Survey of the Letters of Paul:  1 Timothy 4:3 

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.

We will begin with a reading in the Barclay's commentary and a portion of the commentary on the first five verses.

INSULTING GOD
THE heretics of Ephesus were teaching a heresy with very definite consequences for life. As we have already seen, these heretics were Gnostics; and the essence of Gnosticism was that spirit is altogether good and matter altogether evil. One of the consequences was that there were some who preached that everything to do with the body was evil and that everything in the world was evil. In Ephesus, this resulted in two definite errors. The heretics insisted that people must, as far as possible, abstain from food, for food was material and therefore evil; food ministered to the body, and the body was evil. They also insisted that people must abstain from marriage, for the instincts of the body were evil and must be entirely suppressed.

This was a constantly recurring heresy in the Church; in every generation, there were some who tried to be stricter than God. When the Apostolic Canons came to be written, it was necessary to set it down in black and white: ‘If any overseer, priest or deacon, or anyone on the priestly list, abstains from marriage and flesh and wine, not on the ground of asceticism [ə-sĕt'ĭ-sĭz'əm - extreme self-denial] (that is, for the sake of discipline), but through abhorrence of them as evil in themselves, forgetting that all things are very good, and that God made man male and female, but blaspheming and slandering the workmanship of God, either let him amend, or be deposed and cast out of the Church. Likewise a layman also’ (Apostolic Canons, 51). Irenaeus, the Bishop of Lyons, writing towards the end of the second century, tells how certain followers of Saturninus ‘declare that marriage and generation are from Satan. Many likewise abstain from animal food, and draw away multitudes by a feigned temperance of this kind’ (Against Heresies, 1:24:2) This kind of thing reached its peak in the fourth century. At that time, monks went away and lived in the Egyptian desert, entirely cut off from other people. They spent their lives in self-denial and physical deprivation. One never ate cooked food and was famous for his ‘fleshlessness’. Another stood all night by a jutting crag so that it was impossible for him to sleep. Another was famous because he allowed his body to become so dirty and neglected that vermin dropped from him as he walked. Another deliberately ate salt in midsummer and then abstained from drinking water. ‘A clean body’, they said, ‘necessarily means an unclean soul.’ ~Barclays commentary

1 Timothy 4 and verses 3 and 4 have been used by some to say that it is permissible to eat unclean meat.  We have a letter in our Letter Answering Department which speaks to these verses.  It follows:
 

SUBJECT:  Clean and Unclean Meats – 1 Timothy 4:3-4

 

QUESTION:  Don’t these verses do away with the doctrine of clean and unclean meats?

 

ANSWER:

 

No they do not.

 

Here are the verses in question:

 

1Timothy 4:1-5

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.

4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

 

We have a large article (actually 3 separate articles in one paper) on clean and unclean meat explaining all the scriptures that people use to attempt to make unclean meats clean.  1 Timothy 4:3-4 is talking about doctrines of devils and how the false doctrines stated that we should not eat meat at all.  Notice this excerpt from our article:

 

NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES

I have not covered any of the Scriptures in the New Testament that people will turn to in order to justify eating "unclean" meats.

 

They have been quite thoroughly explained in the past, and I don't think there is a need for me to go over those verses again.  Most of us would realize that people twist the verses concerned and read things into them that are not stated or that are not even being discussed. My purpose in this paper is not to convince those people in the world who really want to excuse their eating of "unclean' meats; they don't want to be convicted of their wrong ways.

 

But you who are a member of God's Church, you who have already lived by these dietary laws for many years, you who are perhaps being enticed by clever arguments, you are the one I would like to make this clear to. I know that YOU can understand what I am explaining.

 

If you can understand the things I have discussed in this paper; if you can understand God's purpose in creating some animals as "clean" and others as "unclean"; if you can grasp that God has planned an incredibly interdependent environment for mankind, where EVERYTHING fulfills some purpose and where every action results in a reaction; if you can understand that God uses abstaining from "unclean" meats to picture avoiding taking in the influence of demons, then it is UTTERLY ABSURD to propose that the dietary laws God gave to His people Israel are somehow "done away".

 

As an aside, it is revealing to notice that one of the doctrines of demons is ... to abstain from "CLEAN" MEATS! This is what Paul explained to Timothy...


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 (1Timothy 4).

 

Paul is speaking about people who "KNOW" the truth of God. They "know" exactly which foods God has created for us to give Him thanks for. They are listed and categorized in Leviticus 11 and in Deuteronomy 14. Those who know the truth, know this very well. They know that God never at any time wanted people to thank Him for "pork chops" or for "lobsters", etc. They know that God forbids the eating of these "unclean" things.

 

Don't ever fall for clever arguments that some parts of God's laws are done away. Remember that Jesus Christ is "the same yesterday (i.e. Old Testament times), and today (i.e. New Testament times) and for ever" (Hebrews 13:8).

