1 Timothy, 4
He warns him against heretics, and exhorts him to the exercise of piety.
[1] Now the Spirit manifestly saith that in the last times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to spirits of error and doctrines of devils, •
[2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy and having their conscience seared, •
[3] Forbidding to marry, to abstain from meats 1, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving by the faithful and by them that have known the truth. •
Forbidding to marry, to abstain from meats: He speaks of the Gnostics, the Marcionites, the Eneratites, the Manicheans, and other ancient heretics, who absolutely condemned marriage, and the use of all kind of meat; because they pretended that all flesh was from an evil principle. Whereas the church of God, so far from condemning marriage, holds it a holy sacrament; and forbids it to none but such as by vow have chosen the better part: and prohibits not the use of any meats whatsoever in proper times and seasons; though she does not judge all kind of diet proper for days of fasting and penance.
[4] For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be rejected that is received with thanksgiving:
[5] For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. •
[6] These things proposing to the brethren, thou shalt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished up in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which thou hast attained unto.
[7] But avoid foolish and old wives fables: and exercise thyself unto godliness. •
[8] For bodily exercise is profitable to little: but godliness is profitable to all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. •
[9] A faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
[10] For therefore we labour and are reviled, because we hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of the faithful. •
[11] These things command and teach:
[12] Let no man despise thy youth: but be thou an example of the faithful, in word, in conversation, in charity, in faith, in chastity. •
[13] Till I come, attend unto reading, to exhortation and to doctrine. •
[14] Neglect not the grace that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with imposition of the hands of the priesthood. •
[15] Meditate upon these things, be wholly in these things: that thy profiting may be manifest to all.
[16] Take heed to thyself and to doctrine: be earnest in them. For in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.