Chapter 4

  But the Spirit speaks expressly, that in latter times some shall apostatise from the faith, giving their mind to deceiving spirits and teachings of demons  

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  speaking lies in hypocrisy, cauterised as to their own conscience,  

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  forbidding to marry, [bidding] to abstain from meats, which God has created for receiving with thanksgiving for them who are faithful and know the truth.  

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  For every creature of God [is] good, and nothing [is] to be rejected, being received with thanksgiving;  

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  for it is sanctified by God's word and freely addressing [him].  

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  Laying these things before the brethren, thou wilt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished with the words of the faith and of the good teaching which thou hast fully followed up.  

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  But profane and old wives' fables avoid, but exercise thyself unto piety;  

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  for bodily exercise is profitable for a little, but piety is profitable for everything, having promise of life, of the present one, and of that to come.  

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  The word [is] faithful and worthy of all acceptation;  

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  for, for this we labour and suffer reproach, because we hope in a living God, who is preserver of all men, specially of those that believe.  

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  Enjoin and teach these things.  

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  Let no one despise thy youth, but be a model of the believers, in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.  

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  Till I come, give thyself to reading, to exhortation, to teaching.  

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  Be not negligent of the gift [that is] in thee, which has been given to thee through prophecy, with imposition of the hands of the elderhood.  

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  Occupy thyself with these things; be wholly in them, that thy progress may be manifest to all.  

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  Give heed to thyself and to the teaching; continue in them; for, doing this, thou shalt save both thyself and those that hear thee.  

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