1 Timothy– Chapter Four I

by Ed Urzi

1 Timothy chapter four begins with the word “Now,” a transitional word that alerts us to the beginning of a new topic. You see, Paul the Apostle spent much of the previous chapter discussing the various qualifications for church leadership. Here now at the start of chapter four, he will go on to tell us why those qualifications are so important…

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1).

We would do well to pay close attention to this passage for it tells us that the clear, plain message of the Holy Spirit is this: some who profess to be Christians will abandon the faith. Notice that this verse does not refer to those who are hostile to Christianity or others who seek to attack the church from the outside. Instead, this passage identifies those who claim to be Christians and describes their defection from a relationship with the one true God.

We’ll discuss this departure from the faith at greater length in an upcoming study. However, we can introduce this subject by observing that the concept of abandoning (GNT) , turning away (CEB), or departing (ESV) from the faith is associated with the idea of someone who relocates from one place to another. “The faith” refers to the basic, fundamental teachings of Christianity.

One Pastoral commentator distills and summarizes the warning behind this passage in the following manner…

  • The danger of apostasy (some will depart).
  • The danger of deception (deceiving spirits).
  • The danger of false teaching (doctrines of demons). (1)

Unlike the false doctrines exposed by Paul in the Biblical books of Galatians, Colossians, and earlier within this letter to Timothy, this verse details the damaging effect of false teachings upon those who subscribe to them. This underscores the critical need to seek spiritual leaders who meet the qualifications discussed earlier in 1 Timothy chapter three. It also alerts us to an important cause and effect relationship that we will go on to explore in subsequent studies.

Another source directs our attention to the negative impact of such teachings along with their ultimate origin…

“God had revealed through Christ that, as time passed, some who held the truth would repudiate it… This would come about as a result of their listening to persuasive arguments put forth by God’s spiritual enemies (‘deceitful spirits and doctrines’) and, behind them, ‘demons.'” (2)

(1) Guzik, Dave, 1 Timothy 4 – God’s Man Of Truth And Integrity, (4:1) https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/1-timothy-4/

(2) See Gregory H. Harris, “Satan’s Work as a Deceiver,” Bibliotheca Sacra 156:622 (April-June 1999):190-202. Quoted in Dr. Thomas L. Constable, Notes on 1 Timothy 2020 Edition [E. The problem of apostasy in the church 4:1-5] https://www.planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/html/nt/1timothy/1timothy.htm