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, 2 Thessalonians 2:3 (with whom accord 2 Peter 3:3; 1 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" (2 Timothy 3:1).
depart from the faith--The apostasy was to be within the Church, the faithful one becoming the harlot. In 2 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] (2 Timothy 2:18). Apollonius Tyanæus, a heretic, came to Ephesus in the lifetime of Timothy.
giving heed-- (1 Timothy 1:4; Titus 1:14).
seducing spirits--working in the heretical teachers. 1 John 4:2-3, 1 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"; 2 Corinthians 11:15, "Satan's ministers."
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
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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