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| 1 Timothy 4:2 |
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience
seared with a hot iron;
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Let us begin in the Barclay commentary
THE SERVICE OF GOD OR THE SERVICE OF SATAN
1 Timothy 4:1–5
Into the church at Ephesus such false teachers had
come. The way in which their false teaching is
viewed in this passage should make us think very
seriously. At that time, people believed in evil
spirits which haunted the air and were out to ruin
men and women. It was from them that this false
teaching came. But though it came from the demons,
it came through human beings. It came through people
whose characteristic was a smooth hypocrisy and
whose consciences had been branded by Satan. It
sometimes happened that slaves were branded with a
mark identifying them as belonging to a certain
owner. These false teachers bear upon their
consciences the very brand of Satan, marking them
out as his property.
Here is the threatening and the terrible thing. God
is always searching for men and women who will be
his instruments in the world, but the terrible fact
is that the forces of evil are also looking for
people to use. Here is the terrible responsibility
placed upon every individual. We may accept the
service of God or the service of the devil.
~Barclay Commentary
Now to the commentaries:
Speaking lies in hypocrisy
- Persons pretending, not only to Divine
inspiration, but also to extraordinary degrees of
holiness, self-denial, mortification, etc., in order
to accredit the lies and false doctrines which they
taught. Multitudes of lies were framed concerning
miracles wrought by the relics of departed saints,
as they were termed. For, even in this country,
Thomas a Becket was, deemed a saint, his relics
wrought numerous miracles; and his tomb was
frequented by multitudes of pilgrims! However, as he
works none now, we may rest assured that he never
did work any.
Having their conscience seared
with a hot iron - They bear the marks of
their hypocrisy as evidently and as indelibly [ĭn-dĕl'ə-bəl
ly] [not easily erased or
washed away] in their conscience in the
sight of God, as those who have been cauterized for
their crimes do in their bodies in the sight of men.
It was customary in ancient times to mark those with
a hot iron who had been guilty of great crimes, such
as sacrilege, etc.. ~Adam
Clark
Now from the John Gill...
Speaking lies in hypocrisy
- Or "through the hypocrisy of those that speak
lies"; for the apostle is still speaking of the
means by which the apostasy should rise, and get
ground; and it should be by the means of persons
that should deliver lying or false doctrine under
the colour of truth, and make great pretensions to
religion and holiness, which would greatly take with
men, and captivate and lead them aside: and this
plainly points at the abettors of antichrist, the
Romish priests, who deliver out the lying doctrines
of merit, purgatory, invocation of saints, fastings,
pilgrimages, &c. and the fabulous legends of saints,
and the lying wonders and miracles done by them, and
all under a show of godliness, and the promoting of
religion and holiness:
having their conscience seared
with a hot iron - which exactly describes the
above mentioned persons, whose consciences are
cauterized and hardened, and past feeling; and have
no regard to what they say or do, make no conscience
of anything, but under a cloak of sanctity commit
the most shocking impieties [lacking
reverence; not pious]; and are men of the
most infamous characters, and of the most enormous
and scandalous lives and conversations; so that the
metaphor may be taken either from the searing of
flesh with an iron, or cauterizing it, whereby it
grows callous and hard; or from the stigmas or marks
which used to be put on malefactors, or such who
have been guilty of notorious crimes.
~John Gill
Notice this from the Geneva Bible Translation
Notes...
1 Timothy 4:2
(2) Speaking lies in (b) hypocrisy; having their (c)
conscience seared with a hot iron;
(2) Even though heretics pretend holiness ever so
much, yet they have no conscience.
(b) For they will as it were practice the art of
disguised persons and players, so that we may not
think they will lie lurking in some one corner or
keep any resemblance of being shameful.
(c) Whose conscience became so hard, that there grew
a callous over it, and so became to have a canker in
it, and now at length required by very necessity to
be burned with a hot iron.
~Geneva Bible Translation Notes
Now the Jamieson, Fausset, Brown...
Speaking lies in hypocrisy
- Rather translate, “Through (literally,
‘in’; the element in which the apostasy has place)
the hypocrisy of lying speakers”; this expresses the
means through which “some shall (be
led to) depart from the faith,” namely,
the reigned sanctity of the seducers (compare
“deceivers,” Titus 1:10).
Quoted verse:
Titus 1:10
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and
deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
having their conscience seared
— Greek, “having their own conscience,” etc., that
is, not only “speaking lies” to others, but also
having their own conscience seared. Professing to
lead others to holiness, their own conscience is all
the while defiled. Bad consciences always have
recourse to hypocrisy. As faith and a good
conscience are joined (1 Timothy 1:5); so hypocrisy
(that is, unbelief, Matthew
24:5, Matthew 24:51; compare Luke 12:46)
and a bad conscience here. Theodoret explains like
English Version, “seared,” as implying their extreme
insensibility; the effect of cauterizing being to
deaden sensation. The Greek, however, primarily
means “branded” with the consciousness of crimes
committed against their better knowledge and
conscience, like so many scars burnt in by a
branding iron: Compare Titus 1:15; Titus 3:11,
“condemned of himself.” They are conscious of the
brand within, and yet with a hypocritical show of
sanctity, they strive to seduce others. As “a seal”
is used in a good sense (2 Timothy 2:19), so “a
brand” in a bad sense. The image is taken from the
branding of criminals.
