Verses 1-2 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;
To speak expressly means to be clear or to speak clearly. The Apostle Paul was saying that the Holy Ghost/Spirit had clearly told him, and perhaps others in the ministry at that time, that in the latter times (time in the future) some believers will withdraw or go away from faith in the LORD Jesus Christ. This is referred to as the falling away. “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;” 2 Thessalonians 2:3 (See notes in 2 Thessalonians 2) Why do they backslide from the Faith? Because they listen to evil spirits or fallen angels including Satan. The Greek word translated as “seducing” is “planos” and it means wandering, roving, misleading, leading into error. imposter, corrupter, and deceiver. Satan is a deceiver and so are all of his angels.
Application: Biblical doctrine is taught and discussed among believers and in true Christian churches. The Greek word translated as “doctrine” is “didaskalia” and it means teaching, instruction, and precepts. The doctrine of God is found in the pages of Scripture. But most people do not realize that Satan, who wants to be God, has a doctrine also. This evil doctrine is taught to evil men and women and then it is dispersed among the people from generation to generation. Witchcraft, Satanism, false religions, and false bible versions copyrighted as they are the words of men, all make up the doctrine of devils referred to by the Apostle Paul above. Much of Satan’s doctrine had infiltrated the Church. Idolatry, humanism, and witchcraft ideas and practices have become so common place that most people in mainstream, organized, evangelical establishment churches do not know what they are practicing or involved with.
This writer has and will continue to expose false religions calling themselves “Christian” because the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:11-13 commanded believers to do so. “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.” Although verse 2 above can refer to many false regions, coupled with the following verses, this passage of Scripture describes Catholicism and the Catholic Church with precision.
Verses 3-5 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.
The Pope, the cardinals, and the priests all lie to the people. It is a lie that the Pope is the representative of Christ here on this Earth and therefore deserves worship and reverence. He is not God. The LORD Jesus Christ needs no one to act in His place. He is quite capable of representing Himself. By all the Popes pretending they are God and worthy of praise, they fulfill the rest of the prophecy in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4. “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” The temple of God today is His people, not a specific building. Catholicism is in every country and has millions of followers who worship the Pope.
It is a lie that there is a purgatory. “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8 It is a lie that people can pray for the dead.
It is a lie to teach the people to call Catholic priests “father”. “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.” Matthew 23:9
It is a lie that Mary remained a virgin. “Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? and his sisters, are they not all with us?”
It is a lie that the Apostle Peter was the first Pope. The false religion of Catholicism started around 315 AD as a political invention intended to counteract the rise of Christianity, and the Apostle Peter died sometime in the first century AD so he could not have been a Pope as they did not exist at the time of his death.
It is a lie that Mary was the mother of God. God is a Spirit, not flesh. Mary was the mother of the Son of God, the body of flesh that God clothed Himself with when ministering among mankind on Earth. Jesus was/is very God and very man at the same time. That is the miracle: that God would chose to inhabit a body of flesh to provide a blood sacrifice for the sins of mankind.
It is a lie that there are three Gods: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:” Deuteronomy 6:4 “I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.” Psalms 71:22 “For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.” Isaiah 43:3 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” James 2:19 “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:6
The doctrine of devils that Catholicism teaches forbids the priests to marry. This mandate is not from God as the Levite priests married and had families, so this is another lie. The priests are supposed to remain celibate and abstain from sexual relations. The revealing of pedophilia in the Catholic institution proves that this doctrine has not and is not followed and this doctrine has resulted in thousands of boys being victimized and traumatized for their entire lives over the centuries. Books have been researched and written about the rape of Catholic nuns by priests. Bodies of dead babies have been found on properties owned by the Catholic institution. And the practice of eating fish on Fridays was an abstaining from meats which the Apostle Paul warns against in the verses above. More could be said, but the facts listed above speak for themselves; that the institution of Catholicism is a false religion that has contributed immensely to the falling away from the truth of the Gospel of the LORD Jesus Christ.
Verse 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.
Good shepherds of God’s children will remind the people and warn them to beware of anything that is not found in the pages of Scripture, and teach the people doctrine that is of God.
Verses 7-9 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.
The Greek word translated as “profane” is “bebelos” and it means profane (that which is not biblical but secular, one that is not respectful, or irreverent), unhallowed, common, or ungodly. The Greek word translated as “fables” is “muthos” and it means a narrative or story, a fiction, a fable (myth or legend, a supernatural story), an invention, or a falsehood. The Apostle Paul attributes these fables to old wives or old women. In the past it was common for women to get together for fellowship and/or for work projects such as sewing or beating out the grain, etc.. At these times stories would be told to make the time go by faster and more pleasantly. These stories may have started out as true accounts, but over several tellings they became embellished with untruthful or exaggerated accounts that made these stories more interesting or exciting. Often these tales became factual in the minds of people. The servants of the living God need to deal only with the truth and that can only be found in the pages of the Bible, or in Timothy’s day before the Bible was compiled, in the teachings and writings of the apostles and prophets.
Application: The Apostle Paul was not against one keeping his/her body fit and healthy. Most first century people worked hard and walked great distances and so, unlike most cultures today, it was relatively easy to keep one’s body in good shape physically. What he was saying is that bodily exercise only lasts for a short while, whereas exercising godliness lasts for eternity.
Verses 10-11 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.
Application: Christian believers will encounter criticism because of their trust and belief in the LORD Jesus Christ and His Word. They are criticized mainly because they do not participate in the things of the world, and then they are criticized because of the things they do for the Kingdom of God. The Christian walk is not an easy one, but it is a joyous one and it has the promise of eternal life in Heaven.
Verse 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.
In the days of the early Church, culturally, older people were the wise ones and the respected ones. Because Timothy was a young man, the Apostle Paul knew that some people may not respect him or take his teaching seriously. But he could overcome this attitude by his personal life and behavior mirroring Jesus.
Verse 13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Remember that doctrine is teaching. The Apostle Paul wants Timothy to spend time reading Biblical things, exhorting or urging others to do the same, and to teach the truth of the Gospel.
Verses 14-15 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.
When Timothy was prayed for by fellow Christian believers who laid hands on him, the Holy Ghost/Spirit anointed him with gifts to equip him for the ministry he was to carry out. The Apostle Paul encourages him to think about these gifts regularly, to exercise them, and to walk in the faith in a manner that others would see.
Verse 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. (1 Timothy 4)
By teaching and preaching the Word of God, Timothy would certainly be saved and those people who would hear him could be saved also.