1 Timothy 4:1-8 - Reject False And Foolish Teaching
We have here the Apostle's forecast of the last times, i.e., the condition in which men will find themselves as the age draws to a close. Notwithstanding all that Christ has done, the prevalence of evil will be enormous, not because of any failure in God but because the Church has failed to be the organ through which His saving help could reach mankind. The symptoms are set forth with great clearness, such as demon spirits dwelling and working in men, error taught under the specious guise of excessive religious devotion, consciences seared, natural instincts thwarted and outraged. On the contrary, let us believe that the whole body, and all gifts that are natural and innocent, are to be cherished and used under three sanctions:
1.They must be accepted and enjoyed with thanksgiving to the Creator and Father.
2.They must be sanctioned by the Word of God.
3.Their use and enjoyment must, not interfere with our prayer-life.
The minister of Christ must be daily nourished by the words of Christian truth. If he is not fed on Christ's body and blood, his teaching will soon deteriorate, John 6:1-71. He must also exercise himself in godliness with as much care as the gymnast, who is continually exercising his joints and muscles so as to keep supple and alert. This is also God's purpose in the spiritual trials and discipline which He sends. [source]
Chapter Summary: 1 Timothy 4
1He foretells that in the latter times there shall be a departure from the faith 6And to the end that Timothy might not fail in doing his duty, he furnishes him with various precepts
Greek Commentary for 1 Timothy 4:5
It is sanctified [αγιαζεται] Present passive indicative of αγιαζω hagiazō here “rendered holy” rather than “declared holy.” Cf. 1 Timothy 4:4. [source]
Through the word of God and prayers [δια λογου τεου και εντευχεως] See note on 1 Timothy 2:1 for εντευχις enteuxis Paul seems to refer to Genesis 1. It is almost a hendiadys “by the use of Scripture in prayer.” [source]
It is sanctified [ἁγιάζεται] Not declared holy, but made holy. The declaration confirms the last clause of 1 Timothy 4:4. Thanksgiving to God has a sanctifying effect. The food in itself has no moral quality (Romans 14:14), but acquires a holy quality by its consecration to God; by being acknowledged as God's gift, and partaken of as nourishing the life for God's service. Comp. Paul's treatment of the unbelieving husband and the believing wife, 1 Corinthians 7:14. [source]
By the word of God [διὰ λογοῦ θεοῦ] That is, by the word of God as used in the prayer. Scripture is not called “the Word of God.” The Word of God includes much more than Scripture: but Scripture contains the Word of God, and the thanksgiving at table was in the words of Scripture. See Psalm 145:15,Psalm 145:16. The custom of grace at meat appears 1 Samuel 9:13. Christ blessed the loaves and fishes (Matthew 14:19; Matthew 15:36): Paul on the ship gave thanks for the meal which the seamen ate (Acts 27:35). Ἑντεύξεως prayersee on 1 Timothy 2:1. [source]
1 Corinthians 10:16The cup of blessing [τὸ ποτήριον τῆς εὐλογίας] Lit., the blessing: the cup over which the familiar formula of blessing is pronounced. Hence the Holy Supper was often styled Eulogia (Blessing). For blessing, see on blessed, 1 Peter 1:3. It is the same as eucharistia (thanksgiving ), applied as the designation of the Lord's Supper: Eucharist. See 1 Corinthians 14:16; 1 Timothy 4:4,1 Timothy 4:5. The cup is first mentioned, perhaps, because Paul wishes to dwell more at length on the bread; or possibly, because drinking rather than eating characterized the idol-feasts. [source]
1 Timothy 4:6If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things [ταῦτα ὑποτιθέμενος τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς] The verb only here and Romans 16:4. Lit. to put under; so almost without exception in lxx. See, for instance, Genesis 28:18; Genesis 47:29; Exodus 17:12. So Romans 16:4. Hence, metaphorically, to suggest, which is, literally, to carry or lay under. Ταῦτα thesethings are those mentioned 1 Timothy 4:4,1 Timothy 4:5. In the Pastorals it is only here that ἀδελφοί brethren means the members of the church to whose superintendent the letter is addressed. In 2 Timothy 4:21, they are the Christians of the church from which the letter comes; in 1 Timothy 6:2, Christians in general; and in 1 Timothy 5:1, without any ecclesiastical sense. [source]
1 Timothy 2:1Intercessions [ἐυντεύξεις] Only here and 1 Timothy 4:5. lxx, Romans href="/desk/?q=ro+8:27&sr=1">Romans 8:27,Romans 8:34; Romans 11:2; and ὑπερεντυγχάνειν tointercede in behalf of, Romans 8:26. The verb signifies to fall in with a person; to draw near so as to converse familiarly. Hence, ἔντευξις is not properly intercession in the accepted sense of that term, but rather approach to God in free and familiar prayer. Ἑντυγχάνειν in the passages cited is not to make intercession, but to intervene, interfere. Thus in Romans 8:26, it is not that the Spirit pleads in our behalf, but that he throws himself into our case; takes part in it. So Hebrews 7:25: not that Jesus is ever interceding for us, but that he is eternally meeting us at every point, and intervening in al our affairs for our benefit. In ἐντεύξεις here the idea of interposition is prominent: making prayers a factor in relations with secular rulers. [source]
