New Testament · Letter

1 Timothy 4

Train Yourself in Godliness

Physical training has some value, but godliness is valuable in every way. Paul tells Timothy: don't let anyone look down on you because you're young.

King James Version BSB KJV

1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

3Forbidding 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.

4For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

5For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

6If 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.

7But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

8For 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.

9This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.

10For 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.

11These things command and teach.

12Let 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.

13Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

14Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

15Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

16Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Understand This

1 Timothy 4, explained

What 1 Timothy 4 is saying

Paul prophesies that in later times some will abandon the faith, following deceiving spirits and teachings of demons promoted by hypocritical liars whose consciences are seared. These teachers forbid marriage and require abstinence from certain foods—both of which Paul affirms as good creations of God, sanctified by thanksgiving and prayer. Paul then charges Timothy to train himself in godliness (eusebeia), which holds promise for both present and future life. Despite Timothy’s youth, he is to be an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. Paul emphasizes public reading of Scripture, exhortation, and teaching, and urges Timothy not to neglect the gift (charisma) given through prophetic utterance and the laying on of elders’ hands.

The background behind it

The ascetic false teaching—forbidding marriage and certain foods—may reflect early forms of dualistic philosophy that regarded the material world as evil. Similar tendencies appeared in various Gnostic systems and persisted in different forms throughout church history.

Themes running underneath

Creation’s goodness is a theological bulwark against false asceticism: everything God made is good and nothing is to be rejected if received with thanksgiving. The ‘training in godliness’ metaphor (gymnasia) applies athletic discipline to spiritual formation, suggesting intentional practice, not mere intellectual assent.

Why it still matters

The affirmation that physical and material life is good when sanctified by thanksgiving challenges both hedonistic indulgence and severe asceticism. Timothy’s charge to be an example ‘in youth’ affirms that spiritual maturity is not dependent on age.

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Scripture text: King James Version — public domain.