1Ti 4:2 | KingComments | STEP | . The last verses of the previous chapter form the introduction of this chapter. There you saw that everything in God’s house is about the Lord Jesus. If people abandon or ignore what is being said there, it is apostasy. Apostasy means that the Person of Christ is not sufficient anymore. Then people still need to have something to be ‘more Christian’. That is a violation of His Person and that is what the first verses of this chapter are about. In summary, you can say that in case people do not hold on to the truth of the last verses of chapter 3 ( ) then of this chapter will be the result. In the days of Paul we see the characteristics of apostasy appear. That’s why the apostle could pass on admonishments that are of practical use in his time. Those admonishments have become more and more urgent as the time has moved on. It is possible that Paul has received a special message from the Spirit regarding the “later times”. Because “the Spirit” says it, it is sure that it will happen like that. The word “explicitly” emphasizes especially what ‘the Spirit says’ about those ‘later times’ and that it is particularly advisable to take His words to heart. The expression “the Spirit … says” is one of the proofs that the Spirit is a (Divine) Person and not just a power or an influence. It is the Spirit Who makes us hear these vehement admonishments, so that the saints will not be surprised. He speaks about times that were to come in those days, but now have come fully. That is what makes it a present-day issue for us. These ‘later days’ are being marked by a certain character that enables you to recognize these times. What particularly characterizes them is “that some will fall away from the faith”. Here there is still mention of ‘some’. The evil has still not generally spread, what will surely be the case in “the last days” ( ; ; ), in which we live now. ‘Fall away from the faith’ can only happen to those who are not true believers. The certainty of salvation is the part of all who have been converted to God, who have confessed their sins sincerely and who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior ( ; ; ; ). ‘Fall away’ is taking distance of an original position. People who fall away from the faith consciously turn their back on what they first believed. This faith was only based on rational considerations (cf. ). While the Spirit leads in all truth ( ), these people deviate from the truth and deliver themselves to the influence of “deceitful spirits” and their doctrines, “doctrines of demons”. That’s what they are occupied with; they seek their assurance there and they cling to their ‘truths’. They are blind to the fact that they entrust themselves to demons; those are evil spirits, instruments of satan. . Demons can present themselves in a very pious way, but it is just appearances that deceive. They pretend to be pious, while what they say comes from the father of lies. “Hypocrisy” is a word that has to do with playing an act. Someone plays a role and pretends to be somebody else than himself. It is like wearing a mask that hides one’s true identity. In that way these deceivers wear the mask of piety as it is seen in abstaining from marriage and food ( ). Such people have “seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron”. It is as if a glowing branding iron has been applied to their being with as a result the unremovable characteristic on them that they are completely closed off to the gospel. They unscrupulously distort things that are given by God and give them another meaning. They present their doctrines as if those can lead people to a higher level of holiness, in order to honor God more. . Paul mentions two of these doctrines: marriage and food. Both are given by God as a blessing when He created man. In contrast to that demons present marriage and food as things that ‘only’ belong to the old creation, something that belongs to a lower order. They may suggest that a Christian doesn’t belong to the old creation anymore, but to the new creation. And there, according to their doctrines, things are of course different. But there is nothing that can devalue the order of God’s creation. Marriage and food were already a part of the creation before sin entered. Devaluing these gifts means devaluing the Creator. On the contrary, God expects us as new men, to do justice in Christendom to the things He has given. Devaluing the gifts is also an attack on Christ. Celibacy (the obligation in the roman-catholic church to a priest to renounce marriage) is a doctrine of demons. It is an attack on the truth of Christ and the church. Regarding the second error, ‘to abstain from food’, the deceivers can appeal to the food laws of the Old Testament ( ). The error is the commandment (they made up themselves) to abstain from certain food. In that way a person who becomes a vegetarian out of conviction and eats only vegetable food, because he doesn’t want to eat meat, is caught up in the doctrine of demons. Also this error is an attack on Christ, this time regarding His work. He who fundamentally refuses to eat meat, refuses to nourish himself with the death of someone else. The death of the animal with which man is allowed to nourish himself is a picture of the death of Christ through which a man can receive life. Paul returns to the beginning. Everything that “God has created”, He has created with a purpose. That purpose is that man enjoys it and honors Him for it. False doctrines deprive people of this privilege and therefore hinder the giving of thanks that ought to be normal for the believer. By giving Him thanks for it you acknowledge that you have received it from Him. Also unbelievers receive food ( ), but they do not thank God for it. Only children of God are able to eat food as a gift from God. They are those “who believe and know the truth”, through which they will be kept safe from these lies of abstinence. [The Scripture indicates that there can be reasons for a temporary abstinence in marriage ( ) and with regard to food (fasting, ). But that’s another issue.] . What comes from the good Creator-God cannot be other than good. The limitations that the law had determined have disappeared by the light of the gospel ( ). Still there is one exception in Christendom: the prohibition to eat blood ( ). While false teachers reject the good things from God with their doctrines, Paul contradicts that “nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude”. The only condition to enjoy the good things created by God is that it goes together “with gratitude” to God Who has given the good things. . Besides, that the food “is sanctified by the word of God and prayer” doesn’t refer to the custom (which is good of course) of giving thanks before or after the meal and to read a portion from God’s Word before or after a meal. The Lord Jesus always gave thanks also before the meal ( ; ; ). Paul assumes it as a general rule ( ) and also lives up to that himself ( ). The point is that if you ‘sanctify’ food, you separate a portion from all food and eat and enjoy it in fellowship with God. That is what you do because the Word of God has made clear to you what is the true relationship of the created things toward the Creator. You also enjoy in the ordinary things like food and drink fellowship with God. This fellowship with God you especially enjoy in prayer. Now read again 1 Timothy 4:1-5. Reflection: Why does Paul speak about doctrines of demons when it concerns everyday matters like marriage and food?