1 Timothy 2:1Intercessions [εντευχεις] Late word (Polybius, Plutarch, etc.), only here in N.T. and 1 Timothy 4:5, though the verb εντυγχανω entugchanō in Romans 8:27,Romans 8:34; Romans 11:2,Romans 11:25. The other three words for prayer are common (Philemon 4:6). For all men (υπερ παντων αντρωπων huper pantōn anthrōpōn). The scope of prayer is universal including all kinds of sinners (and saints). [source]
2 Timothy 2:9But the word of God is not bound [ἀλλὰ ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ οὐ δέδεται] Nevertheless, although I am in bonds, the gospel which I preach will prevail in spite of all human efforts to hinder it. Word of God often in Paul. In Pastorals, 1 Timothy 4:5; Titus 2:5. Bound, in Paul metaphorically, as here, Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:27,1 Corinthians 7:39. [source]
Greek Commentary for 1 Timothy 4:5
Present passive indicative of αγιαζω hagiazō here “rendered holy” rather than “declared holy.” Cf. 1 Timothy 4:4. [source]
See note on 1 Timothy 2:1 for εντευχις enteuxis Paul seems to refer to Genesis 1. It is almost a hendiadys “by the use of Scripture in prayer.” [source]
Not declared holy, but made holy. The declaration confirms the last clause of 1 Timothy 4:4. Thanksgiving to God has a sanctifying effect. The food in itself has no moral quality (Romans 14:14), but acquires a holy quality by its consecration to God; by being acknowledged as God's gift, and partaken of as nourishing the life for God's service. Comp. Paul's treatment of the unbelieving husband and the believing wife, 1 Corinthians 7:14. [source]
That is, by the word of God as used in the prayer. Scripture is not called “the Word of God.” The Word of God includes much more than Scripture: but Scripture contains the Word of God, and the thanksgiving at table was in the words of Scripture. See Psalm 145:15, Psalm 145:16. The custom of grace at meat appears 1 Samuel 9:13. Christ blessed the loaves and fishes (Matthew 14:19; Matthew 15:36): Paul on the ship gave thanks for the meal which the seamen ate (Acts 27:35). Ἑντεύξεως prayersee on 1 Timothy 2:1. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Timothy 4:5
Better, as Rev., in margin, with thankfulness: with an unsullied conscience, so that I can sincerely give thanks for my food. Compare Romans 14:6; 1 Timothy 4:4, 1 Timothy 4:5. [source]
Lit., the blessing: the cup over which the familiar formula of blessing is pronounced. Hence the Holy Supper was often styled Eulogia (Blessing). For blessing, see on blessed, 1 Peter 1:3. It is the same as eucharistia (thanksgiving ), applied as the designation of the Lord's Supper: Eucharist. See 1 Corinthians 14:16; 1 Timothy 4:4, 1 Timothy 4:5. The cup is first mentioned, perhaps, because Paul wishes to dwell more at length on the bread; or possibly, because drinking rather than eating characterized the idol-feasts. [source]
The verb only here and Romans 16:4. Lit. to put under; so almost without exception in lxx. See, for instance, Genesis 28:18; Genesis 47:29; Exodus 17:12. So Romans 16:4. Hence, metaphorically, to suggest, which is, literally, to carry or lay under. Ταῦτα thesethings are those mentioned 1 Timothy 4:4, 1 Timothy 4:5. In the Pastorals it is only here that ἀδελφοί brethren means the members of the church to whose superintendent the letter is addressed. In 2 Timothy 4:21, they are the Christians of the church from which the letter comes; in 1 Timothy 6:2, Christians in general; and in 1 Timothy 5:1, without any ecclesiastical sense. [source]
Only here and 1 Timothy 4:5. lxx, Romans href="/desk/?q=ro+8:27&sr=1">Romans 8:27, Romans 8:34; Romans 11:2; and ὑπερεντυγχάνειν tointercede in behalf of, Romans 8:26. The verb signifies to fall in with a person; to draw near so as to converse familiarly. Hence, ἔντευξις is not properly intercession in the accepted sense of that term, but rather approach to God in free and familiar prayer. Ἑντυγχάνειν in the passages cited is not to make intercession, but to intervene, interfere. Thus in Romans 8:26, it is not that the Spirit pleads in our behalf, but that he throws himself into our case; takes part in it. So Hebrews 7:25: not that Jesus is ever interceding for us, but that he is eternally meeting us at every point, and intervening in al our affairs for our benefit. In ἐντεύξεις here the idea of interposition is prominent: making prayers a factor in relations with secular rulers. [source]
Late word (Polybius, Plutarch, etc.), only here in N.T. and 1 Timothy 4:5, though the verb εντυγχανω entugchanō in Romans 8:27, Romans 8:34; Romans 11:2, Romans 11:25. The other three words for prayer are common (Philemon 4:6). For all men (υπερ παντων αντρωπων huper pantōn anthrōpōn). The scope of prayer is universal including all kinds of sinners (and saints). [source]
Nevertheless, although I am in bonds, the gospel which I preach will prevail in spite of all human efforts to hinder it. Word of God often in Paul. In Pastorals, 1 Timothy 4:5; Titus 2:5. Bound, in Paul metaphorically, as here, Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:27, 1 Corinthians 7:39. [source]
Comp. 1 Timothy 4:5. Set apart to noble and holy uses, as belonging to God. See on ἁγιασμός sanctification Romans 6:19. For ἅγιος holysee on 1 Timothy 5:10. [source]
Comp. 1 Timothy 4:4, 1 Timothy 4:5; Acts 10:15; Mark 7:15, Mark 7:18, Mark 7:19; 1 Corinthians 10:26, 1 Corinthians 10:30; Romans 14:20. The aphorism is suggested by the commandments of men, Titus 1:14. [source]