1 Timothy 4

1 Timothy · Chapter 4

1 Timothy 4:3

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.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
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.They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.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.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Paul is warning that some will leave the faith and follow teachings that come from deceiving spirits. Verse 3 names two of their rules: banning marriage and ordering people to avoid certain foods. Paul answers that God made food to be received with thanks, because everything God created is good. 1 Timothy 4:11 Timothy 4:21 Timothy 4:31 Timothy 4:41 Timothy 4:5

Commonly taken out of context

How it’s often usedQuoted to condemn anyone who chooses not to marry, fasts, or avoids certain foods, as if any such choice were a "doctrine of devils."

In contextPaul is targeting teachers who forbid marriage and command others to abstain, treating God's good creation as something to refuse. Elsewhere Scripture allows that a believer who does not eat can do so "to the Lord" and still give God thanks. 1 Timothy 4:11 Timothy 4:31 Timothy 4:4Romans 14:6

SpeakingPaul the apostle, who names himself as the writer of the letter. 1 Timothy overview

ToTimothy, Paul's younger co-worker, whom Paul had left to lead the church at Ephesus. 1 Timothy overview1 Timothy 4:6

Also involvedThe false teachers who forbid marriage and foods, and the believers in the church who might be misled by them. 1 Timothy 4:11 Timothy 4:31 Timothy 4:6

Paul describes the false teachers' rules and corrects them. Food is something God created for believers to receive with thanksgiving, not something to be refused as unholy. Prayer and God's word set it apart for good use. 1 Timothy 4:31 Timothy 4:41 Timothy 4:5

The letter was sent to Timothy in Ephesus, a wealthy port city and capital of the Roman province of Asia. Where Paul wrote from is not stated, though he may have been in Macedonia. 1 Timothy overview

ACHAIAASIAGALATIAAegean SeaEphesusLaodiceaMiletusPhilippiThessalonicaCorinth

The eventsPaul says this departure from the faith will happen "in the latter times." His charge to Timothy to correct it shows the problem was already a concern in the church. 1 Timothy 4:11 Timothy 4:61 Timothy overview

WrittenTraditional view: about AD 62-64, written by Paul between his Roman imprisonments. Scholarly view: many critical scholars date it around AD 80-110 and think a follower wrote in Paul's name, while others defend Paul's authorship and the earlier date. 1 Timothy overview

HerePaul wants Timothy to recognize this false teaching and remind the believers of the truth about God's good creation. Doing so would make Timothy a good minister of Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 4:61 Timothy overview

In the whole of ScriptureA main theme of the letter is that everything God created is good and is received with thanksgiving. Other passages agree: marriage is honourable, and food does not make a person better or worse before God. 1 Timothy overviewHebrews 13:41 Corinthians 8:8Genesis 9:3

For readersReaders can treat marriage and food as good gifts from God and receive them with thanks. They can also be wary of anyone who makes rules against them a test of true faith. 1 Timothy 4:31 Timothy 4:41 Corinthians 10:31Colossians 2:16

  • forbiddingκωλύω
    Greek · kōluō · G2967

    The word means to hinder, restrain, or forbid. Here it is used of forbidding marriage. Strong's G29671 Timothy 4:3

  • meatsβρῶμα
    Greek · brōma · G1033

    The Greek word means food in general. The KJV's "meats" is not limited to animal flesh. Strong's G1033

  • createdκτίζω
    Greek · ktizō · G2936

    This is the word used for God's act of creating. Paul's argument rests on the fact that God made these things, so they are good. Strong's G29361 Timothy 4:4

  • thanksgivingεὐχαριστία
    Greek · eucharistia · G2169

    It means giving thanks. Paul says the right response to food is thankful receiving, not refusal, and he repeats the idea in the next verse. Strong's G21691 Timothy 4:4

Takeaway

This verse is a warning against teachers who ban marriage and food as if God's creation were bad. Paul's answer is that God made these things good, to be received with thanksgiving by those who know the truth. 1 Timothy 4:31 Timothy 4:41 Timothy overview

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-22.

The world around the text

Behind this verse

Ephesus: The church at Ephesus
Priscilla and Aquila taught there, and Paul stayed about three years, teaching daily in the school of Tyrannus. Saying farewell to its elders, he warned that from among themselves men would arise "speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." Acts 18:24-26Acts 19:9-10Acts 20:17Acts 20:29-31

About AD 62-64. Roman emperor: Nero (AD 54-68). Where Timothy was when Paul wrote. A port city on the west coast of today's Turkey and the greatest market of the province of Asia.

