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1 NOW the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; | |
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; | |
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. | |
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: | |
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. | |
6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. | |
7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. | |
8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. | |
9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. | |
10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. | |
11 These things command and teach. | |
12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. | |
13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. | |
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 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. | |
16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. | |