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.