SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:1
¶ Pero el Espíritu dice manifiestamente, que en los postreros tiempos algunos apostatarn de la fe, escuchando a espíritus de error y a doctrinas de demonios;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 4:1
Verse 1. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly] `rhtwv? Manifestly, openly. It is very likely that the apostle refers here to a prophecy then furnished by the Holy Ghost, and probably immediately after he had written the words in the preceding verses; and as this prophecy contains things nowhere else spoken of in the sacred writings, and of the utmost moment to the Christian Church, we cannot hear or read them with too much reverence or respect. In the latter times] This does not necessarily imply the last ages of the world, but any times consequent to those in which the Church then lived.
Depart from the faith] aposthsontai-thv pistewv? They will apostatize from the faith, i.e. from Christianity; renouncing the whole system in effect, by bringing in doctrines which render its essential truths null and void, or denying and renouncing such doctrines as are essential to Christianity as a system of salvation. A man may hold all the truths of Christianity, and yet render them of none effect by holding other doctrines which counteract their influence; or he may apostatize by denying some essential doctrine, though he bring in nothing heterodox.
Giving heed to seducing spirits] pneumasi planiv? Many MSS. and the chief of the fathers have pneumasi planhv? spirits of deceit; which is much more emphatic than the common reading. Deception has her spirits, emissaries of every kind, which she employs to darken the hearts and destroy the souls of men. Pretenders to inspiration, and false teachers of every kind, belong to this class.
And doctrines of devils] daimoniwn? Demons; either meaning fallen spirits, or dead men, spectres, &c., or doctrines inspired by Satan relative to these, by which he secures his own interest, and provides for his own worship.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly , etc.] The prophecy hereafter mentioned was not an human conjecture, but, as all true prophecy, it came from the Spirit of God, who spoke or delivered it; either in the prophets of the Old Testament, who, as they spoke of the Gospel dispensation, so of the defection that should be in it; and particularly of antichrist, and of the apostasy through him, which is what is here intended, especially in Daniel's prophecies, under the names of the little horn, and vile person, ( Daniel 7:1-28) and ( Daniel 11:1-45), or in the Lord Jesus Christ, who foretold that false prophets would arise and deceive many; or in some of the prophets in the Christian church, such as Agabus, and others, who might in so many words foretell this thing; or rather in the apostle himself, at this time, since this prophecy was delivered not in dark sayings, in an enigmatical way, in an obscure manner, as prophecies generally were, but in plain language, and easy to be understood, and wanted no interpreter to unriddle it; and seeing that it is nowhere to be found in so many express words elsewhere: and moreover, the apostle does not say the Spirit hath spoken, but the Spirit speaketh; then, at the time of the writing of these words, in and by him. The prediction follows, that in the latter times some should depart from the faith ; that is, from the doctrine of faith, notwithstanding it is indisputably the great mystery of godliness, as it is called in the latter part of the preceding chapter; for from the true grace of faith there can be no final and total apostasy, such as is here designed; for that can never be lost. It is of an incorruptible nature, and therefore more precious than gold that perishes; Christ is the author and finisher of it; his prevalent mediation is concerned for it; it is a gift of special grace, and is without repentance; it springs from electing grace, and is secured by it; and between that and salvation there is an inseparable connection; it may indeed decline, be very low, and lie dormant, as to its acts and exercise, but not be lost: there is a temporary faith, and a persuasion of truth, or a mere assent to it, which may be departed from, but not that faith which works by love: here it intends a profession of faith, which being made, should be dropped by some; or rather the doctrine of faith, which some would embrace, and then err concerning, or entirely quit, and wholly apostatize from. And they are said to be some, and these many, as they are elsewhere represented, though not all; for the elect cannot be finally and totally deceived; the foundation of election stands sure amidst the greatest apostasy; and there are always a few names that are not defiled with corrupt principles and practices; Christ always had some witnesses for the truth in the darkest times: and now this defection was to be in the latter times; either of the apostolic age, which John, the last of the apostles, lived to see; and therefore he calls it the last time, or hour, in which were many antichrists, ( 1 John 2:18). And indeed in the Apostle Paul's time the mystery of iniquity began to work, which brought on this general defection; though here it has regard to some later times under the Gospel dispensation; to the time when the man of sin, and the son of perdition, was revealed, and when all the world wondered after the beast: and indeed, such will be the degeneracy in the last days of all, that when the son of man comes, as the grace, so the doctrine of faith will be scarcely to be found in the world: the means by which this apostasy will obtain and prevail will be through men's giving heed to seducing spirits ; either to doctrines which are of a deceiving nature; or to men who profess to have the Spirit of God, and have not, but are evil men and seducers, deceiving, and being deceived; that lie in wait to deceive, and handle the word of God deceitfully; and by attending on the ministry of such persons, through hearing them, and conversing with them, the defection was to begin and spread; and therefore such should be carefully avoided, and their ministry shunned; nor should they be received, nor bid God speed. And doctrines of devils ; such as are devised by devils, as all damnable doctrines be; and all lying ones, for the devil is the father of them; and as are all the false doctrines introduced by antichrist, for his coming was after the working of Satan; and particularly those doctrines of his concerning worshipping of angels, and saints departed, may be called the doctrines of devils, or of demons; being much the same with the demon worship among the Heathens, of which the devil was the inventor: unless by doctrines of devils should be meant the doctrines of men, who for their cunning and sophistry, for their lies and hypocrisy, for their malice, and murdering of the souls of men, are comparable to devils.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - The Holy Spirit, both in the Old and the New Testament, spoke of general turning from the faith of Christ, and the pure worship of God This should come during the Christian dispensation, for those ar called the latter days. False teachers forbid as evil what God ha allowed, and command as a duty what he has left indifferent. We fin exercise for watchfulness and self-denial, in attending to the requirements of God's law, without being tasked to imaginary duties which reject what he has allowed. But nothing justifies an intemperat or improper use of things; and nothing will be good to us, unless we seek by prayer for the Lord's blessing upon it.