 

---end---

 

Here is another excerpt discussing the same verses:

 

Misunderstood instructions to Timothy

Still another part of Paul's writings that is often misunderstood is 1 Timothy 4:3-5, where he speaks of false teachers "forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."

 

What was the motivation of these false teachers? Did Paul warn Timothy against teachers who would advocate keeping the biblical dietary laws, or was something else at work? We know that Paul told Timothy that the Old Testament scriptures were inspired by God and "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16), so it isn't credible that Paul would caution Timothy against adhering to instructions found in these same scriptures.

 

On the other hand, Paul's words show us what the real problem was: These teachers were demanding that people follow commands not found in the Bible.  They were "forbidding to marry"-which is encouraged, not discouraged, in the Scriptures-"and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth."

 

The Life Application Bible helps us understand the background of the problem Paul addressed here: "The danger that Timothy faced in Ephesus seems to have come from certain people in the church who were following some Greek philosophers who taught that the body was evil and that only the soul mattered. The false teachers refused to believe that the God of creation was good, because his very contact with the physical world would have soiled him . . . [They] gave stringent rules (such as forbidding people to marry or to eat certain foods). This made them appear self-disciplined and righteous."

 

No scriptural evidence exists that indicates that New Covenant Christians of the early Church ever changed their practice of following God’s instructions regarding clean and unclean meats.

 

Paul discusses the true source of these heretical teachings in 1Timothy 4:1: Rather than being founded in the Bible, these teachings originated with "deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons." Thus the problem in 1 Timothy 4 was perverted worldly asceticism, not obedience to God's biblical laws defining clean and unclean meats. Paul's perspective was that "those who believe and know the truth" (verse 3) would be familiar with the scriptures that identifying which meats were "sanctified [set apart] by the word of God" (verse 5) for our enjoyment. He encouraged Timothy to remind them to let the Scriptures be their guide instead of these ascetic teachers.

 

In a similar situation dealing with asceticism masquerading as godliness, Paul gave parallel instructions: "Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations-'Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,' which all concern things which perish with the using-according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh" (Colossians 2:20-23). This helps us understand the true nature of the problem Paul discussed with Timothy: asceticism, not adherence to God's dietary laws.

 

---end quotes from the letter---

Let us now get into the commentaries. We will take it item for item this time.

Forbidding to marry:

Forbidding to marry - That is, “They will depart from the faith through the hypocritical teaching - of those who forbid to marry;”. This does not necessarily mean that they would prohibit marriage altogether, but that it would be a characteristic of their teaching that marriage would “be forbidden,” whether of one class of persons or many. They would “commend” and “enjoin” celibacy and virginity. They would regard such a state, for certain persons, as more holy than the married condition, and would consider it as “so” holy that they would absolutely prohibit those who wished to be most holy from entering into the relation. It is needless to say how accurately this applies to the views of the papacy in regard to the comparative purity and advantages of a state of celibacy, and to their absolute prohibition of the marriage of the clergy. The tenth article of the decree of the Council of Trent, in relation to marriage, will show the general view of the papacy on that subject. “Whosoever shall say that the married state is to be preferred to a state of virginity, or celibacy, and that it is not better and more blessed to remain in virginity, or celibacy, than to be joined in marriage; let him be accursed!” ~ Barnes Notes

Forbidding to marry - These hypocritical priests pretending that a single life was much more favorable to devotion, and to the perfection of the Christian life. This sentiment was held by the Essenes, a religious sect among the Jews; and we know that it is a favorite opinion among the Romanists, who oblige all their clergy to live a single life by a vow of continency [con -ta -nits cy -the exercise of self withholding in sexual matters]. ~ Adam Clarke

Forbidding to marry - Which points out not the Encratites, Montanists, and Manichees, who spoke against marriage; but the Papists, who forbid it to their priests under a pretence of purity and holiness, and at the same time allow them to live in all manner of debauchery and uncleanness; for these are the persons that forbid marriage in an authoritative way, and in hypocrisy: for that phrase is to be joined to all the sentences that follow it; as through the hypocrisy of those whose consciences are seared; and through the hypocrisy of those that forbid marriage to their priests, this being, by the common people, taken as an instance of great purity and holiness, and hereby they are drawn into the deception; as well as also through the hypocrisy of those that command ~John Gill

 

To abstain from meats:

To abstain from meats - Both among the heathens, Jews, and Romanists, certain meats were prohibited; Some always, others at particular times. This the apostle informs us was directly contrary to the original design of God; and says that those who know the truth, know this. ~Adam Clarke

to abstain from meats - not from some certain meats forbidden by the law of Moses, as did some judaizing Christians; but from all meats at some certain season of the year, as at what they call the Quadragesima or Lent, and at some days in the week, as Wednesdays and Fridays; and this all under an hypocritical pretence of holiness, and temperance, and keeping under the body, and of mortification; when they are the greatest pamperers of their bodies, and indulge themselves in all manner of sensuality: the evil of this is exposed by the apostle. ~ John Gill

