John Calvin 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)

Now the Spirit plainly saith. Paul had diligently admonished Timothy about many things, and now he shows the necessity of this.

It is proper to prepare for the danger that the Holy Spirit forewarns is fast approaching: namely, that false teachers will come who will present trifles as the doctrine of faith and, by placing all holiness in outward exercises, will overshadow the spiritual worship of God, which alone is lawful.

And, indeed, God's servants have always had to contend against such persons as Paul here describes. Since humans are by nature inclined to hypocrisy, Satan easily persuades them that God is worshipped rightly by ceremonies and outward discipline; and, indeed, without a teacher, almost all have this conviction deeply rooted in their hearts.

To this is added Satan's craftiness, confirming the error. The consequence is that, in all ages, there have been impostors who recommended false worship, by which true godliness was buried.

Furthermore, this plague produces another: in matters indifferent, people are placed under restraint. For the world easily allows itself to be hindered from doing what God had declared lawful, so that they may have the power to transgress God's laws with impunity.

Here Paul, therefore, through Timothy, warns not only the Ephesians but all the churches throughout the world about hypocritical teachers who, by setting up false worship and by ensnaring consciences with new laws, adulterate the true worship of God and corrupt the pure doctrine of faith. This is the real purpose of the passage, which it is especially necessary to note.

Furthermore, so that all may hear with more earnest attention what he is going to say, he prefaces it by stating that this is an undoubted and very clear prophecy of the Holy Spirit.

Indeed, there is no reason to doubt that he drew everything else from the same Spirit. But, although we should always listen to him as one communicating the will of Christ, yet in a matter of vast importance, he especially wished to testify that he said nothing except by the Spirit of prophecy.

Therefore, by a solemn announcement, he commends this prophecy to us; and, not satisfied with this, he adds that it is plain and free from all ambiguity.

In the latter times. At that time, it certainly could not have been expected that anyone would have revolted amidst such clear light of the gospel. But this is what Peter says: that as false teachers formerly troubled the people of Israel, so they will never cease to disturb the Christian Church (2 Peter 3:3). The meaning is the same as if he had said, “The doctrine of the gospel is now in a flourishing state, but Satan will not long refrain from laboring to choke the pure seed with tares” (Matthew 13:20, 38).

This warning was advantageous in the age of the Apostle Paul, so that both pastors and others might give earnest attention to pure doctrine and not allow themselves to be deceived. It is no less useful to us today, when we perceive that nothing has happened that was not foretold by an express prophecy of the Spirit.

Furthermore, we may note here the great care God exercises for His Church when He gives such early warning of dangers. Satan indeed has many arts for leading us into error and attacks us with astonishing stratagems; but, on the other hand, God fortifies us sufficiently, if we do not of our own accord choose to be deceived. Therefore, there is no reason to complain that darkness is more powerful than light, or that truth is vanquished by falsehood. On the contrary, we suffer the punishment for our carelessness and indolence when we are led astray from the right way of salvation.

But those who flatter themselves in their errors object that it is hardly possible to distinguish whom or what kind of persons Paul describes. It is as if the Spirit uttered this prophecy and published it so long beforehand for no reason; for if there were no certain mark, this entire warning would be superfluous and consequently absurd.

But far be it from us to think that the Spirit of God gives us unnecessary alarm or does not accompany the threat of danger by showing how we should guard against it! And that slander is sufficiently refuted by Paul's words, for he points out, as if with his finger, the evil that he warns us to avoid. He does not speak in general terms about false prophets but plainly describes the kind of false doctrine: namely, that which, by linking godliness with outward elements, perverts and profanes (as I have already said) the spiritual worship of God.

Some will revolt from the faith. It is uncertain whether he speaks of teachers or of hearers, but I am more inclined to refer it to the latter, for he afterwards calls teachers spirits that are impostors. This is more emphatic (ἐμφατικώτερον): not only will there be those who sow wicked doctrines and corrupt the purity of faith, but they will never lack disciples whom they can draw into their sect. And when a lie thus gains prevalence, greater trouble arises from it.

Furthermore, it is no slight vice that he describes, but a very heinous crime—apostasy from the faith; although, at first sight, the doctrine that he briefly mentions does not appear to contain so much evil. What is the case? Is faith completely overturned because of the prohibition of marriage or of certain kinds of food?

But we must consider a higher reason: that people pervert and invent at their pleasure the worship of God, that they assume dominion over consciences, and that they dare to forbid the use of good things that the Lord has permitted. As soon as the purity of God's worship is impaired, nothing perfect or sound remains, and faith itself is utterly ruined.

Accordingly, although Papists laugh at us when we censure their tyrannical laws about outward observances, we know that we are pleading a cause of the greatest weight and importance, because the doctrine of faith is destroyed as soon as God's worship is infected by such corruptions.

The controversy is not about flesh or fish, or about a black or ashy color, or about Friday or Wednesday, but about the mad superstitions of people who wish to appease God with such trifles and, by devising a carnal worship of Him, create for themselves an idol instead of God. Who will deny that this is revolting from the faith?

To deceiving spirits. He means prophets or teachers, to whom Paul gives this designation because they boast of the Spirit and, under this title, insinuate themselves into the people's favor. Indeed, this is true at all times: people, whoever they are, speak under the excitement of a spirit. But it is not the same spirit that excites them all, for sometimes Satan is a lying spirit in the mouths of false prophets to deceive unbelievers who deserve to be deceived (1 Kings 22:21–23).

On the other hand, everyone who renders due honor to Christ speaks by the Spirit of God, as Paul testifies (1 Corinthians 12:3).

Now, the mode of expression we are discussing originated from the circumstance that God's servants professed to receive everything they uttered in public from the Spirit's revelation. This was actually true, and thus they received the name of the Spirit, whose instruments they were. But Satan's ministers, by a false imitation, like apes, afterwards began to make the same boast and likewise falsely assumed the name. On the same grounds, John says:

Try the spirits, whether they are of God (1 John 4:1).

Moreover, Paul explains his meaning by adding, to doctrines of devils; this is as if he had said, 'Attending to false prophets and to their devilish doctrines.' Again, observe that it is not an error of small importance, nor one that ought to be concealed, when consciences are bound by human contrivances and, at the same time, God's worship is corrupted.