Greek Textus Receptus
το 3588 δε 1161 πνευμα 4151 ρητως 4490 λεγει 3004 5719 οτι 3754 εν 1722 υστεροις 5306 καιροις 2540 αποστησονται 868 5695 τινες 5100 της 3588 πιστεως 4102 προσεχοντες 4337 5723 πνευμασιν 4151 πλανοις 4108 και 2532 διδασκαλιαις 1319 δαιμονιων 1140
Vincent's NT Word Studies
1. Now (de). Better but, since there is a contrast with the preceding confession of the norm of faith.
Expressly (rhtwv). N.T.o . o LXX. In express words.
In the latter times (en usteroiv kairoiv). The phrase only here. For kairov particular sesson or junture, see on Matthews xii. 1; Acts i. 7. Not the same as ejn ejscataiv in the last days, 2 Tim. iii. 1, which denotes the peliod closing the present aeon, and immediately preceding the parousia; while this signifies merely a time that is future to the writer. There is not the intense sense of the nearness of Christ's coming which characterises Paul. The writer does not think of his present as "the latter days."
Some (tinev). Not, as ch. i. 3, the heretical teachers, but those whom they mislead.
Shall depart from the faith (aposthsontai thv pistewv). The phrase only here. The verb in Paul only 2 Cor. xii. 8. Quite frequent in Luke and Acts. The kindred noun tasia (Acts xxi. 21; 2 Thessalonians ii. 3) is almost literally transcribed in our apostasy.
Seducing (planoiv). Primarily, wandering, roving. O planov a vagabond, hence deceiver or seducer. See 2 John 7, and comp. oJ planwn the deceiver, used of Satan, Apoc. xii. 9; xx. 10; to pneuma thv planhv the spirit of error, 1 John iv. 6. Once in Paul, 2 Cor. vi. 8, and in LXX, Job xix. 4; Jer. xxiii. 32. Evil spirits animating the false teachers are meant.
Doctrines of devils (didaskaliaiv daimoniwn). Better, teachings of demons. Comp. Jas. iii. 15. Didaskalia teaching often in Pastorals. A few times in Paul. See on 1 Tim. i. 10. Daimonion demon only here in Pastorals. Very frequent in Luke: in Paul only 1 Cor. x. 20, 21. Teachings proceeding from or inspired by demons. The working of these evil spirits is here specially concerned with striking at the true teaching which underlies godliness. It is impossible to say what particular form of false teaching is alluded to.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
4:1 {Expressly} (retws). Late adverb, here alone in N.T., from verbal adjective retos (from root re"). The reference is to the Holy Spirit, but whether to O.T. prophecy (#Ac 1:16) or to some Christian utterance (#2Th 2:2; 1Co 14:1ff.) we do not know. Parry recalls the words of Jesus in #Mt 24:10,24. {In later times} (en husterois kairois). Old adjective (#Mt 21:31) usually as adverb, husteron (#Mt 4:2). Relative time from the prediction, now coming true (a present danger). {Some shall fall away} (apostesontai tines). Future middle of afistemi, intransitive use, shall stand off from, to fall away, apostatize (#2Co 12:8). {From the faith} (tes pistews). Ablative case (separation). Not creed, but faith in God through Christ. {Giving heed} (prosecontes). Supply ton noun (the mind) as in #3:8. {Seducing spirits} (pneumasin planois). Old adjective (plane, wandering), here active sense (deceiving). As substantive in #2Co 6:8. Probably some heathen or the worst of the Gnostics. {Doctrines of devils} (didaskaliais daimoniwn). "Teachings of daimons." Definite explanation of the preceding. Cf. #1Co 10:20f.
