Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Timothy 4:1

"But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons," — 1 Timothy 4:1 (ASV)

Paul now gives instructions to Timothy on a variety of subjects, beginning with the matter of ascetic teachings (vv.1–5). The Holy Spirit explicitly says that in later times some people will “abandon” (GK 923) the faith, i.e., become apostate. Instead of being led by the Holy Spirit, these apostates give their attention to deceiving spirits and the teaching of “demons” (i.e., evil spirits who are led by the devil). The expression “in later times” is not as strong as the phrase “in the last days” (2 Timothy 3:1); the conditions that Paul is discussing here evidently took place during his lifetime.