4 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, ² through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, ^[a]branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron; ³ forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth. ⁴ For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it be received with thanksgiving: ⁵ for it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.

⁶ If thou put the brethren in mind of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which thou hast followed until now: ⁷ but refuse profane and old wives’ fables. And exercise thyself unto godliness: ⁸ for bodily exercise is profitable ^[b]for a little; but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come. ⁹ Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation. ¹⁰ For to this end we labor and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of them that believe. ¹¹ These things command and teach. ¹² Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity. ¹³ Till I come, give heed to reading, to exhortation, to teaching. ¹⁴ Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. ¹⁵ Be diligent in these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress may be manifest unto all. ¹⁶ Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee.