1 Timothy 4:4

Contextual Overview

¹ The Spirit expressly states that in the acharit-hayamim some people will apostatize from the faith by paying attention to deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. ¹ But the Spirit speaks expressly, that in latter times some shall apostatise from the faith, giving their mind to deceiving spirits and teachings of demons ¹ But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, ¹ Now the Spirit says clearly that in the last times some people will abandon the faith by following deceitful spirits, the teachings of demons,Daniel 11:35,37-38; John 16:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; Daniel 11:35,37-38,2 Timothy 3:1,13; 1 Peter 1:20; 2 Peter 2:1; 3:3; 1 John 2:18; Jude 1:4,18, 37-38,2 Timothy 3:1,13; Revelation 9:20; 16:14;">[xr] ¹ But the Spirit distinctly saith, that in the last times some will remove from the faith, and will go after deceiving spirits, and after doctrines of demons. ¹ But the Spirit saith explicitly, that in the latter times, some will depart from the faith; and will go after deceptive spirits, and after the doctrine of demons. ¹ But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, ¹ But the Spirit says clearly that in later times some will be turned away from the faith, giving their minds to spirits of deceit, and the teachings of evil spirits, ¹ Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, ¹ Nowe the Spirit speaketh euidently, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, and shall giue heede vnto spirits of errour, and doctrines of deuils,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

every: Genesis 1:31, Deuteronomy 32:4

and: Acts 11:7-9, Acts 15:20, Acts 15:21, Acts 15:29, Acts 21:25, Romans 14:14, Romans 14:20, 1 Corinthians 10:23, 1 Corinthians 10:25

Reciprocal: Genesis 2:16 - thou mayest freely eat Genesis 9:3 - even Genesis 9:4 - the life Leviticus 3:17 - blood Leviticus 7:13 - leavened Leviticus 7:26 - ye shall eat Leviticus 11:2 - General Deuteronomy 8:10 - thou hast Deuteronomy 12:16 - General 1 Samuel 9:13 - he doth bless Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Then I Matthew 14:19 - he blessed Matthew 15:11 - that which goeth Matthew 15:36 - and gave thanks Mark 6:41 - blessed Luke 9:16 - he blessed Luke 11:41 - all Luke 22:17 - gave John 6:11 - when Acts 27:35 - and gave 1 Corinthians 10:30 - for which 1 Timothy 1:18 - according 1 Timothy 4:3 - with 1 Timothy 5:23 - General Titus 1:15 - the pure

Cross-References

Genesis 4:16
And Cain went out from the presence of Jehovah, and dwelt in the land of Nod, toward the east of Eden.

Genesis 4:16
Cain went away from the Lord and lived in the land of Nod.

Genesis 4:16
Kayin went out from the LORD's presence, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of `Eden.

Genesis 4:16
And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

Genesis 4:16
And Cain went away from before the face of the Lord, and made his living-place in the land of Nod on the east of Eden.

Genesis 4:16
And Cain went out from the presence of the Lorde, & dwelt in the lande of Nod, eastwarde from Eden.

Genesis 4:16
Then Kain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod towarde the Eastside of Eden.

Genesis 4:16
And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

Genesis 4:16
And Cain went away from the Lord 's presence and lived in a land called "Wandering," which is east of Eden.

Genesis 4:16
So Cain went forth from the presence of God and dwelt in the land of Nod over against Edem.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For every creature of God is good,.... For food; and should be taken and used for that purpose, at all times, without distinction; even every creature which is made for food, and which is easy to be discerned by men:

and nothing to be refused; or rejected as common and unclean, or to be abstained from at certain times:

if it be received with thanksgiving: if not, persons are very ungrateful, and very unworthy of such favours; and it would be just in God to withhold them from them; and this they may expect at his hands, who reject them with contempt, or receive them with unthankfulness, or abstain front them in a religious way he never enjoined.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For every creature of God is good - Greek, “all the creatures, or all that God has created” - πᾶν κτίσμα pan ktisma: that is, as he made it; compare Genesis 1:10, Genesis 1:12, Genesis 1:18, Genesis 1:31. It does not mean that every moral agent remains good as long as he is “a creature of God,” but moral agents, human beings and angels, were good as they were made at first; Genesis 1:31. Nor does it mean that all that God has made is good “for every object to which it can be applied.” It is good in its place; good for the purpose for which he made it. But it should not be inferred that a thing which is poisonous in its nature is good for food, “because” it is a creation of God. It is good only in its place, and for the ends for which he intended it. Nor should it be inferred that what God has made is necessarily good “after” it has been perverted by man. As God made it originally, it might have been used without injury.

Apples and peaches were made good, and are still useful and proper as articles of food; rye and Indian-corn are good, and are admirably adapted to the support of man and beast, but it does not follow that all that “man” can make of them is necessarily good. He extracts from them a poisonous liquid, and then says that “every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused.” But is this a fair use of this passage of Scripture? True, they “are” good - they “are” to be received with gratitude as he made them, and as applied to the uses for which he designed them; but why apply this passage to prove that a deleterious beverage, which “man” has extracted from what God has made, is good also, and good for all the purposes to which it can be applied? As “God” made these things, they are good. As man perverts them, it is no longer proper to call them the “creation of God,” and they may be injurious in the highest degree. This passage, therefore, should not be adduced to vindicate the use of intoxicating drinks. As employed by the apostle, it had no such reference, nor does it contain any “principle” which can properly receive any such application.

And nothing to be refused - Nothing that God has made, for the purposes for which he designed it. The necessity of the case the “exigency of the passage” - requires this interpretation. It “cannot” mean that we are not to refuse poison if offered in our food, or that we are never to refuse food that is to us injurious or offensive; nor can it anymore mean that we are to receive “all” that may be offered to us as a beverage. The sense is, that as God made it, and for the purposes for which he designed it, it is not to be held to be evil; or, which is the same thing, it is not to be prohibited as if there were merit in abstaining from it. It is not to be regarded as a religious duty to abstain from food which God has appointed for the support of man.

If it be received with thanksgiving - see the 1 Corinthians 10:31 note; Ephesians 5:20 note; Philippians 4:6 note.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Timothy 4:4. For every creature of God is good — That is: Every creature which God has made for man's nourishment is good for that purpose, and to be thankfully received whenever necessary for the support of human life; and nothing of that sort is at any time to be refused, ουδεν αποβλητον, rejected or despised. We find a saying very similar to this in Lucian's Timon: Ουτοι αποβλητα εισι δωρα τα παρα Διος. The gifts which are from Jove ought not to be DESPISED. This appears to have been a proverbial saying among the heathens.