Who ruled
  • Roman emperorNeroAD 54-68

    Emperor over the whole Roman world, including Ephesus, Macedonia and Judea. When Paul appealed to Caesar as a Roman citizen, the Caesar was Nero. Paul tells Timothy to have prayers made "for kings, and for all that are in authority." Acts 25:10-12Acts 28:161 Timothy 2:1-2Suetonius, NeroTacitus, Annals 13-16

  • Governor of the province where Ephesus stoodThe proconsul of AsiaOne-year terms

    Asia was governed by a proconsul, a former consul appointed by the Senate for a year at a time, who heard cases in the province's leading cities. During the riot in Ephesus the town clerk reminded the crowd that "the law is open, and there are deputies" (proconsuls). Acts 19:38-39Strabo, Geography 17.3.25

  • Jewish client kingHerod Agrippa IIc. AD 50-90s

    Ruled territories north and east of Galilee under Rome and had the right to appoint the high priest in Jerusalem. He heard Paul's defense with Festus and told him, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." Acts 25:13Acts 26:28Josephus, Antiquities 20.179, 20.203

  • Roman governors of JudeaFestus, Albinus and Florusc. AD 59-66

    Porcius Festus sent Paul to Rome and died in office around AD 62. Lucceius Albinus (62-64) and Gessius Florus (64-66) followed; Josephus blames Florus's greed and brutality for pushing Judea into revolt. Acts 24:27Acts 25:12Josephus, Antiquities 20.197-203, 20.252-258Josephus, Jewish War 2.271-308

  • King of ParthiaVologases Ic. AD 51-78

    Ruler of the Parthian empire east of the Euphrates, Rome's one great rival. He fought Rome over Armenia until a settlement in AD 63 let his brother Tiridates rule Armenia as Rome's client. Tacitus, Annals 15.1-17, 15.24-31Cassius Dio, Roman History 62.19-23

What was happening, AD 58 to AD 68
  1. AD 58-63
    WarRome and Parthia fight over Armenia

    Roman armies under Corbulo took the Armenian capitals Artaxata and Tigranocerta. In AD 62 a second Roman army under Paetus surrendered at Rhandeia, and in AD 63 the two empires made peace. Tacitus, Annals 13.34-41, 14.23-26, 15.1-17, 15.24-31

  2. AD 60
    DisasterEarthquake destroys Laodicea

    Laodicea, about 150 km (95 miles) east of Ephesus in the same province, was ruined by an earthquake and rebuilt from its own wealth without help from Rome. Paul's letters mention the church there, and Revelation later quotes the city's boast, "I am rich." Tacitus, Annals 14.27Colossians 4:13-16Revelation 3:17

  3. AD 60-61
    WarBoudica's revolt in Britain

    Boudica, queen of the Iceni, led a rising that burned Camulodunum (Colchester), Londinium (London) and Verulamium before the Roman governor Suetonius Paulinus defeated her. Tacitus, Annals 14.29-39

  4. c. AD 60-62
    The churchPaul under guard in Rome

    Paul lived two whole years in Rome under house arrest, receiving visitors and preaching openly. The traditional date for 1 Timothy places it soon after his release. Acts 28:16Acts 28:30-31

  5. c. AD 61-63
    DiscoveryNero's expedition up the Nile

    Nero sent a party of soldiers to find the source of the Nile. They travelled far beyond Egypt and reached vast marshes they could not cross, likely the Sudd in today's South Sudan. The date is approximate. Seneca, Natural Questions 6.8.3-4Pliny, Natural History 6.181

  6. AD 62
    The churchJames, the Lord's brother, is killed in Jerusalem

    Festus died in office. Before the next governor arrived, the high priest Ananus had "James, the brother of Jesus who was called Christ" and others stoned. Ananus was removed after three months. Josephus, Antiquities 20.197-203Galatians 1:19Acts 15:13

  7. AD 62 or 63
    DisasterEarthquake hits Pompeii

    An earthquake badly damaged Pompeii and Herculaneum in Italy, seventeen years before Vesuvius buried them. Seneca dates it to AD 62; Tacitus to AD 63. Seneca, Natural Questions 6.1Tacitus, Annals 15.22

