| Chapter 4 |
1 | But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,
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2 | through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron;
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3 | forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth.
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4 | For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it be received with thanksgiving:
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5 | for it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.
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6 | If thou put the brethren in mind of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which thou hast followed [until now]:
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7 | but refuse profane and old wives' fables. And exercise thyself unto godliness:
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8 | for bodily exercise is profitable for a little; but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come.
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9 | Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation.
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10 | For to this end we labor and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of them that believe.
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11 | These things command and teach.
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12 | Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity.
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13 | Till I come, give heed to reading, to exhortation, to teaching.
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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.
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15 | Be diligent in these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress may be manifest unto all.
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16 | Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee.
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