Admonitions and Facts in
1 Timothy 4:1-11
By Jonathan Mitchell
This passage presents us with instruction about folks who will depart from following Christ, and who will follow strange teachings and will come up with their own rules for behavior, which are legalistic in nature. We are not told whether the folks will establish a sect, or whether they are just deceived individuals, but it is the Spirit (Breath-effect) which foretells that this will happen. The Spirit knew that the journey clothing of the called-out communities would not be seamless, nor even be of a single piece of cloth. So let us focus on these eleven verses, and observe what they teach us.
1. Now the Spirit (or: Breath-effect) is explicitly saying that within subsequent seasons (in fitting situations and on appropriate occasions, or in kairos moments and fertile situations, which will be afterwards) some of the faith (or: certain folks belonging to this faithful trust) will proceed standing off and away [from the Path, or from the Community] (or: some people will progressively withdraw from this conviction and loyalty), habitually holding toward (having a propensity to) wandering and deceptive spirits (or: straying and seducing breath-effects and attitudes) and (or: that is to say,) to teachings of, or involving, demons (or: to teachings ABOUT and pertaining to, or which are, demons [note: a Hellenistic concept and term assimilated by Second Temple Judaism: = animistic influences]; or: to instructions and training which come from animistic influences [= pagan religions]),
In the first clause, Paul is telling Timothy what the Spirit (Breath-effect) is explicitly saying about what will happen in future seasons. This does not necessarily say that Paul was prophesying, but rather that he was reporting what the Spirit was saying. Nonetheless, this could be construed as Paul prophesying about the community in Ephesus, where he had told Timothy to stay (1:3), and in that same verse, that he "should pass on an announcement (could notify; would bring along a message) to certain folks (or: for some) not to continue teaching things of a different sort, or kind." It may well be that those were the same folks to which he now refers, in 4:1.
The phrasing, "subsequent seasons," would likely signify what we might classify as "in the near term." In Rev. 2:4-7, we find the risen Lord speaking to this same community, calling the community to remember from where they had fallen, and to change their mind and way of thinking. Paul was not talking about far-off times, but to the night and darkness that was soon to follow the day and light of the first century called-out groups. There would come a departing from the Path which is Christ, and from the sense of being an organic community, to a structured and stratified organization that mirrored the old covenant, with grace being replaced by ritual and institutionalized religious works, with freedom (Gal. 5:1) being replaced by control, with joy being replaced by fear - and for a period of time, the Judaizers would win. Even today, following the light shed by the Reformation, we see a recurrence of the same, even to bringing back the celebration of the feast of the old covenant, in some circles, with as much emphasis upon what the believer must do to be saved, as upon the work of Christ.
The Spirit was saying that some would proceed standing off, and away, and that they would be "habitually hold toward wandering and deceptive spirits." They would proceed having a propensity for holding these spirits in their view, focusing on them instead of Christ and His Word. Following this phrase about spirits is a phrase that is either to be read as something in addition to these deceptive spirits, or as defining and characterizing them:
a) teachings of demons
b) teachings involving demons
c) teachings about demons
d) teachings which are demons (the genitive of apposition, or definition)
e) teachings which come from animistic influences.
This prophesy could also be about the future institutionalization of the called-out community, and the introduction of pagan teachings, all of which later came to be called "orthodox." This seems to be the same topic addressed in 1 Jn. 4:1 and 6b,
"Beloved ones, stop believing (or: you must not continually believe or put trust in, be loyal or pledge allegiance to) every spirit (or: expression of some influence; breath-effect; attitude), but rather, you folks must constantly examine, test and prove the spirits (influences; attitudes) to assay (or: prove) if they are existing from out of God, because many false prophets have gone (or: come) out into the ordered System (world of societal culture, government, economy and religion) and continue in the midst of the aggregate of humanity.... we constantly recognize and know, by intimate experiences and insight, the Spirit (or: spirit; Breath-effect; influence; Attitude) of the Truth (or: of, and from, this Reality), as well as the spirit (influence; breath-effect; attitude) of the wandering (which is that deception and error; from straying)." [cf Zech. 13:2b-4]
Apparently, the false prophets are the source of untrustworthy spirits that lie. This announcement from the Spirit may also refer to the imaginative writings of Second Temple Judaism.
