First Letter to Timothy 4

¹ The Spirit has explicitly said that during the last times there will be some who will desert the faith and choose to listen to deceitful spirits and doctrines that come from the devils;

² and the cause of this is the lies told by hypocrites whose consciences are branded as though with a red-hot iron:[*a]

³ they will say marriage is forbidden, and lay down rules about abstaining from foods which God created to be accepted with thanksgiving by all who believe and who know the truth.[*b]

⁴ Everything God has created is good, and no food is to be rejected, provided grace is said for it:

⁵ the word of God and the prayer make it holy.

⁶ If you put all this to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus and show that you have really digested the teaching of the faith and the good doctrine which you have always followed.

⁷ Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales. Train yourself spiritually.

⁸ ‘Physical exercises are useful enough, but the usefulness of spirituality is unlimited, since it holds out the reward of life here and now and of the future life as well’;

⁹ that is a saying that you can rely on and nobody should doubt it.

¹⁰ I mean that the point of all our toiling and battling is that we have put our trust in the living God and he is the saviour of the whole human race but particularly of all believers.

¹¹ This is what you are to enforce in your teaching.

¹² Do not let people disregard you because you are young, but be an example to the believers in the way you speak and behave, and in your love, your faith and your purity.

¹³ Make use of the time until I arrive by reading to the people, preaching and teaching.

¹⁴ You have in you a spiritual gift which was given to you when the prophets spoke and the body of elders laid their hands on you; do not let it lie unused.

¹⁵ Think hard about all this, and put it into practice, and everyone will be able to see how you are advancing.

¹⁶ Take great care about what you do and what you teach; always do this, and in this way you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.