I. TIMOTHY, CHAPTER IV.

[1 He fortelleth and describeth a great apostasy. 6 Directions to Timothy]


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 
Savior of all men, especially 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.