Now from the Jamieson, Fausset, Brown:

Sensuality leads to false spiritualism. Their own inward impurity is reflected in their eyes in the world without them, and hence their asceticism [ə-sĕt'ĭ-sĭz'əm - extreme self-denial] (Titus 1:14-15) [Wiesinger]. By a spurious [false] spiritualism (2 Timothy 2:17-18), which made moral perfection consist in abstinence from outward things, they pretended to attain to a higher perfection. Matthew 19:10-12 (compare 1 Corinthians 7:8, 1 Corinthians 7:26, 1 Corinthians 7:38) gave a seeming handle to their “forbidding marriage” (contrast 1 Timothy 5:14); and the Old Testament distinction as to clean and unclean, gave a pretext for teaching to “abstain from meats” (compare Colossians 2:16-17, 20-23). As these Judaizing Gnostics combined the harlot or apostate Old Testament Church with the beast (Revelation 17:3), or Gnostic spiritualizing anti-Christianity, so Rome’s Judaizing elements (1 Timothy 4:3) shall ultimately be combined with the open worldly-wise anti-Christianity of the false prophet or beast (1 Timothy 6:20-21; Colossians 2:8; 1 John 4:1-3; Revelation 13:12-15). Austerity gained for them a show of sanctity while preaching false doctrine (Colossians 2:23). Eusebius [Ecclesiastical History, 4.29] quotes from Irenaeus [1.28] a statement that Saturninus, Marcion, and the Encratites preached abstinence from marriage and animal meats. Paul prophetically warns against such notions, the seeds of which already were being sown (1 Timothy 6:20; 2 Timothy 2:17-18- both already quoted above). ~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown

Quoted verses:
Titus 1:14-15
14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
15 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.

2 Timothy 2:17-18
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

Matthew 19:10-12
10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

1 Corinthians 7:8
I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

1 Corinthians 7:26
I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

1 Corinthians 7:38
So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

1 Timothy 5:14
I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

Colossians 2:16-17, 20-23
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Revelation 17:3
So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

1 Timothy 4:3
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.

1 Timothy 6:20-21
20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen. The first to Timothy was written from Laodicea, which is the chiefest city of Phrygia Pacatiana.

Colossians 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

1 John 4:1-3
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Revelation 13:12-15
12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

Colossians 2:23
Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Now I want to look at the People's New Testament commentary on the three portions of this verse:

Forbidding to marry - Not long after Paul's time the superior holiness of the unmarried life began to be preached in the church, and this resulted at last in monasticism and a celibate clergy.

Commanding to abstain from meats - The ascetic practices which began to grow up in the church a little later extended to foods. To eat the least palatable food which would sustain life was counted a virtue. These ascetics generally forbade animal food, and some lived only on bread and water. These practices are still found among certain orders of the Latin and Eastern churches.

Which God hath created - The foods which God hath created are for use, to be eaten thankfully by those who know the truth, instead of having their minds darkened by delusions. ~People's New Testament commentary

The last phrase in the verse is speaking to the fact that God created everything for a purpose and that part of the animal kingdom was good for food [that is, the clean meats]  We are not to make something God made or the purpose evil and therefore abstain from it.  God made the beef cow for food and He made the crab and other shellfish for the cleaning of the ocean.  We are not to condemn the pig or the crab because it is not good for food.  We are to know and understand the purpose of creation and not attempt to make ourselves more righteous or as the Barclay commentary stated, "stricter than God" in our view of things.  Notice the Jamieson, Fausset, Brown on this:

and know the truth - explanatory and defining who are “they which believe.” Translate as Greek, “and have full knowledge of the truth” (see on Philippians 1:9). Thus he contradicts the assumption of superior knowledge and higher moral perfection, put forward by the heretics, on the ground of their abstinence from marriage and meats. “The truth” stands in opposition to their “lies” (1Timothy 4:2).  Jamieson, Fausset, Brown

Quoted verses:
1 Timothy 4:2
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Philippians 1:9
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment [discerning].

So to recap here in context, the first three scriptures:

Verse 1: In the latter times some will depart the faith by the act of giving heed to false doctrines.
Verse 2: They will listen to people who's conscience is seared with a hot iron.  The Barclay says, "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."  We see this demonstrated in verse 3.
Verse 3: First the false doctrines and the fact that faithful firstfruits know the truth and can see both the false doctrine and the self-righteousness of these individuals in their humanizing of both the law and the purposes of creation.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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