Such things are the result of deceptive spirits that come from a religious mind-set. They come from a fear of loss of control. They come from our alienated desires to be famous and to even be worshiped. They are the demons which are created by the thinking of estranged humanity, and this distorted, self-worshiping paradigm creates the teachings which both create and support Jezebel among us (Rev. 2:20-23).
Instead of recognizing the demonic in our fallen nature, a whole system of spirit beings - based upon ancient Greek, Roman, Persian and Egyptian mythology - has been created to where much of Christianity sees the realm of spirit from a dualistic viewpoint: God versus the devil. They have forgotten that there is only One God. So, they teach about demons and imaginary spiritual principalities, making satan a king of his own kingdom, when all the time Scripture has pointed out that satan dwells in and among the churches (Rev. 2:9, 13, 24; 3:9) and power over satan has been given to the called-out (e.g. Lu. 10:17-19; Rom. 16:20; Mat. 28:18).
Paul continues on this same topic with additional explanations, in the next two verses:
2. within perverse scholarship of false words and false ideas (or: in association with overly critical hairsplitting of false messages; in the midst of gradually separated interpretations of false expressions; or: in union with deceptive decisions by speakers of lies), from folks having their own consciences cauterized (seared; branded) as with a hot iron,
In the first phrase, I have incorporated the instruction of Dr. A. Nyland (The Source NT, 2007, p 26) into my understanding, and thus renderings, of 'hupokrisei,' which did not come to mean "actor" until the 2nd c. AD. She asserts that the modern meaning, "hypocrisy," can only be traced back to the 13th century. My renderings are also based upon the morphemes and elements of the term. The immediate sources of the errant spirits and teachings about demons (vs. 1), are false words, false messages, false expressions and deceptive decisions that are coming from speakers of lies. This sounds very much like our own day. The seducing breath-effects come from false messages. Words are spirits (6:63). Ideas are spirits. The teachings about demons arise from false ideas.
Note that the "teaching of demons" comes within "perverse scholarship of false words," as well as what is given in the parenthetical expansion. Consider also that these "wandering spirits" and teachings about demons also come from people with defective consciences - not from some exterior spirit world.
3. coming from people habitually forbidding (preventing; hindering; [cf 2 Tim. 3:5]) [folks] to be marrying [and to be] constantly abstaining from [certain] foods - which things God creates (or: created; result of being reduced from a state of wildness and disorder) into something to be shared and partaken of with thanksgiving by, with, and for, those full of trust and faith (or: among the faithful and loyal folks) and by (or: with; among) those having experienced full, intimate knowledge and realization of the Truth (or: complete and precise insight from Reality)!
This verse gives examples of erroneous teaching from these folks. Their teachings were obviously about the realm of the flesh, since this is the main avenue to deception - as with Eve, in the primal Garden. As Paul put it, in Rom. 8:6-8,
"For it follows that, the result of the thinking (the mind-set and effect of the way of thinking; this disposition; the result of understanding and inclination; the minding; this opinion; the thought; this outlook) of the Flesh (= from the human condition or the System of culture and cultus; or: = from the keeping of Torah) [is; brings] death.... [and] the result of the thinking (disposition; thought processes; mind-set, outlook) of the Flesh (= attention to Torah boundary-markers, custom and cultus; or: from the human condition) [is; brings] enmity, alienation and discord [streaming] to God (or: hostility or active hatred with a view to God).... these folks continuously existing in the sphere of (or: So people being in union with, or centered in, or in the midst of) Flesh have no power and are not able at any point to please God."
In Rom. 8:15, Paul speaks of "the spirit of bondage." Recall that in Rom. 6:14, he declared that sin would not continue having "dominion" over us, because we are "not under Law, but under Grace." He further clarified this in Rom. 8:2, "For the principle and law of, from, and which is, the Spirit and attitude of 'The Life within Christ Jesus' frees (or: freed) you away from the Law of the Sin and of the Death." Then, in Rom. 8:9a, we are informed that we, "are not constantly existing within the midst of, nor in the sphere of, Flesh, but rather within spirit, in the sphere of Spirit, in union with Breath-effect and centered on [His] Attitude, since indeed God's Spirit is continuously housing Itself within the midst of" us.