  8. c. AD 62
    DiscoveryHero of Alexandria's machines

    The engineer Hero of Alexandria, whose work is dated by an eclipse of AD 62 he describes, wrote up a steam-spun sphere (the aeolipile) and a coin-operated machine that dispensed water in temples. Hero, Pneumatics 1.21, 2.11Hero, Dioptra 35

  9. c. AD 63-64
    BuildingJerusalem's temple is finished

    Work on the temple Herod began around 20 BC was completed under Albinus, leaving some 18,000 workers without jobs. Six years later Roman armies destroyed it, as Jesus had foretold. Josephus, Antiquities 20.219-222John 2:20Luke 21:5-6

  10. July AD 64
    DisasterThe Great Fire of Rome

    Fire burned for days. Of Rome's fourteen districts, three were destroyed and seven badly damaged. Nero then built his vast Golden House on the cleared land. Tacitus, Annals 15.38-43Suetonius, Nero 31, 38

  11. AD 64
    The churchNero blames and kills Christians

    To end rumours that he had started the fire, Nero blamed the Christians of Rome. Tacitus records a "vast multitude" put to death, some torn by dogs and some burned as torches. Tacitus, Annals 15.44Suetonius, Nero 16.2

  12. AD 65
    RulersA plot against Nero fails

    The Pisonian conspiracy to kill Nero was betrayed. Among those forced to take their own lives was Seneca, Nero's former tutor and the brother of Gallio, the governor who dismissed the case against Paul in Corinth. Tacitus, Annals 15.48-74Acts 18:12-17

  13. AD 66
    WarThe Jewish revolt begins

    After Florus seized money from the temple treasury, Jerusalem rose against Rome and the daily sacrifice offered for the emperor was stopped. The war ended with Jerusalem and its temple destroyed in AD 70. Josephus, Jewish War 2.293-308, 2.409-410Luke 21:20-24

  14. AD 66-67
    BuildingNero tours Greece and starts a canal at Corinth

    Nero competed in the Greek games and broke ground for a canal across the Isthmus of Corinth. The work stopped after his death; the canal was finally cut in 1893. Suetonius, Nero 19, 22-24

  15. c. AD 67
    The churchPaul's death in Rome

    In his last letter Paul writes from prison that "the time of my departure is at hand." Early Christian tradition says he was beheaded in Rome under Nero. 2 Timothy 4:6-8Eusebius, Church History 2.25

  16. June AD 68
    RulersNero dies

    Facing revolt in the provinces and declared an enemy by the Senate, Nero took his own life. Four emperors ruled in turn during the following year before Vespasian took power. Suetonius, Nero 47-49Tacitus, Histories 1.2

The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then the ancient historians who wrote about these years (Tacitus, Suetonius, Josephus, Seneca, Pliny the Elder, Strabo, Cassius Dio). Dates are as those writers give them; approximate dates say so. Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
forbiddingκωλυόντωνkōluontōnG2967
to prevent

κωλύω (kōluō) κωλύω (κόλος), [in LXX for כָּלָא, מָנַע, etc. ;] to hinder, re­strain, forbid, withhold: with accusative and inf., Mat.19:14, Luk.23:2, Act.8:36 16:6 24:23, 1Th.2:16, Heb.7:23; inf. om., Mrk.9:38-39 10:14, Luk.9:49-50 11:52 18:16, Act.11:17, Rom.1:13, 3Jn.10; accusative om., 1Ti.4:3; with accusative of person(s) and genitive of thing(s), Act.27:43; with accusative of thing(s), 1Co.14:39, 2Pe.2:16; id. before τοῦ μή, Act.10:47; id. before ἀπό (like Heb. מִן כָּלָא, Gen.23:6, al.), Luk.6:29 (cf. δια-κωλύω).† (AS)

to marry,γαμεῖν,gameinG1060
to marry

γαμέω (gameō) γαμέω, -ῶ, [in LXX: Est.10:3, 2Ma.14:25, 4Ma.16:9 * ;] to marry; 1. of the man, to marry, take to wife (ducere): absol., Mat.19:10 22:25, 30 24:38, Mrk.12:25, Luk.17:27, 20:34, 35, 1Co.7:28, 33; with accusative: Mat.5:32 19:9, Mrk.6:17 10:11, Luk.14:20 16:18. 2. Of the woman, (a) mid. (and in late writers, pass.), to give oneself in marriage, marry (nubere): 1Co.7:39; (b) in Hellenistic (M, Pr., 159), act. (as of the man), to marry: absol., 1Co.7:28, 34 1Ti.5:11, 14. with accusative, Mrk.10:12. 3. Of both sexes: absol., 1Ti.4:3, 1Co.7:9, 10 36. † (AS)

