Verse by verse study of Paul's first letter to Timothy. In this lesson we examine chapter 4 verses 1-11, looking at the falling away and the false teachers.
What Are the 'Latter Times'
1Tm 4:1
The expression "later times" (1Tm 4:1) does not refer to some unique period of special apostasy in our future. If the later times were 2000 years away from when Paul wrote, it would not have much relevance to Timothy and his brethren at Ephesus. When Paul spoke to the elders at Ephesus, he warned of a falling away which they would see in their own time and to which they should be alert (Acts 20:17,28-31).
Of course this has always been true. When a church is established, there is a passion for the truth. In later times, however, there comes a falling away. There have been many departures from the faith followed by restoration, followed again by digressions. There have been many "later times" as against one "proper time" (1Tm 2:6).
Men in League with Demons
1Tm 4:1-2
Paul warns of "deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons" (1Tm 4:1). How do these deceitful and demonic spirits spread their poison? They do so "in the hypocrisy of liars" says Paul (1Tm 4:2).
There are two things to notice here.
Firstly, demons do their work in league with men. The hypocrites and liars of whom Paul speaks here are the false teachers through whom the demons work and without whom they could not work.
Secondly, liars deliberately tell untruths. A person who tells what he sincerely and honestly believes is the truth is not a liar, even though what he tells might be untrue. Such a person, when he finds out what he has said is untrue, will retract and correct it. A false teacher is a hypocrite. He is a liar telling what he knows to be untrue and pretending it is the truth.
Cultish Taboos
1Tm 4:3-5
Paul gives us a little window into the kind of doctrines the apostates taught. Perhaps not surprisingly, they are familiar to us today. Two points of error are mentioned...
Forbidding to marry. Celibacy is a choice not a requirement (1Co 7:1-2). Down through the ages, and still today, there are teachers who forbid certain people to marry and even insist that many married persons must put away their husbands or wives and be celibate.
Abstinence from foods. Certain foods, usually meat or some varieties of meat, are sometimes condemned as unholy to eat and their consumption is forbidden. Christians may, as a personal choice, abstain from certain foods and drinks out of respect for others who have a conscience about these foods or stumble over them (Rom 14:1-23). However, it is not for teachers to be imposing abstinence on others. It is each individual's responsibility to impose it on oneself.
The Right and Responsibility to Refute
1Tm 4:6
Timothy was to draw attention to these errors, pointing out to the brethren how these false commandments and teachings differ from sound doctrine in the word of faith. Timothy not only had the right to do this, he had the responsibility, as does any minister in the church.
Old Women’s Tales
1Tm 4:7
Paul refers to foolish and absurd teaching several times in his letters to Timothy and Titus (1Tm 4:7, 1Tm 6:4,20,2Tm 2:23, Tit 3:9). We sometimes call some piece of superstitios nonsense "an old wives tale". I doubt that Paul is referring to old wives as such, for he will shortly (in chapter 5) show the greatest respect for older women in the church.
There is a class of old women in the pagan world, however, who mumble spells and tell superstitious tales, and pretend (or deceive themselves) that they have ancient magical powers, second sight, and contact with the spirit world. Such old women are shown by the gospel to be foolish, and their teachings insane and demonic. When false teachers replace the gospel with their own speculations, they are no better than such old women, and their teaching is worthy of no more respect than the tales these old women tell.
Fads of Bodily Discipline
1Tm 4:8
Certain false religious doctrines promote forms of severe treatment of the body (1Tm 4:7-8, Col 2:23)...
Boldily neglect such as permanent fasting, wearing no clothes, refusing to wash, sleep deprivation, pleasure deprivation, living in poverty, etc.
Severe treatment of the body such as exposure to cold and heat, whipping or cutting oneself, wearing hair shirts, holding parts of one's body in a fixed position permanently.
Inducement of stigmata (wounds in the body) by a mental obsession with forms of agony.
Inordinate devotion to physical exercise, physical strength and endurance, and bodily feats.
Whilst moderate discipline of the body is sensible, true religion is not focussed on the body but on the soul and godliness.
The Teaching We Can Trust
1Tm 4:9-11
Fortunately in this confused world, flooded with all kinds of false religious teaching, there is an anchor, namely the gospel, to which we can fix our hope. This teaching is trustworthy and worthy of full acceptance. Paul gave his whole life to it, as others have also done, and he worked hard striving to provide a solid faith and truth to which we might hold (1Tm 4:9-10).
