1 Timothy 4:4-5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Timothy 4:1-5

We have here a prophecy of the apostasy of the latter times, which he had spoken of as a thing expected and taken for granted among Christians, 2 Thess. 2:1-17. I. In the close of the foregoing chapter, we had the mystery of godliness summed up; and therefore very fitly, in the beginning of this chapter, we have the mystery of iniquity summed up: The Spirit speaks expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith; whether he means the Spirit in the Old Testament, or the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 4:1-5

4:1-5 The Spirit clearly says that in the later times some will desert from the faith, through paying attention to spirits who can do nothing but lead them astray, and to teachings which come from the demons, teachings of false men whose characteristic is insincerity, teachings of men whose conscience has been branded with the mark of Satan, teachings of those who forbid marriage, and who order men to abstain from foods which God created in order that men might gratefully take their share of... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 4:1-5

The heretics of Ephesus were propagating a heresy with very definite consequences for life. As we have already seen, these heretics were Gnostics; and the essence of Gnosticism was that spirit is altogether good and matter altogether evil. One of the consequences was that there were men who preached that everything to do with the body was evil and that everything in the world was evil. In Ephesus this issued in two definite errors. The heretics insisted that men must, as far as possible,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 4:4

For every creature of God is good ,.... For food; and should be taken and used for that purpose, at all times, without distinction; even every creature which is made for food, and which is easy to be discerned by men: and nothing to be refused ; or rejected as common and unclean, or to be abstained from at certain times: if it be received with thanksgiving : if not, persons are very ungrateful, and very unworthy of such favours; and it would be just in God to withhold them from them;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 4:5

For it is sanctified ,.... Or set apart for use, and may be lawfully used at all times: by the word of God ; which declares that there is nothing in itself common, or unclean, or unfit for use, and that nothing that goes into a man defiles him; so that by virtue of this word of God, every creature may be made use of, that is fit for food: or else this designs the word of God, which gives a blessing to what is eaten; for it is not by bread or meat only, but through the word of God... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 4:4

For every creature of God is good - That is: Every creature which God has made for man's nourishment is good for that purpose, and to be thankfully received whenever necessary for the support of human life; and nothing of that sort is at any time to be refused, ουδεν αποβλητον , rejected or despised. We find a saying very similar to this in Lucian's Timon: Ουτοι αποβλητα εισι δωρα τα παρα Διος . The gifts which are from Jove ought not to be Despised. This appears to have been a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 4:5

For it is sanctified by the word of God - Δια λογου Θεου· By the command of God; probably referring to Genesis 1:29 ; : And God said, I have given you every herb - and every tree - to you it shall be for meat; and to Genesis 9:3 ; : Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things; i.e. I have given you every animal that is proper for food, as I have given you every herb and fruit proper for nourishment. Therefore, all this was... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 4:4

Verse 4 4For every creature of God is good The use of food must be judged, partly from its substance, and partly from the person of him who eats it. The Apostle therefore avails himself of both arguments. So far as relates to food, he asserts that it is pure, because God has created it; and that the use of it is consecrated to us by faith and prayer. The goodness of the creatures, which he mentions, has relation to men, and that not with regard to the body or to health, but to the consciences.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 4:5

Verse 5 5For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer This is the confirmation of the preceding clause, if it be received with Thanksgiving. And it is an argument drawn from contrast; for “holy” and “profane” are things contrary to each other. Let us now see what is the sanctification of all good things, which belong to the sustenance of the present life. Paul testifies that it consists of “the word of God and prayer.” But it ought to be observed, that this word must be embraced by faith,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 4:1-5

I. APOSTASY . "But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith." This was to be properly an apostasy, or movement away from Christ from within the Church. Some who were professed believers were to fall away from the faith. They were unworthily to use their Christian position, Christian enlightenment and reputation, against Christ. This was to take place in "later times," not in the times before the completion of the kingdom of God, but simply in... read more

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