Summary
Paul warns Timothy that in the latter times many will depart from the faith, following deceptive spirits and demonic doctrines. He condemns the hypocrisy of those who forbid marriage and the consumption of food that God created for thanksgiving, stressing that all creation is good when received with gratitude. Timothy is urged to remember these truths, so he may be a good minister of Jesus Christ, upheld by faith and sound teaching. He should reject old wives’ tales and pursue godliness, which brings lasting benefits beyond mere physical exercise. The passage also exhorts Timothy to labor faithfully, to be an example in word, conduct, charity, spirit, faith, and purity, and to attend to reading, exhortation, and doctrine until the Lord’s return. Finally, he is instructed to guard his own conduct and doctrine, as doing so will save both himself and those who hear him.