1 Timothy 4

King James Version (1769) · Tap a verse to see it in context

About this chapter

AI-assisted, sourced

The Spirit warns that "in the latter times some shall depart from the faith," forbidding marriage and certain foods, though "every creature of God is good" when received with thanksgiving. Paul tells Timothy to "exercise thyself rather unto godliness," which "is profitable unto all things." He urges Timothy not to let anyone despise his youth but to be "an example of the believers" and to keep watch on himself and his teaching. 1 Timothy 4:1 1 Timothy 4:3 1 Timothy 4:4 1 Timothy 4:7 1 Timothy 4:8 1 Timothy 4:12 1 Timothy 4:16

Who, where, when, and the key verses

Who

Paul writes to Timothy, a young leader ("Let no man despise thy youth"). The chapter warns about those who would depart from the faith, "speaking lies in hypocrisy." 1 Timothy 4:1 1 Timothy 4:2 1 Timothy 4:12

Where

The church at Ephesus, where Paul had left Timothy to lead. 1 Timothy overview

When

Traditionally written about AD 62-64. Many critical scholars date the letter later, around AD 80-110. Paul still expects to come ("Till I come"). 1 Timothy overview 1 Timothy 4:13

How it fits

Chapter 3 ended with "the mystery of godliness"; this chapter warns that "some shall depart from the faith." Chapter 5 then turns to how Timothy should treat elders, younger men, older and younger women, and widows. 1 Timothy 3:16 1 Timothy 4:1 1 Timothy 5:1 1 Timothy 5:2 1 Timothy 5:3

Key verses

Verse 4
Against teachers who forbid marriage and foods, Paul says "every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving." Hebrews 13:4 likewise says "Marriage is honourable in all." 1 Timothy 4:3 1 Timothy 4:4 1 Timothy 4:5 Hebrews 13:4
Verse 8
"Bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things," with promise for this life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:7 1 Timothy 4:8
Verse 12
Timothy's youth is not to be despised; he answers it by being "an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." Titus 2:15 gives the same word: "Let no man despise thee." 1 Timothy 4:12 Titus 2:15 Titus 2:7

Takeaway

Receive God's good gifts with thanksgiving, train for godliness above all, and let your life and teaching match: "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine." 1 Timothy 4:4 1 Timothy 4:8 1 Timothy 4:16

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a separate AI reader. Updated 2026-10-28.

Departing from the faith

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.

Train yourself in godliness

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.

Be an example; take heed to the doctrine

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.