The Life in Christ is a life lived in the realm of God's Spirit. Teachings are in the realm of spirit, but if they are deceptive or are informed by negative spirits (e.g., demons), they often focus our thinking upon the realm of the flesh, and especially upon our ego (making us the main point). But when joined to Christ, God's Spirit is continuously housing Itself within us. The Reality in Christ has set us free from superstition and religion, and has brought us into practical, rightwised covenant relationships, right here!
4. Because all God's creation (or: every result of a creating, from God; every creature of God) [is] beautiful (fine; ideal), and not one thing is to be rejected or thrown away - being habitually received (regularly taken in hand and accepted) with thanksgiving and the goodness of Grace -
5. for you see, it [i.e., creation] is continuously (or: progressively) being Set-apart (made holy; rendered sacred) through God's Word (or: by means of Logos, which is God; through Reason in a message and an Idea: a Blueprint from God) and Encounter (or: throughout God's transfer and input of Information, and then meeting and falling in with [us] in conversation and hitting on target within [our predicament, and our hearts] to assist in an Act of Intercession or Intervention). [cf Rom. 14:14]
Wow! Can you hear it? All God's creation is beautiful, fine, ideal and sacred - and to be habitually received with a grateful heart. God's Word continually sets all creation apart and makes it holy. God's Word has encountered the earth realm; He has encountered us, which means that He has fallen in with us, hitting the target for us, and is in fact our intercession. And, as we read in Rom. 8:31, "Since (or: In view of the fact that) God [is] over, and above, us (or: on our behalf; for us), who or what [is; will be; can be; will appear] (or: [is] anyone) down against us?" Nobody! Nothing!
It is no longer just the temple that is the holy place. He split the curtain and has brought His holiness into all of life - if we can perceive this, and see Him in all things. There is no longer any law concerning diet or marriage, except the law of, and which is, the spirit of The Life within Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:2). We are simply to live our lives in His sacredness and freedom - in Love,
"since [you are] full of power (or: if capable, as is the case,; or: since able, if possible,) regarding that which has its source in you folks (or: as to that which proceeds from yourselves, corporately), [live] being folks continuously at peace and bound together with all human beings (or: in joined harmony in the midst of all people)," [Rom. 12:18].
6. Placing these things under as a base or foundation, to give advice or make suggestions to and for the brothers (folks from the same Womb; = fellow believers), you will continue being a beautiful (fine; ideal; excellent) supportive servant and dispenser of Christ Jesus, habitually being inwardly nourished by the words of this Faith (or: in the arranged expressions, utterances and messages of the Trust; or: with ideas of this loyalty; or: for thoughts from the Faithfulness), and of the beautiful (fine; ideal; excellent; good quality) teaching and instruction in which you have followed alongside closely, and to which you now nearly accompany and closely attend.
A "beautiful, or ideal, supportive-servant-and-dispenser of Christ Jesus" needs a "base or foundation" from which to operate. The instructions of vss. 1-5, above, provide this foundation. But we also need to be inwardly nourished - and this nourishment comes to us "by the words of this Faith." This compound phrase can also be rendered:
a) in the arranged expressions, utterances and messages of the Trust
b) with ideas of this loyalty
c) for thoughts from the Faithfulness.
The Faithfulness should be understood as being the Faithfulness of God, and of Christ's doing God's will.
The nourishment also comes from "the beautiful (fine; ideal; excellent; good quality) teaching and instruction," which Paul continues to provide. Paul then commends Timothy as having "followed alongside closely, and to which you now nearly accompany and closely attend," which now becomes a good example and admonition for we who are following Christ. Paul characterizes the teaching which he shares with Timothy as being BEAUTIFUL. This should be a measuring rod for critiquing what is coming from the "Christian community."
8. for it follows that gymnastic discipline for bodily exercise is beneficial toward a few things and with a view to a few people (or: for a little while), yet reverence (devoutness; standing well in awe; virtuous conduct from ease with God) is beneficial toward all things and with a view to all people, continuously holding (having; possessing) Life's Promise (or: a promise from Life; or [the] promise of, and which is, Life) - of the one now (at the present time), and of the impending one (the one being about to be).
Stay away from profane myths and folk traditions. What would this have been in Paul's day? Could one example be an admonition to read Second Temple literature with a critical and discerning eye? The parenthetical expansions for "reverence" (vs. 7b) color in the picture for this otherwise somewhat opaque and religion-distorted term.
