1 Timothy 4:5 kjv
For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
1 Timothy 4:5 nkjv
for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
1 Timothy 4:5 niv
because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
1 Timothy 4:5 esv
for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.
1 Timothy 4:5 nlt
For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.
1 Timothy 4 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Tim 4:5 | ...is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. | Consecration through Word/Prayer |
| John 17:17 | "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." | Jesus' prayer for disciples |
| Rom 15:16 | ...to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles...offered as an offering accepted by God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. | Minister's consecration |
| 1 Cor 6:11 | And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. | Sanctification by Spirit |
| 1 Cor 6:13 | "Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food," and God will destroy them both. The body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. | Distinction of use |
| 1 Cor 7:14 | For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy. | Sanctification by relation |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, | Value of Scripture |
| Heb 4:12 | For the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. | Power of God's Word |
| Heb 12:14 | Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. | Importance of Holiness |
| 1 Pet 1:15 | but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, | Call to Holiness |
| 1 Pet 1:22 | Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, | Purification of Souls |
| 1 Pet 3:7 | Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the one more frail, as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. | Hindrance to Prayer |
| Acts 20:32 | And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance that belongs to all who are sanctified. | Word Builds and Sanctifies |
| Rom 12:1-2 | I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. | Living Sacrifice, Renewed Mind |
| Phil 1:10 | so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, | Purity and Blamelessness |
| 1 Thess 4:3-4 | For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to possess his own vessel in holiness and honor, | Sanctification involves Abstinence |
| Col 3:17 | And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. | Doing All in Jesus' Name |
| Deut 8:3 | And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that he might make known to you that man does not live by bread alone, but that man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. | Man Lives by God's Word |
| Psalm 119:9 | How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. | Guarding Purity by Word |
| John 15:3 | You are already clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. | Clean by the Word |
1 Timothy 4 verses
1 Timothy 4 5 Meaning
This verse emphasizes that believers are consecrated through prayer and the Word of God, making them holy and set apart for God's purposes. It highlights the spiritual power available to those who are dedicated to God, purifying them from corrupting influences and equipping them for service.
1 Timothy 4 5 Context
In 1 Timothy 4, the Apostle Paul is addressing Timothy, a young leader in the church at Ephesus. Paul is warning Timothy about false teachers who promote ascetic practices, forbidding marriage and certain foods, and who propagate deceptive spirits and doctrines. The preceding verses (vv. 1-4) detail these false teachings, stating they forbid marriage and command abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. This verse, therefore, serves as a direct refutation of those commands by emphasizing the purity and acceptable use of these very things through prayer and the Word.
1 Timothy 4 5 Word Analysis
- For (γαρ, gar): A coordinating conjunction, indicating a reason or explanation for the preceding statement. It connects the sanctification of food and marriage to the general principle that believers are not subject to ascetic prohibitions.
- every (πας, pas): An adjective meaning "all," "every," "whole." It suggests that this principle of sanctification applies universally to all permissible foods and practices, not select ones.
- creature (κτισμα, ktisma): From κτιζω (ktizo), meaning "to create," this refers to something created, a creature or creation. In this context, it specifically refers to food that God created.
- of (ἐκ, ek): A preposition indicating origin or source. The sanctification comes out of these things.
- God (Θεου, Theou): The genitive singular of Θεος (Theos), meaning God. The source of this sanctification is ultimately God.
- is (εστιν, estin): The third-person singular present indicative of ειμι (eimi), "to be."
- sanctified (αγιαζεται, hagiazetai): The present passive indicative, third-person singular of ἁγιαζω (hagiazō), meaning "to make holy," "consecrate," "set apart," "sanctify." It indicates an ongoing process or a state of being made holy and pure.
- by (δια, dia): A preposition often translated as "through" or "by means of." It signifies the agency or instrument through which the sanctification occurs.
- the word (ο λογος, ho logos): Refers to the Word of God, both the spoken or written Word (Scripture) and the person of Jesus Christ, the living Word.
- of (του, tou): The genitive definite article.
- God (Θεου, Theou): God, as the source of the Word.
- and (και, kai): A coordinating conjunction, joining "the word of God" with "prayer."
- prayer (δεησεως, deēseōs): The genitive singular of δεησις (deēsis), meaning "petition," "supplication," "prayer." It refers to the act of prayer, especially earnest petition to God.
Group Analysis:
- "every creature of God is sanctified": This phrase asserts that anything God has created and designated as good for human consumption is made clean and permissible for believers.
- "by the word of God and prayer": This clarifies the means by which this sanctification occurs. It's not an inherent quality in the food itself but a spiritual action of consecration by God's decree (the Word) and the believer's response (prayer).
1 Timothy 4 5 Bonus Section
The concept of sanctification here relates to ritual or ceremonial cleanness, making something fit for a sacred purpose or use within the covenant community. While God's creation is declared good, prayer is essential for believers to receive it with the right heart and understanding, acknowledging it as from God and not something to be treated lightly. This practice guards against an improper or gluttonous use of God’s gifts. It is also noteworthy that Paul here links the Word of God directly to the sanctification process, underscoring the vital role of Scripture in guiding the believer's life and understanding of God's will concerning all aspects of existence, including diet. The Greek word 'hagiazō' itself implies separation unto God, suggesting that food received in this manner is set apart for the nourishment and strengthening of one dedicated to God's service.
1 Timothy 4 5 Commentary
The teaching that some foods are inherently defiled is false and goes against the fundamental truth that God's creation is good. Paul corrects this by asserting that "every creature of God is sanctified." This means that God’s provisions are made pure for the believer through two means: the Word of God and prayer. The Word of God reveals God's will and declares His creations clean, as seen in passages like Genesis 1 and Mark 7:19 which states that "nothing outside a person can defile them" by going into them. Prayer acknowledges God's sovereignty and provision, dedicating the food to its intended use with gratitude. Therefore, foods are not intrinsically unclean; rather, they become sanctified for the believer's use when received with a thankful heart in accordance with God's Word.
- Practical Usage Example: A believer can eat pork or shellfish without fear of spiritual defilement because God’s Word permits it, and they can pray a prayer of thanksgiving before the meal, sanctifying it for their consumption.