1 Timothy 4:4 kjv
For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
1 Timothy 4:4 nkjv
For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;
1 Timothy 4:4 niv
For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,
1 Timothy 4:4 esv
For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,
1 Timothy 4:4 nlt
Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks.
1 Timothy 4 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Tim 4:4 | For every creature of God [is] good, and nothing [to be refused], | Direct affirmation |
| Gen 1:31 | And God saw every [thing] that he had made, and, behold, [it was] very good. | Creation's original goodness |
| Gen 9:3 | Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all. | Permitted post-Flood |
| Ps 24:1 | The earth [is] the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. | God's ownership |
| Ps 104:14 | He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and green herb for the service of man. | God provides sustenance |
| Ps 145:15 | The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. | God's provision |
| Prov 17:1 | Better [is] a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. | Contentment with simple fare |
| Eccl 3:13 | And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, [it is] the gift of God. | Enjoyment of provision |
| Eccl 9:7 | Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart: for God now accepteth thy works. | Enjoying God's gifts |
| Mark 7:19 | Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? | Jesus declares all foods clean |
| Luke 11:41 | But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. | Purity through generosity |
| Rom 14:2 | For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. | Liberty in food choices |
| Rom 14:6 | He that regardeth the day, regardeth [it] unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks: and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. | Thankfulness in eating |
| Rom 14:14 | I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that [there is] nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him [it is] unclean. | No intrinsic uncleanness |
| Rom 14:17 | For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. | Kingdom values over food |
| Rom 14:20 | For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed [are] clean; but [it is] evil for that man who eateth with offence. | Prudence with liberty |
| Rom 15:1 | We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. | Bearing with the weak |
| 1 Cor 8:4 | As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. | Knowledge concerning idols |
| 1 Cor 10:25 | Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: | Eating market food |
| 1 Cor 10:26 | For the earth [is] the Lord'S, and the fulness thereof. | Earth's provision |
| 1 Cor 10:31 | Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do it all to the glory of God. | Doing all to God's glory |
| Gal 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. | Unity in Christ |
| Heb 13:9 | Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For [it is] a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied with them. | Warning against doctrinal errors |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal generation, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: | New identity in Christ |
1 Timothy 4 verses
1 Timothy 4 4 Meaning
Every part of God’s creation is good, and nothing God made should be rejected, once it is received with thanksgiving. This affirms the goodness of all of God's creation and emphasizes that any food or created thing is acceptable for believers when it is received with thankfulness.
1 Timothy 4 4 Context
In 1 Timothy chapter 4, the Apostle Paul warns Timothy about false teachers who forbid people from marrying and command abstaining from certain foods. These teachers had persuasive rhetoric but their doctrine stemmed from a demonic origin and promoted asceticism based on flawed reasoning. Verse 4 serves as a direct counter-argument to these prohibitions. Paul asserts the universal goodness of God’s creation, establishing a theological foundation for Christian freedom regarding dietary practices. This occurs within the broader context of Paul's instructions to Timothy on church leadership and sound doctrine, emphasizing the importance of guarding against error and promoting a healthy understanding of faith. Historically, this would resonate with Jewish believers accustomed to specific dietary laws from the Old Testament and with Gentile believers who might be influenced by pagan ascetic practices.
1 Timothy 4 4 Word Analysis
- "For" (γάρ - gar): A conjunction indicating a reason or explanation for the preceding statement.
- "every" (πᾶς - pas): Each one, all, every. Emphasizes totality, leaving no exceptions.
- "creature" (κτίσμα - ktisma): That which is created, creation. Refers to every created thing, including food and sustenance.
- "of God" (θεοῦ - theou): Pertaining to God. Attributes the origin and ultimate ownership of all creation to God.
- "is" (ἐστιν - estin): Present tense of "to be." A statement of fact and enduring truth.
- "good" (καλός - kalos): Beautiful, fine, good. Suggests not just functional but inherent moral and aesthetic goodness.
- "and" (καί - kai): Connects the two clauses.
- "nothing" (οὐδέν - ouden): Not anything, no thing. Reinforces the comprehensive nature of God's creation being good.
- "to be refused" (ἀποδοκιμάζω - apokidazō) [often rendered as "rejected" or "condemned"]: To reject, consider not fit, disapprove of. The idea is that nothing made by God should be rejected by believers.
- "to be" (in context): This implies it should not be rejected.
- "if" (εἰ - ei) [Implied by the phrase "if it be received with thanksgiving," often translated as "seeing that it is sanctified by the word of God, and prayer"]: The word rendered as "if it be" in some translations (like KJV) carries the sense of "since" or "because" in the original Greek, implying that the permissibility is contingent on it being sanctified.
- "received" (λαμβάνω - lambanō): To take, receive. In this context, it signifies accepting and partaking.
- "with" (μετά - meta): Together with, along with.
- "thanksgiving" (εὐχαριστία - eucharistia): Gratitude, thanks. Specifically, offering thanks to God.
Group Analysis:
- "Every creature of God is good": This is a foundational declaration, rooted in Genesis 1. It establishes that God, as the perfect Creator, made all things, and His creation reflected His goodness.
- "and nothing to be refused": This is a direct consequence of the first part. If all creation is good, then no part of it inherently should be rejected or condemned by believers.
- "if it be received with thanksgiving": This phrase qualifies the permissibility. The way something is received matters. Thankfulness to God sanctifies (sets apart, makes holy) it for the believer, acknowledging God as the source and acknowledging the sufficiency of God's provision. The sanctification comes through "the word of God" and "prayer" (as seen in verse 5, connected contextually).
1 Timothy 4 4 Bonus Section
The doctrine Paul combats here, forbidding certain foods, is similar to Gnostic or early ascetic philosophies that viewed the material world as inherently flawed or evil, in contrast to the biblical worldview where the material creation is declared "very good" by its Creator. The mention of "the word of God and prayer" in the subsequent verse (v. 5) further highlights that the authority for what is permissible comes from God’s revealed will and through prayer, not from human restrictions. The opposition to food prohibitions echoes Jesus' declaration that "it is not that which goeth into the mouth that defileth a man" (Matthew 15:11) and Paul's teaching in Romans 14 concerning freedom and love for weaker brethren in matters of diet.
1 Timothy 4 4 Commentary
Paul unequivocally declares that the entire realm of God's creation is fundamentally good. This truth liberates believers from the misguided asceticism promoted by false teachers. Nothing God has made is inherently tainted or evil. The key to discerning how to approach creation is faith and gratitude. When we partake of food or any aspect of creation with thankful hearts, acknowledging God as the benevolent Giver, that specific item becomes sanctified for our use. This act of thankfulness, grounded in God’s Word and prayer, purifies our perspective and experience, freeing us from self-imposed regulations or superstitions. This practice aligns with the New Testament emphasis on inner purity and the liberty believers have in Christ, rather than external restrictions based on human traditions or fear. It's a reminder that our relationship with God's provision is not about what we eat, but about our heart attitude and reliance on Him.
- Practical Application: When eating, take a moment to thank God for the food. This cultivates a heart of gratitude and recognizes His provision. It helps discern what is truly permissible for a believer, which is anything God provides and is received thankfully.