[commanding] to abstainἀπέχεσθαιapechesthaiG0568
to receive/avoid

ἀπέχει (apechei) to receive (in full); to be distant; (middle) to abstain, avoid trans. to have in full what is due or is sought, Mt. 6:2, 5, 16; Lk. 6:24; Phil. 4:18; to have altogether, Phlm. 15; hence, it is enough, Mk. 14:41; intransitive to be distant, Lk. 7:6; to be estranged, Mt. 15:8; Mk. 7:6, middle to abstain from, Acts 14:20

from foodsβρωμάτωνbrōmatōnG1033
food

βρῶμα (brōma) βρῶμα, -τος, τό (cf. βιβρώσκω), [in LXX chiefly for אֹכֶל ;] food: Rom.14:15, 20 1Co.8:8, 13 10:3; pl., Mat.14:15, Mrk.7:19, Luk.3:11 9:13, 1Co.6:13, 1Ti.4:3, Heb.9:10 13:9; trop., of spiritual food, Jhn.4:34, 1Co.3:2 (cf. βρῶσις).† (AS)

thatἃhaG3739
which

ὅς (hos, hē) ὅς, ἥ, ὅ, the postpositive article (ἄρθρον ὑποτακτικόν). I. As demonstr. pron. = οὗτος, ὅδε, this, that, also for αὐτός, chiefly in nom.: ὅς δέ, but he (cf. ἦ δὲ ὅς, frequently in Plat.), Mrk.15:23, Jhn.5:11; ὃς μὲν . . . ὃς δέ, the one . . . the other, Mat.21:35, 22:5, 25:15, Luk.23:33, Act.27:14, Rom.14:5, 1Co.11:21, 2Co.2:18, Ju 22; neut., ὃ μὲν . . . ὃ δέ, the one . . . the other, some . . . some, Mat.13:8, 23, Rom.9:21; ὃς (ὃ) μὲν . . . (ἄλλος (ἄλλο)) . . . ἕτερος, Mrk.4:4, Luk.8:5, 1Co.12:8-10; οὓς μέν, absol., 1Co.12:28; ὃς μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, Rom.14:2. …

GodθεὸςtheosG2316
God

θεός (theos) θεός, -οῦ, ὁ, ἡ (Act.19:37 only; see M, Pr., 60, 244), late voc., θεέ (Mat.27:46; cf. Deu.3:24, al.), [in LXX chiefly for אֱלֹהִים, also for אֵל and other cognate forms, יהוה, etc. ;] a god or deity, God. 1. In polytheistic sense, a god or deity: Act.28:6, 1Co.8:4, 2Th.2:4, al.; pl., Ac. 14:11 19:26, Gal.4:8, al. 2. Of the one true God; …

createdἔκτισενektisenG2936
to create

κτίζω (ktizō) κτίζω [in LXX chiefly for בָּרָא, Psa.51:10, al.; also for קָנָה, Gen.14:19, Pro.8:22; יָצַר, Isa.22:11 46:11; Wis.2:23, Sir.1:4, 9 (and freq.), I Est.4:53, a1. ;] 1. in cl., to people or found a region or city (1Es, l.with). 2. In LXX and NT, of God, to create: Mrk.13:19, 1Co.11:9, Col.1:16 3:10 Eph.3:9, 1Ti.4:3, Rev.4:11 10:6; ὁ κτίσας, Mat.19:4 (WH, R, mg.), Rom.1:25; of the divine operation on the soul, Eph.2:10, 15 4:24 (cf. Ps., l.with).† (AS)

forεἰςeisG1519
toward

εἰς (eis) εἰς, prep. with accusative, expressing entrance, direction, limit, into, unto, to, upon, towards, for, among (Lat. in, with accusative). I. Of place. 1. After verbs of motion; (a) of entrance into: Mat.8:23, 9:7, Mrk.1:45, Luk.2:15, 8:31, al.; (b) of approach, to or towards: Mrk.11:1, Luk.6:8, 19:28, Jhn.11:31, 21:6, al.; (with) before pl. and collective nouns, among: Mrk.4:7, 8:19, 20, Luk.11:49, Jhn.21:23, al.; …

