1 Timothy 4 WYC
Summary: Paul warns that in later times some will depart from the faith, following deceitful spirits and demonic teachings that forbid marriage and certain foods, things God created to be received with thanksgiving. He instructs Timothy to train himself for godliness, since "bodily training is of some value, but godliness is of value in every way" (v. 8), and to set an example for believers in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity despite his youth. Timothy is told to devote himself to public Scripture reading, exhortation, and teaching, and not to neglect the gift given him through prophecy with the laying on of hands. Paul urges him to persist in these things so his progress will be evident to all.
1But the spirit seith opynli, that in the laste tymes summen schulen departe fro the feith, yyuynge tent to spiritis of errour, and to techingis of deuelis; that speken leesing in ipocrisie,
2and haue her conscience corrupt,
3forbedinge to be weddid, to absteyne fro metis, whiche God made to take with doyng of thankingis, to feithful men, and hem that han knowe the treuthe.
4For ech creature of God is good, and no thing is to be cast awei, which is takun with doyng of thankyngis;
5for it is halewid bi the word of God, and bi preyer.
6Thou puttynge forth these thingis to britheren, schalt be a good mynystre of Crist Jhesu; nurschid with wordis of feith and of good doctryne, which thou hast gete.
7But eschewe thou vncouenable fablis, and elde wymmenus fablis; haunte thi silf to pitee.
8For bodili exercitation is profitable to litle thing; but pitee is profitable to alle thingis, that hath a biheest of lijf that now is, and that is to come.
9A trewe word, and worthi al acceptacioun.
10And in this thing we trauelen, and ben cursid, for we hopen in lyuyng God, that is sauyour of alle men, moost of feithful men.
11Comaunde thou this thing, and teche.
12No man dispise thi yongthe, but be thou ensaumple of feithful men in word, in lyuyng, in charite, in feith, in chastite.
13Tyl Y come, take tent to redyng, to exortacioun and teching.
14Nyle thou litil charge the grace which is in thee, that is youun to thee bi profecie, with putting on of the hondis of preesthod.
15Thenke thou these thingis, in these be thou, that thi profiting be schewid to alle men.
16Take tent to thi silf and to doctryn; be bisi in hem. For thou doynge these thingis, schalt `make bothe thi silf saaf, and hem that heren thee.
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