~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown
Quoted verses:
1 Timothy 1:5
...faith and a good
conscience are joined
see lesson for this verse
Now the end of the commandment is
charity out of a pure heart, and of a good
conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
Matthew 24:5
...speaking of hypocrisy
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ;
and shall deceive many.
Matthew 24:51
...speaking of hypocrisy
And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his
portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping
and gnashing of teeth.
Luke 12:46
...speaking of hypocrisy
The lord of that servant will come in a day when he
looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not
aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint
him his portion with the unbelievers.
Titus 1:15
...speaking to the
conscious being seared
Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them
that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure;
but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
Titus 3:11
...speaking to the
conscious being seared
Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and
sinneth, being condemned of himself.
2 Timothy 2:19
...speaking to a seal in a
good sense
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure,
having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are
his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of
Christ depart from iniquity.
Now the People's New Testament and recapping both
verses 1 and 2:
Now the Spirit speaketh
expressly - In revelations made to Paul and
other inspired men.
See 2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day
shall not come, except there come a falling away
first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of
perdition;
In the latter times -
In future times - How far away is not indicated.
Some shall depart from the
faith - There shall be an apostasy. Compare 2
Thessalonians 2:3 [quoted
above]. Some of the marks of this
apostasy are now given.
Giving heed to seducing
spirits - The apostle seems to recognize a
preternatural element [prē'tər-năch'ər-əl,
-differing from the natural] which speaks
by false prophets, in false utterances which claims
to be from God. These seducing spirits might work
through hierarchs, who claimed to speak for God, or
through councils which claimed to make infallible
utterances.
Doctrines of demons -
Doctrines suggested by demons. The Greek daimonion,
demon, not devil, always refers in the New Testament
to an evil spirit.
Speaking lies through
hypocrisy - Rather, "Some shall depart . . .
through the hypocrisy of men, speaking lies."
Having their conscience
- The liars just mentioned. The sensitiveness of
their consciences is destroyed by the brand of the
devil. ~People's New
Testament
Now I want to look at a commentary called the
Summarized Bible as it will offer even more
clarity...
1 Timothy 4:1-16
Contents: Walk of a good minister of Christ.
Characters: God, Christ, Paul, Timothy [and
Satan].
Conclusion: Those are good ministers of Jesus
Christ who are diligent to instill into the minds of
their hearers the fundamental truths of God’s Word,
which will prevent their being seduced by false
teachers and drawn away into the apostasy of the
last days. Let them not study to advance new
notions, but ever be faithful in proclaiming those
saving truths which they have received of the
apostles and Jesus Christ.
Key Word: Good minister:
1 Timothy 4:6
If 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.
Strong Verses:
1 Timothy 4:1
see
lesson for this verse
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the
latter times some shall depart from the faith,
giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of
devils;
1 Timothy 4:8
For 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.
1 Timothy 4:12
Let 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.
Striking Facts:
1 Timothy 4:1-3
see
lesson for this verses
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the
latter times some shall depart from the faith,
giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of
devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their
conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding 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.
Satan is a theologian and makes use of demons in the
last days to lead many away into apostasy.
Spiritualism clearly presented here. Two prominent
points of its doctrine are seen in 1 Timothy 4:3.
Abstinence from meat is considered a condition of
mediumistic power. Spiritual affinities are taught
as against marriage. ~Summerized
Bible
Now to the Vincent Word Studies on the latter part
of the verse...
Having their conscience seared
with a hot iron - Better, branded in their
own conscience. With a hot iron is superfluous. The
metaphor is from the practice of branding slaves or
criminals, the latter on the brow. These deceivers
are not acting under delusion, but deliberately, and
against their conscience. They wear the form of
godliness, and contradict their profession by their
crooked conduct (2 Timothy 3:5). The brand is not on
their brow, but on their conscience. Compare. Titus
1:15; Titus 3:11. ~Vincent
Word Studies
Quoted verses
2 Timothy 3:5
...speaking to the crooked
conduct
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power
thereof: from such turn away.
Titus 1:15
...speaking to the
conscious being seared
Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them
that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure;
but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
Titus 3:11
...speaking to the
conscious being seared
Knowing that he that is such is
subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
Let us close with the Treasury of Scriptural
Knowledge which shows us scriptures linked to 1
Timothy 4:2.
Speaking lies in hypocrisy
Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in
sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening
wolves.
Matthew 24:24
For there shall arise false Christs, and false
prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders;
insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall
deceive the very elect.
Acts 20:30
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking
perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Romans 16:17-18
17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which
cause divisions and offences contrary to the
doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus
Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and
fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Ephesians 4:14
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to
and fro, and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
2 Timothy 3:1-5
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous
times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves,
covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient
to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false
accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those
that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures
more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power
thereof: from such turn away.
2 Peter 2:1-3
1 But there were false prophets also among the
people, even as there shall be false teachers among
you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies,
even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring
upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by
reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken
of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned
words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of
a long time lingereth not, and their damnation
slumbereth not.
Revelation 16:12-15
12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the
great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was
dried up, that the way of the kings of the east
might be prepared.
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come
out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth
of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false
prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working
miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth
and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle
of that great day of God Almighty.
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that
watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk
naked, and they see his shame.
Having their conscience seared
with a hot iron
Romans 1:28
And even as they did not like to retain God in their
knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind,
to do those things which are not convenient;
Ephesians 4:17-19
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord,
that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk,
in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being
alienated from the life of God through the ignorance
that is in them, because of the blindness of their
heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over
unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with
greediness. |
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