THE DEPARTURE FROM THE FAITH 2 TIMOTHY 4:1-5

1 Timothy 4:1-5 An Important Prophecy “The Spirit expressly says” This means that it is a very clear prophecy Not hidden in symbols as Revelation was “in latter times” It is church history in advance Would be after the apostles died The tendency to depart already existed 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

1 Timothy 4:1-5 “some would depart from the faith” “the faith” refers to the word of God Romans 10:17, Jude 3, Ephesians 4:5 Some would depart from God’s word Colossians 2:8, Galatians 1:6-9 To depart from the faith is to depart from God Heb. 3:12-13, 2 John 9

1 Timothy 4:1-5 “giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy” Satan is the true source of all false doctrine Rev. 12:9 Satan is the deceiver of the world John 8:44 the Devil is the father of lies 2 Cor. 12:14 much deception is religious 2 Thess. 2:9 some deceptions are powerful

1 Timothy 4:1-5 “forbidding to marry” Gnostics and other ascetic disciples thought suffering was purification Colossians 2: Corinthians 7:26, Suggesting and commanding are two different ideas “and commanding to abstain from foods…”

1 Timothy 4:1-5 “and commanding to abstain from foods…” Christians fasted Acts 13:1-2, 14:23 However, it would be a different gospel to bind fasting on other Christians Spiritual benefits of abstinence from food and/or sexual relations However, we have no authority to forbid marriage or any food Matt. 15:13

The Fulfillment of the Prophecy The Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church are the result of the falling away prophesied in 1 Timothy 4 They still bind fasting on certain days Catholic priests are forbidden to marry Orthodox priests assigned to churches are required to marry; all other clergy forbidden We will see how they fell away in more detail