1 Timothy 4

¹Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and [the] teachings of demons,

²influenced by [the] hypocrisy of liars, [whose] consciences are seared with a hot iron.

³They 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.

⁴For every creation of God [is] good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected,

⁵because it is sanctified by [the] word of God and prayer.

⁶By pointing out these things to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of faith and sound instruction that you have followed.

⁷But reject irreverent, silly myths. Instead, train yourself for godliness.

⁸For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every [way], holding promise for the present life and for the [one] to come.

⁹[This is] a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance.

¹⁰To this [end] we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on [the] living God, who is [the] Savior of everyone, [and] especially of those who believe.

¹¹Command and teach these things.

¹²{Let} no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

¹³Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, [and] to teaching.

¹⁴{Do} not neglect the gift [that is] in you, which was given you through [the] prophecy spoken [over you] at [the] laying on of the hands of the elders.

¹⁵Be diligent in these matters [and] absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.

¹⁶Pay close attention to your [life] and to [your] teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.