Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
PREDICTION OF A COMING DEPARTURE FROM THE FAITH: TIMOTHY'S DUTY AS TO IT: GENERAL DIRECTIONS TO HIM. (1Ti. 4:1-16)
Now—Greek, "But." In contrast to the "mystery of godliness."
the Spirit—speaking by the prophets in the Church (whose prophecies rested on those of the Old Testament, Daniel 7:25; Daniel 8:23, etc.; Daniel 11:30, as also on those of Jesus in the New Testament, Matthew 24:11-24), and also by Paul himself, II Thessalonians 2:3 (with whom accord II Peter 3:3; I John 2:18; Judges 1:18).
expressly—"in plain words." This shows that he refers to prophecies of the Spirit then lying before him.
in the latter times—in the times following upon the times in which he is now writing. Not some remote future, but times immediately subsequent, the beginnings of the apostasy being already discernible (Acts 20:29): these are the forerunners of "the last days" (II Timothy 3:1).
depart from the faith—The apostasy was to be within the Church, the faithful one becoming the harlot. In II Thessalonians 2:3 (written earlier), the apostasy of the Jews from God (joining the heathen against Christianity) is the groundwork on which the prophecy rises; whereas here, in the Pastoral Epistles, the prophecy is connected with Gnostic errors, the seeds of which had already been sown in the Church [AUBERLEN] (II Timothy 2:18). Apollonius Tyanæus, a heretic, came to Ephesus in the lifetime of Timothy.
giving heed— (I Timothy 1:4; Titus 1:14).
seducing spirits—working in the heretical teachers. I John 4:2-3, I John 4:6, "the spirit of error," opposed to "the spirit of truth," "the Spirit" which "speaketh" in the true prophets against them.
doctrines of devils—literally "teachings of (that is suggested by) demons." James 3:15, "wisdom . . . devilish"; II Corinthians 11:15, "Satan's ministers."
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing 1 Timothy 4:1:
Zechariah 6:7
Zechariah 13:2
1 Corinthians 12:10
Ephesians 2:2
Colossians 2:18
2 Thessalonians 2:3
2 Thessalonians 2:7
2 Thessalonians 2:11
1 Timothy 3:15
1 Timothy 3:16
1 Timothy 4:6
1 Timothy 4:6
1 Timothy 4:11
1 Timothy 6:10
2 Timothy 3:1
Jude 1:4
Jude 1:17
Revelation 21:8
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