‏ 1 Timothy 4:2

Apostasy in Later Times

1Tim 4:1. The last verses of the previous chapter form the introduction of this chapter. There you saw that everything in God’s house is about the Lord Jesus. If people abandon or ignore what is being said there, it is apostasy. Apostasy means that the Person of Christ is not sufficient anymore. Then people still need to have something to be ‘more Christian’. That is a violation of His Person and that is what the first verses of this chapter are about. In summary, you can say that in case people do not hold on to the truth of the last verses of chapter 3 (1Tim 3:15-16) then 1Tim 4:1 of this chapter will be the result.

In the days of Paul we see the characteristics of apostasy appear. That’s why the apostle could pass on admonishments that are of practical use in his time. Those admonishments have become more and more urgent as the time has moved on. It is possible that Paul has received a special message from the Spirit regarding the “later times”. Because “the Spirit” says it, it is sure that it will happen like that. The word “explicitly” emphasizes especially what ‘the Spirit says’ about those ‘later times’ and that it is particularly advisable to take His words to heart.

The expression “the Spirit … says” is one of the proofs that the Spirit is a (Divine) Person and not just a power or an influence. It is the Spirit Who makes us hear these vehement admonishments, so that the saints will not be surprised. He speaks about times that were to come in those days, but now have come fully. That is what makes it a present-day issue for us.

These ‘later days’ are being marked by a certain character that enables you to recognize these times. What particularly characterizes them is “that some will fall away from the faith”. Here there is still mention of ‘some’. The evil has still not generally spread, what will surely be the case in “the last days” (2Tim 3:1; 2Pet 3:3; Jude 1:18), in which we live now.

‘Fall away from the faith’ can only happen to those who are not true believers. The certainty of salvation is the part of all who have been converted to God, who have confessed their sins sincerely and who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior (Jn 10:27-30; Rom 8:38 ; 39; Heb 10:14; Jn 5:24). ‘Fall away’ is taking distance of an original position. People who fall away from the faith consciously turn their back on what they first believed. This faith was only based on rational considerations (cf. Jn 2:23-25).

While the Spirit leads in all truth (Jn 16:13), these people deviate from the truth and deliver themselves to the influence of “deceitful spirits” and their doctrines, “doctrines of demons”. That’s what they are occupied with; they seek their assurance there and they cling to their ‘truths’. They are blind to the fact that they entrust themselves to demons; those are evil spirits, instruments of satan.

