Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 34

Paul Informs Timothy of the Great Apostasy of the Visible Church Part 1

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;  KJV

When the Apostle Paul wrote this letter to Timothy originally, he did not write it with Chapter breaks, but this was added by men in the Church much latter on to allow for easier reading and finding one's place in the Bible. With that said, however, Paul begins this next portion of this letter as if he did write in Chapter form, for these next verses are completely unrelated to what he has just previously written to Brother Timothy. The Apostle Paul because of the many supernatural gifts granted and given to him was able to see things in people and about people that were totally hidden from others in the Church of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, for example he warned some of the brethren of the Ephesian Church (when he knew that he was leaving them for the last time) about such unscrupulous, unhallowed, and unprincipled men right within the Ephesian Church when he said these words to them, "And now, observe, I perceive that all of you, among whom I have gone in and out proclaiming the kingdom, will see my face no more. Therefore I testify {and} protest to you on this [our parting] day that I am clean {and} innocent {and} not responsible for the blood of any of you. For I never shrank {or} kept back {or} fell short from declaring to you the whole purpose {and} plan {and} counsel of God. Take care {and} be on guard for yourselves and the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you bishops and guardians, to shepherd (tend and feed and guide) the Church of the Lord {or} {of God} which He obtained for Himself [buying it and saving it for Himself] with His own blood. I know that after I am gone, ferocious wolves will get in among you, not sparing the flock; Even from among your own selves men will come to the front who, by saying perverse (distorted and corrupt) things, will endeavor to draw away the disciples after them [to their own party]. Therefore be always alert {and} on your guard, being mindful that for three years I never stopped night or day seriously to admonish {and} advise {and} exhort you one by one with tears." (Acts 20:25-31) (Amplified Bible).

So we see then Paul speaking to a group of believers just as he is now speaking to one believer (Timothy) is forever and always true to what he believes about God and that being what God the Holy Spirit reveals to him of what things are to come, therefore, we find him now warning Timothy to be aware, yet to not be discouraged because these things will happen and Timothy's only responsibility is to Christ and His Truth and to warn those believers under his charge, for he will not stop what Paul declares with these words, "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 4:1) (KJV). When Paul writes at the beginning, 'Now the Spirit speaketh expressly', he is trying to get over to Brother Timothy that God the Holy Spirit is speaking here with a sense of urgency or pressing importance of the matter revealed here, for the English word 'expressly' is translated by the Greek word rhētōs (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) meaning out spokenly, that is, distinctly: - clearly. The little English phrase 'the latter' is translated by the Greek word husteros (also used this one time only in the entire New Testament) meaning (in the sense of behind); later: - Relative time from the prediction, now coming true (a present danger). The English word 'times' is translated by the Greek word kairos meaning of uncertain affinity; an occasion, that is, set or proper time.

When Paul writes here, 'some shall depart from the faith', he means that a portion of those in the visible Church will be revealed as not truly redeemed, regenerated, and reborn believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, for they will turn their backs to the revealed truth once and for all times handed down from the first Apostles and disciples as Jude declared with these words, "Beloved, my whole concern was to write to you in regard to our common salvation. [But] I found it necessary {and} was impelled to write you and urgently appeal to {and} exhort [you] to contend for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints [the faith which is that sum of Christian belief which was delivered verbally to the holy people of God]. For certain men have crept in stealthily [gaining entrance secretly by a side door]. Their doom was predicted long ago, ungodly (impious, profane) persons who pervert the grace (the spiritual blessing and favor) of our God into lawlessness {and} wantonness {and} immorality, and disown {and} deny our sole Master and Lord, Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)." (Jude 1:3-4) (Amplified Bible). The little English phrase 'shall depart' is translated by the Greek word aphistēmi meaning to remove, that is, (actively) instigate to revolt; usually (reflexively) to desist, desert, etc.: - depart, draw (fall) away, refrain, withdraw self. The English word 'faith' is translated by the Greek word pistis meaning persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: - assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.

So to sum up what he is declaring here, Paul tells Timothy then and you and I today that despite much of the good works seen in many visible Churches around the world, there are some in these Churches who are deniers of 'the true faith' in Jesus Christ and we see it clearly by those who deny the virgin birth, who deny the bodily Resurrection of Christ Jesus our Lord, who deny the miracles He performed then and still today, who deny that marriage should be between a man and woman only, who deny the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ back to the earth to Judge, who even deny the existance of hell, these people are make believers and never were true believers, for they did not lose their salvation, they never received salvation in and through Jesus Christ our Lord. What then is the reason for them believing such things that are completely the exact opposite of what our Lord Jesus revealed and taught the Apostles who have handed down 'the faith' to we true believers today and of every era and generation, it is because of what Paul declares lastly in this verse when he writes, 'giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils', you see when the devil saw that he could not deplete, defeat, or destroy the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ from the outside, he then went and joined the Church just as Paul had earlier declared to the Church @ Galatia with these words, "[My precaution was] because of false brethren who had been secretly smuggled in [to the Christian brotherhood]; they had slipped in to spy on our liberty {and} the freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might again bring us into bondage [under the Law of Moses]. To them we did not yield submission even for a moment, that the truth of the Gospel might continue to be [preserved] for you [in its purity]." (Galatians 2:4-5) (Amplified Bible).

The little English phrase 'giving heed' is translated by the Greek word prosechō meaning (figuratively) to hold the mind  towards, that is, pay attention to, apply oneself to, adhere to: - to have regard for, or to give attention to. The little Enlish phrase 'to seducing' is translated by the Greek word planos meaning of uncertain affinity; roving (as a tramp), that is, (by implication) an impostor or misleader: - deceiver, seducing. The English word 'doctrines' is translated by the Greek word didaskalia meaning  instruction (the function or the information): - doctrine, learning, teaching. The English word 'devils' is translated by the Greek word daimonion meaning a demon or super natural spirit (of a bad nature): - devil. In other words, the enemy (the devil) and the fallen angels (demons) under his charge and command are actively going about in the visible Churches around the world to infuse, infiltrate, and instruct those who are receptive by way of seduction, that is, enticing someone astray from right behavior and belief into false belief or lies and those who have departed (as we listed above) are those who have listened to and paid attention to the teachings of these seducing spirits through the men and women doing their bidding here on the earth.

"It was not by mere hints, and symbols, and shadowy images of the future; it was in an open and plain manner - in so many words. The object of this statement seems to be to call the attention of Timothy to it in an emphatic manner, and to show the importance of attending to it." Albert Barnes

"They will apostatize from the faith, i.e. from Christianity; renouncing the whole system in effect, by bringing in doctrines which render its essential truths null and void, or denying and renouncing such doctrines as are essential to Christianity as a system of salvation. A man may hold all the truths of Christianity, and yet render them of none effect by holding other doctrines which counteract their influence; or he may apostatize by denying some essential doctrine, though he bring in nothing heterodox." Adam Clarke

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…