Make it a disciplined way of life to be reverent toward all life, for all life comes from God. Gymnastic discipline is good for body and soul, but reverence "is beneficial toward all things and is with a view to all people" - or, as Peter said, "Value, prize and honor all people" (1 Pet. 2:17). At the same time, be continuously holding (for yourself, and for others) a promise of life - both of the present one, and of the impending one. Eonian life is both in this age, and the next; both in this present life, and in the next. It is the Life of Christ. These words of Paul are "concepts which are engaged in a process of movement, and which call forth practical movement and change" (Jurgen Moltmann, Theology of Hope, p 36, Fortress Press Edition, 1993).
It is not clear to which Paul was referring here, when he used the phrase "the impending one." Perhaps, being in the midst of the close of one age and the beginning of the next (the conjunction of two ages: Matt. 13:39-49; 24:3; 28:20; Heb. 9:26), he meant that which was to follow the destruction of the Temple, of which Jesus had prophesied. Perhaps he left it unspecified so that we could all apply it to our own lives, in our own "theology of hope" which always sees a future in the economy of God. Moltmann cited E. Block as saying that God has "future as his essential nature" (ibid., p 16).
9. The Word (Logos) [is] full of faith and trust (or: Faithful and Trustworthy [is] this Blueprint and transfer of Information) and worthy of all welcomed reception,
My first rendering speaks of the Logos being full of faith - trust is its DNA. My alternate rendering connects the first phrase with vs. 10, below. The definite article was sometimes used to mean "this."
10. for you see, into this [end] are we constantly working hard unto weariness, and (or, as ascensive: that is to say), we are continuously struggling in the contest (contending against opposition for the prize; [other MSS: being reproached; cf Phil. 3:14]), because we have placed our expectation (or: set our expectant hope), and thus rely, upon a living God (or: upon [the] living God), Who is (exists being) [the] Savior (Deliverer; Rescuer; Restorer to health and wholeness; Safe-keeper) of all human beings (all mankind; [cf Jn. 4:42]) - especially of believers (of folks full of faith and trust; of faithful ones)!
Paul is either saying that they are working hard to have folks accept the Word, because it is loaded with faith, or he is saying that because it is a trustworthy message, and thus worthy of acceptance, that they are constantly working unto weariness and struggling against opposition. Either way, it is because they have placed their expectation upon and thus rely upon a, or [the], living God.
But here is the punch line: [He] exists being [the] Savior of all human beings! Now THAT is a faithful and trustworthy message, and everyone should receive this message, but sadly, most in the institutional Christian religion do not, at this time. However, this is also true because the Word, Christ, is full of faith - and it is His faith that saved every human being, e.g., Gal. 2:16,
"having seen and thus knowing that humanity (or: mankind; or: a person) is not normally being put in right relationship (made fair and equitable; made free from guilt and set into the Way pointed out; rightwised and made to be a just one; = being presently brought into covenant) from out of works of Law (or: forth from a law's deeds or actions from custom), but instead through Jesus Christ's faith (or: faith that belongs to and originates in Christ Jesus)."
And in Gal. 2:20, Paul tells us,
" I am constantly living within [His] Faithfulness - in and by that [Faithfulness] which is the Son of God (or: in union with a trust and confidence that is from God's Son; [with other MSS: in this faith and fidelity belonging to God and Christ]), the One loving and accepting me, and giving Himself over to another for the sake of me (or: even transmitting Himself, over my [situation and condition]; or: also passing Himself along for me; committing and transferring Himself over me; [comment: So Paul saw Judas as simply the instrument of the Son of God])."
Now it should be noted that this does NOT say that He is "a potential" Savior, for if He does not save everyone, then He is NOT the Savior of all human beings. This, of course, especially includes believers, for these have already been made alive in Christ and have been grafted into the olive tree (Rom. 11:17), and thus made to be members of the covenant. The rest will be made alive in their own groups (1 Cor. 15:22-23).
11. Be constantly announcing these things to those at your side, passing them along from one to another, and keep on teaching them!
This, which Paul had just laid out (especially vs. 10b) was the Gospel (Good News) which Timothy was to be constantly announcing. The Christian religions have added many ideas and suppositions to what Paul laid out in this short passage.
This is the message that is to be passed along from one to another, and they are to keep on teaching them. Those in the secular culture will love this news, just as the outcasts of Jesus' day loved Him. Those within religions will also love it, when Father gives them eyes to see and ears to hear.
Jonathan
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