1Tim 4:2. Demons can present themselves in a very pious way, but it is just appearances that deceive. They pretend to be pious, while what they say comes from the father of lies. “Hypocrisy” is a word that has to do with playing an act. Someone plays a role and pretends to be somebody else than himself. It is like wearing a mask that hides one’s true identity. In that way these deceivers wear the mask of piety as it is seen in abstaining from marriage and food (1Tim 4:3).

Such people have “seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron”. It is as if a glowing branding iron has been applied to their being with as a result the unremovable characteristic on them that they are completely closed off to the gospel. They unscrupulously distort things that are given by God and give them another meaning. They present their doctrines as if those can lead people to a higher level of holiness, in order to honor God more.

1Tim 4:3. Paul mentions two of these doctrines: marriage and food. Both are given by God as a blessing when He created man. In contrast to that demons present marriage and food as things that ‘only’ belong to the old creation, something that belongs to a lower order. They may suggest that a Christian doesn’t belong to the old creation anymore, but to the new creation. And there, according to their doctrines, things are of course different.

But there is nothing that can devalue the order of God’s creation. Marriage and food were already a part of the creation before sin entered. Devaluing these gifts means devaluing the Creator. On the contrary, God expects us as new men, to do justice in Christendom to the things He has given. Devaluing the gifts is also an attack on Christ. Celibacy (the obligation in the roman-catholic church to a priest to renounce marriage) is a doctrine of demons. It is an attack on the truth of Christ and the church.

Regarding the second error, ‘to abstain from food’, the deceivers can appeal to the food laws of the Old Testament (Lev 11:46-47). The error is the commandment (they made up themselves) to abstain from certain food. In that way a person who becomes a vegetarian out of conviction and eats only vegetable food, because he doesn’t want to eat meat, is caught up in the doctrine of demons. Also this error is an attack on Christ, this time regarding His work. He who fundamentally refuses to eat meat, refuses to nourish himself with the death of someone else. The death of the animal with which man is allowed to nourish himself is a picture of the death of Christ through which a man can receive life.

Paul returns to the beginning. Everything that “God has created”, He has created with a purpose. That purpose is that man enjoys it and honors Him for it. False doctrines deprive people of this privilege and therefore hinder the giving of thanks that ought to be normal for the believer. By giving Him thanks for it you acknowledge that you have received it from Him.

Also unbelievers receive food (Acts 14:17), but they do not thank God for it. Only children of God are able to eat food as a gift from God. They are those “who believe and know the truth”, through which they will be kept safe from these lies of abstinence. [The Scripture indicates that there can be reasons for a temporary abstinence in marriage (1Cor 7:5) and with regard to food (fasting, Acts 13:2-3). But that’s another issue.]

1Tim 4:4. What comes from the good Creator-God cannot be other than good. The limitations that the law had determined have disappeared by the light of the gospel (Acts 10:9-16). Still there is one exception in Christendom: the prohibition to eat blood (Acts 15:28-29).

While false teachers reject the good things from God with their doctrines, Paul contradicts that “nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude”. The only condition to enjoy the good things created by God is that it goes together “with gratitude” to God Who has given the good things.

1Tim 4:5. Besides, that the food “is sanctified by the word of God and prayer” doesn’t refer to the custom (which is good of course) of giving thanks before or after the meal and to read a portion from God’s Word before or after a meal. The Lord Jesus always gave thanks also before the meal (Mt 15:36; Jn 6:11; Lk 22:19). Paul assumes it as a general rule (Rom 14:6) and also lives up to that himself (Acts 27:35).

The point is that if you ‘sanctify’ food, you separate a portion from all food and eat and enjoy it in fellowship with God. That is what you do because the Word of God has made clear to you what is the true relationship of the created things toward the Creator. You also enjoy in the ordinary things like food and drink fellowship with God. This fellowship with God you especially enjoy in prayer.

Now read again 1 Timothy 4:1-5.

Reflection: Why does Paul speak about doctrines of demons when it concerns everyday matters like marriage and food?