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The Bible · 1123 of 1189
1 Timothy 4
1.Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2. Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3. Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5. For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 6. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. 7. But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 9. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. 10. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
11.These things command and teach. 12. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 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. 15. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 16. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Asked of Guide
Why does Paul tell Timothy to 'refuse profane and old wives’ fables' and instead 'exercise... unto godliness'?
Paul identifies harmful teaching—“doctrines of devils” and rules “forbidding to marry” or “abstain from meats”—as distractions that lead people away from faith, so he warns Timothy to reject those empty stories and superstitions. He wants Timothy to prioritize wholesome, practical formation: reading, exhortation, doctrine, and personal example in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity.
Paul links godliness to usefulness: while “bodily exercise profiteth little,” godliness “is profitable unto all things” for present life and the life to come, so discipline toward holiness replaces chasing rules. This echoes Hebrews’ ethic of persevering teaching and acts (see Hebrews 5–6 on mature faith and solid food) where steady spiritual training, not mere ritual, builds maturity.
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