Chapter 4

¹Now the Spirit manifestly saith, that in the last times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to spirits of error, and doctrines of devils, ²Speaking lies in hypocrisy, and having their conscience seared, ³Forbidding to marry, to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving by the faithful, and by them that have known the truth. ⁴For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be rejected that is received with thanksgiving: ⁵For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. ⁶These things proposing to the brethren, thou shalt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished up in the words of faith, and of the good doctrine which thou hast attained unto. ⁷But avoid foolish and old wives' fables: and exercise thyself unto godliness. ⁸For bodily exercise is profitable to little: but godliness is profitable to all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. ⁹A faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. ¹⁰For therefore we labor and are reviled, because we hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of the faithful. ¹¹These things command and teach. ¹²Let no man despise thy youth: but be thou an example of the faithful in word, in conversation, in charity, in faith, in chastity. ¹³Till I come, attend unto reading, to exhortation, and to doctrine. ¹⁴Neglect not the grace that is in thee, which was given thee by prophesy, with imposition of the hands of the priesthood. ¹⁵Meditate upon these things, be wholly in these things: that thy profiting may be manifest to all. ¹⁶Take heed to thyself and to doctrine: be earnest in them. For in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.