1 Timothy 4
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons;
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 Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
who will make use of the hypocrisy of lying teachers. These men’s consciences are seared,
3 Forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving by them who believe and know the truth.
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 every creature of God [is] good, and nothing to be refused, if received with thanksgiving:
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 word of God, and prayer.
for it is consecrated by God’s blessing and by prayer.
6 If thou shalt put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou wilt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished by the words of faith and of good doctrine, to which thou hast attained.
Put all this before the Brethren, 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 refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself [rather] to godliness.
As for profane legends and old wives’ tales, leave them alone. Train yourself to lead a religious life;
8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable to all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which 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 faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation.
How true that saying is and worthy of the fullest acceptance!
10 For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God who is the Savior of all men, especially of those that believe.
With that aim we toil and struggle, for we have set our hopes on the Living God, who is the Saviour of all men, and especially of those who hold the Faith.
11 These things command and teach.
Dwell upon these things in your teaching.
12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in deportment, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Do not let any one 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, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Till I come, apply yourself to public reading, preaching, and teaching.
14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
Do not neglect the divine gift within you, which was given you, amid many a prediction, when the hands of the Officers of the Church were laid on your head.
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
Practice these things, devote yourself to them, so that your progress may be plain to every one.
16 Take heed to thyself and to thy doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou wilt both save thyself, and them that hear 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.
