1 Timotheus

1 Timothy 4 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on 1 Timothy 4 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment

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:

(4:4) "Every creature of God is good."
Even guinea worms?

The question is: did God create these creatures? Or have they devolved into these creatures, part of the general degeneration after the Fall, of perhaps as part of God's curse, Gen. 3:14. For more, see my comment on Col. 1:16.

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

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.

7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

"Refuse ... old wives' fables."
What about old husbands' fables? Old Bible fables?

I would love to see my first old husband fable. I'm sure the author of the SAB can reproduce them by the dozens.

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.

"Bodily exercise profiteth little."

It does not say it's useless. But compared to eternity, the exercise of the soul profits a great deal more.

9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.

10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

"The Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe."
"The living God" is the saviour of "all men" -- especially (but not exclusively) of those that believe. So even nonbelievers will be saved.
Does hell exist?

The verse does not say: “saves all man,” but that is the Saviour of all man. At the beach the rescue brigade is available for all, but rescues only those in need. So as the verse continues “specially of those that believe,” meaning that for them the Saviour is special. Through faith he actually saves them.

11 These things command and teach.

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.

13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.