< 1 Timothy 4 >

1 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,
Now the Spirit expressly declares that in later times some will fall away from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and the teachings of demons;
2 who will make use of the hypocrisy of lying teachers. These people’s consciences are seared,
through the hypocrisy of men who teach falsely and have their own consciences seared as with a hot iron;
3 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.
forbidding people to marry, and insisting on abstinence from foods which God has created to be partaken of, with thankfulness, by those who believe and have a clear knowledge of the truth.
4 Everything created by God is good, and there in nothing that need be rejected – provided only that it is received thankfully;
For everything that God has created is good, and nothing is to be cast aside, if only it is received with thanksgiving.
5 for it is consecrated by God’s blessing and by prayer.
For it is made holy by the word of God and by prayer.
6 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.
If you warn the brethren of these dangers you will be a good and faithful servant of Christ Jesus, inwardly feeding on the lessons of the faith and of the sound teaching of which you have been, and are, so close a follower.
7 As for profane legends and old wives’ tales, leave them alone. Train yourself to lead a religious life;
But worldly stories, fit only for credulous old women, have nothing to do with.
8 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.
Train yourself in godliness. Exercise for the body is not useless, but godliness is useful in every respect, possessing, as it does, the promise of Life now and of the Life which is soon coming.
9 How true that saying is and worthy of the fullest acceptance!
Faithful is this saying and deserving of universal acceptance:
10 With that aim we toil and struggle, for we have set our hopes on the living God, who is the Savior of all, and especially of those who hold the faith.
and here is the motive of our toiling and wrestling, because we have our hopes fixed on the ever-living God, who is the Saviour of all mankind, and especially of believers.
11 Remember these things in your teaching.
Command this and teach this.
12 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.
Let no one think slightingly of you because you are a young man; but in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, be an example for your fellow Christians to imitate.
13 Until I come, apply yourself to public reading, preaching, and teaching.
Till I come, bestow your attention on reading, exhortation and teaching.
14 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.
Do not be careless about the gifts with which you are endowed, which were conferred on you through a divine revelation when the hands of the elders were placed upon you.
15 Practice these things, devote yourself to them, so that your progress may be plain to everyone.
Habitually practise these duties, and be absorbed in them; so that your growing proficiency in them may be evident to all.
16 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.
Be on your guard as to yourself and your teaching. Persevere in these things; for by doing this you will make certain your own salvation and that of your hearers.

< 1 Timothy 4 >