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false godliness

1 Timothy 4:1-5 (JDV)

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Breath explicitly says that in later seasons some will withdraw from the faith, paying attention to deceitful breaths and the teachings of demons,

1 Timothy 4:2 through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared

1 Timothy 4:3 preventing marriage and demanding abstinence from foods that God created to be received with gratitude by those who believe and know the truth.

1 Timothy 4:4 You see, anything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

1 Timothy 4:5 since it is made sacred by the word of God and by prayer.

false godliness

Paul predicted that within the visible church there would emerge false teachers, and that they would be recognized by their emphasis on false godliness. This is the type of godliness that focuses on the externals, but never leads people to new hearts. These false teachers will teach that to be truly godly, you must forsake normal life — abstain from foods and marriage.

False godliness seeks to be different by following human disciplines in order to make oneself better. True godliness pursues something else.

LORD, help us to escape the temptation to pursue self-made godliness.