1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits… In opposition to this exhibition of the mystery of godliness, the apostle places the prediction of a serious apostasy from the faith. I. THE APOSTASY IS A SUBJECT OF EXPRESS PREDICTION. "But the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in after times some shall depart from the faith." It may seem strange that apostasy should be thought of so soon after the foundation of Christianity, but the Church is fully forewarned of the coming danger. It was foretold, not obscurely, but expressly, in the prophecies by Daniel (Daniel 7:25; Daniel 8:23), of our Lord (Matthew 24:4, 11), and of the apostle himself (2 Thessalonians 2.; Acts 20:29, 30; Colossians 2.). But he here alludes more specifically to a development of error in the future, the germs of which he discerns in the present. II. THE TIME OF ITS APPEARANCE. "In after times." The words signify any period subsequent to the age in which the apostle lived, for he saw in the apostasy of the present the beginning of a still more serious apostasy in the future. The mystery of iniquity had already begun to work. But it would project its evil shadow far forward into the dispensation, in many various forms. III. THE EXTENT OF THE APOSTASY. "Some shall depart from the faith." 1. Some, not all. Not the whole visible Church, but a considerable part of it. Thus an assurance is given that the true Church of God shall not be extinguished. 2. The apostasy is from the doctrine of faith - though it be the mystery of godliness - not the grace of faith, which, being of an incorruptible origin, cannot be lost. Christ is the Author and Finisher of faith. The elect cannot be finally deceived. The doctrine of faith was to be corrupted by "denying what was true, by adding what was false." IV. THE REASON OR PROCESS OF THE APOSTASY. "Giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." The prime movers were not false teachers, but unseen agents in the spirit-world. 1. Man does not stand isolated in this world. If he is not influenced by the Holy Spirit, he is influenced by the spirits of delusion, who are the emissaries of Satan. If we are not possessed by the truth, error will make an easy conquest of us. Often the heart that is made empty by skepticism is the most ready to welcome superstition. 2. It is possible for evil spirits to influence the human mind. (1) Satan could tempt David to number the people (1 Chronicles 21:1). As the father of lies, the suggestion of error would be a congenial work. The coming of the man of sin is to be after the working of Satan. (2) There is a sacrifice to devils, a communion with devils, a cup of devils, a table of devils (1 Corinthians 10:20, 21). There is a spiritual wickedness in high places capable of compassing great destruction by error. (3) The apostle teaches the personality of such evil spirits. (4) There is no more difficulty in understanding their communication of thought to man, than in understanding the communication of thought from one evil man to another. An evil man can communicate evil by a glance of his eye. But if the Spirit of God can, without the intervention of the senses, influence the minds of believers, it is easy to understand that seducing spirits can have access to the centers of thought and feeling without any similar intervention. V. THE CHARACTER OF THE FALSE TEACHERS UNDER SUCH EVIL INSPIRATION. "In the hypocrisy of speakers of lies, being branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron." 1. They assumed a mask of holiness which they did not possess, with the view of giving better currency to their lies. Their assumed sanctity would throw the unwary off their guard, and lead to the confounding of truth with error. The lies they taught were that holiness was to be attained through abstinence from marriage and particular kinds of food. 2. They were essentially corrupt, for their conscience had become so seared through transgression that they had lost the true distinctions between right and wrong, error and truth. They were incapable of relishing the "mystery of godliness," and therefore devoted themselves to the arts of religious seduction in the interests of an essentially unspiritual asceticism. - T.C. Parallel Verses KJV: 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; |
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