receptionμετάλημψινmetalēmpsinG3336
partaking of

μετάληψις (metalēpsis) μετά-λημψις (Rec. -ληψις), -εως, ἡ (μεταλαμβάνω) participation, taking, receiving: of food, 1Ti.4:3.† (AS)

withμετὰmetaG3326
with/after

μετά (meta) μετά (before vowel μετ᾽; on the neglect of elision in certain cases, V. WH, App., 146 b), prep. with genitive, accusative (in poet, also with dative), [in LXX for אַחַד ,עִם ,אֵת, etc.]. I. C. genitive, 1. among, amid: Mrk.1:13, Luk.22:37 (LXX, ἐν) 24:5, Jhn.18:5, al.; διωγμῶν, Mrk.10:30. …

thanksgivingεὐχαριστίαςeucharistiasG2169
thankfulness

εὐχαριστία (eucharistia) εὐχαριστία, -ας, ἡ (εὐχάριστος), [in LXX: Est.8:13, Wis.16:28, Sir.37:11, 2Ma.2:27 * ;] 1. thankfulness, gratitude (Polyb.; Es, Sir, 2Mac, ll. with): Act.24:3. 2. giving of thanks, thanksgiving (so in π. and Inscr.; M, Th., 41 f.): 1Co.14:16, 2Co.4:15, Eph.5:4, Php.4:6, Col.2:7 4:2, 1Th.3:9, 1Ti.4:3-4, Rev.4:9 7:12; with dative of person(s), 2Co.9:11 (cf. τ. θεοῦ, Wis, l.with); pl., 2Co.9:12, 1Ti.2:1 (Cremer, 904).† (AS)

faithfulπιστοῖςpistoisG4103
faithful

πιστός (pistos) πιστός, -ή, -όν (πείθω), [in LXX chiefly for אָמַן ;] I. Pass., to be trusted or believed; 1. of persons, trusty, faithful : Mat.24:45 25:21, 23 Luk.12:42, Act.16:15, 1Co.4:2 4:17 7:25, Eph.1:1 6:21, Col.1:2, 7 4:7, 9, 1Ti.1:12, 2Ti.2:2, Heb.2:17 3:2, 5, 1Pe.5:12, Rev.2:13 19:11; of God, 1Co.1:9 10:13, 2Co.1:18, 1Th.5:24, 2Th.3:3, Heb.10:23 11:11, 2Ti.2:13, 1Jn.1:9, 1Pe.4:19; before ἐν, Luk.16:10-12 19:17, 1Ti.3:11; ἐπί, with accusative, Mat.25:23; ἄχρι θανάτου, Rev.2:10; ὁ μάρτυς ὁ π., Rev.1:5; id. καὶ ἀληθινός, Rev.3:14. …

andκαὶkaiG2532
and

καί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. …

by [those] already knowingἐπεγνωκόσινepegnōkosinG1921
to come to know

ἐπιγινώσκω (epiginōskō) ἐπι-γινώσκω [in LXX chiefly for נָכַר: hi., also for יָדַע, etc. ;] "directive" of γινώσκω (AR, Eph., 249), as in cl.; 1. to observe, perceive, discern, recognize; (a) absol.: Act.25:10, 1Co.13:12; before ὅτι, Luk.1:22; τ. πνεύματι, before ὅτι, Mrk.2:8; (b) with accusative of thing(s): Luk.1:4 5:22, Act.12:14 27:39, Rom.1:32, 2Co.1:13, Col.1:6, 1Ti.4:3; ἐν ἐαυτῷ, Mrk.5:30; before ὅτι, 1Co.14:37; …

truth.ἀλήθειαν.alētheianG0225
truth

ἀλήθεια (alētheia) ἀλήθεια, -ας, ἡ (ἀληθής), [in LXX chiefly for אֱמֶת (on which, see Cremer, 627f.), אֱמוּנָה ;] truth (see DB, iv, 818f.). 1. Objectively, "the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested, veritable essence of a matter" (Cremer, 86): Rom.9:1, al.; of religious truth, Rom.1:25, al.; esp. of Christian doctrine, Gal.2:5, al.; ἀ. θεοῦ, Rom.15:8. 2. Subjectively, truthfulness, truth, not merely verbal (cl.), but sincerity and integrity of character: Jhn.8:44, 3Jo.3. …

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.