1 Timothy 4 3

1 Timothy 4:3 kjv

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 4:3 nkjv

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.

1 Timothy 4:3 niv

They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.

1 Timothy 4:3 esv

who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

1 Timothy 4:3 nlt

They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth.

1 Timothy 4 verses

1 Timothy 4 3 Meaning

1 Timothy 4:3 describes the specific doctrines of error that false teachers would promote: prohibiting marriage and commanding abstinence from certain foods. These prohibitions directly contradict God's original creation and His intention for humanity to receive all things with thanksgiving, particularly for those who have faith and know the truth of God's Word. The verse identifies these teachings as contrary to God's created order, implying they originate from sources opposed to Him.

1 Timothy 4 3 Context

The first three chapters of 1 Timothy establish qualifications for church leadership and guidelines for conduct within the household of God. Chapter 4 marks a shift, with Paul specifically warning Timothy about the coming apostasy and the characteristics of false teachers. Verse 3 elaborates on the specific doctrines that these deceivers will promote. These errors are presented as signs of "latter times" (1 Tim 4:1), indicating a departure from the faith. Historically, this aligns with early forms of Gnosticism or other ascetic philosophies that denigrated the material world and thus advocated for extreme abstinence as a path to spiritual purity. The emphasis on God as Creator in the latter part of the verse strongly refutes any belief that His physical creation, including marriage and food, is inherently evil or polluting.

1 Timothy 4 3 Word analysis

• Forbidding (κωλυόντων - kolyontōn): This participle indicates an ongoing prohibition or hindering. It highlights an authoritative, yet wrongful, restriction imposed by the false teachers. It speaks of a specific rule, not merely a recommendation.
• to marry (γαμεῖν - gamein): Refers to the institution of marriage, a God-ordained covenant. The prohibition here attacks a fundamental aspect of God's creation design for humanity (Gen 1:28; 2:24) and directly counters Christian teaching that marriage is honorable (Heb 13:4).
• and commanding to abstain (ἀπέχεσθαι - apechesthai): This phrase indicates a strict directive for separation from. It emphasizes legalistic compulsion rather than a personal choice or spiritual discipline, differing from the genuine biblical fast done voluntarily with proper motives.
• from meats (βρωμάτων - brōmatōn): This term refers to foods in general, solid provisions. The false teaching imposed specific dietary laws beyond what God required. This mirrors some Jewish dietary laws which, though fulfilled in Christ, some tried to impose on Gentile believers, or ascetic practices.
• which God hath created (ἃ ὁ Θεὸς ἔκτισεν - ha ho Theos ektisen): This is a direct appeal to the foundational doctrine of creation. It refutes any dualistic philosophy that sees matter as inherently evil. God's creation is inherently good (Gen 1:31).
• to be received (εἰς μετάλημψιν - eis metalēmpsin): Implies purpose—food is given for reception and consumption. It’s meant to be enjoyed, not rejected. The term means a "sharing" or "partaking," signifying positive acceptance.
• with thanksgiving (μετὰ εὐχαριστίας - meta eucharistias): Highlights the attitude required. Gratitude is the proper response to God's provisions, transforming their consumption into an act of worship. It implies acknowledging God as the generous provider (1 Cor 10:31, Col 3:17).
• of them which believe (τοῖς πιστοῖς - tois pistois): Refers to those who have faith in Christ. Their belief grants them the understanding and freedom to partake in God's creation appropriately, distinguishing them from those trapped in error.
• and know the truth (καὶ ἐπεγνωκόσι τὴν ἀλήθειαν - kai epegnōkosi tēn alētheian): This refers to a deeper, full knowledge or discernment of truth. It suggests not just intellectual assent but spiritual understanding. True knowledge of God's revealed truth leads to spiritual freedom and liberation from empty rules.

Words-group analysis:

• Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats: These two distinct prohibitions define the core of the ascetic, legalistic errors. They are parallel constructions, emphasizing an anti-creational stance towards fundamental human life (marriage) and sustenance (food). This dual assault on God's good creation marks these teachers as opponents of genuine faith.
• which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving: This clause provides the divine counter-argument to the prohibitions. It underscores the divine origin and intended purpose of marriage and food. God's creative act means these things are inherently good, and the intended response to them is grateful reception, not avoidance or condemnation.
• of them which believe and know the truth: This identifies the true beneficiaries and proper context for enjoying God's provisions. True believers, those enlightened by and living according to divine truth, understand the freedom and goodness of creation. This distinguishes them from the deluded and those advocating false asceticism. It speaks to a maturity in faith and understanding that rejects legalism for gracious liberty.

1 Timothy 4 3 Bonus section

The prohibitions mentioned in this verse demonstrate an early form of legalism often seen as a characteristic of "apostasy" from the true faith. While not every abstention is inherently wrong (e.g., specific spiritual fasting, or personal dietary choices for health reasons), the issue here is the commanding of such abstinence as a salvific requirement or a mark of superior spirituality, thereby adding human traditions or philosophies to divine commands. These false teachings often stem from a misdirected attempt to achieve spiritual purity through self-denial of what God has ordained as good. The underlying spiritual warfare mentioned in verse 1 indicates that these are not merely human errors but originate from spiritual forces that seek to undermine God's truth and His good creation. This also anticipates future Roman Catholic Church rules about celibacy for priests and some fasts as requirements to holiness.

1 Timothy 4 3 Commentary

1 Timothy 4:3 provides a clear warning against false doctrines characterized by legalistic prohibitions that attack the goodness of God's creation. The "forbidding to marry" and "commanding to abstain from meats" reflect ascetic errors likely influenced by dualistic philosophies, common in the ancient world, that viewed the physical realm as evil. Paul counters these teachings by reaffirming a fundamental biblical truth: God, as the benevolent Creator, made all things "good" (Gen 1:31). Marriage is a divine institution, intended for human flourishing and the avoidance of immorality (Heb 13:4; 1 Cor 7). Likewise, food is a provision from God meant to sustain life and be enjoyed with gratitude. The problem is not with God's creation, but with human sin and the corruption of understanding. Believers who genuinely know the truth are freed from such restrictive, human-made rules, understanding that all good gifts are from God and are to be received with thankful hearts. Such prohibitions represent a dangerous departure from sound doctrine and diminish the glory of God by despising what He has made. This verse thus champions Christian liberty in distinction from legalistic religious systems that bind the conscience with rules God never intended.