Survey
of the Letters of Paul: 1 Timothy
4:2
1 Timothy 4:2
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience
seared with a hot iron;
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
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
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
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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