Through the Bible: 1 TimothySample

To Think and Behave Right with God

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

1 Timothy 4:1-5 (ESV)

In chapter 3, Paul writes about the character and moral requirements of both pastors and deacons (people who manage the administrative affairs of the church). They are to have absolute faithfulness in marriage and family relationships and to set an example to both church members and the community.

In chapter 4, Paul warns against heresy that has crept into the church. There is an extreme unbiblical asceticism (self-denial) that stemmed from the belief that the material world was completely evil. This teaching is Gnosticism. Its basic teaching was that spirit is entirely good, while matter (physical world) was entirely evil. Salvation was achieved through escape from the body, and it caused some people to reject Jesus’ true humanity and to accept strange ideas about Jesus. On the other extreme, this belief also led to sexual promiscuity as some people felt it did not matter what they did with their physical bodies as long as they had the right beliefs.

Paul exhorts the believers to train themselves for godliness and to be an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.

Prayer

Dear God, I pray that we conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel and that we will not be deceived but receive truth into our lives. In Jesus' name, Amen.