Eldership.
Do not neglect the divine gift within you, which was given you, amid many a prediction, when the hands of the church elders were laid on your head.
15 These things exercise, and giue thy selfe vnto them, that it may be seene howe thou profitest among all men.
Practice these things, devote yourself to them, so that your progress may be plain to everyone.
16 Take heede vnto thy selfe, and vnto learning: continue therein: for in doing this thou shalt both saue thy selfe, and them that heare thee.
Look to yourself as well as to your teaching. Persevere in this, for your doing so will mean salvation for yourself as well as for your hearers.
