A Warning against Apostasy

1Now the Spirit expressly saith, that in latter times some shall apostatize from the faith, attending to seducing spirits, 2and doctrines of demons founded in the hypocrisy of liars, who are seared in their own conscience, forbidding to marry, 3and enjoining abstinence from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving by those that believe and know the truth. 4For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be rejected, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5for it is sanctified by the word of God and by prayer.

A Good Servant of Jesus Christ

6If thou lay these things before the brethren, thou wilt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, as one brought up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, to which thou hast attained. 7But profane and groundless fables reject, and exercise thyself unto godliness. 8For bodily exercise profiteth little, but piety is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come: 9this is a certain truth and worthy of all acceptance. 10For to this end we both labour and suffer reproach, because we have hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of the faithful.

11These things declare and teach. 12Let no one have cause to despise thy youth; but he thou an example to believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13Till I come attend to reading, to exhortation, and teaching. 14Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 15Meditate on these things, be wholly in them, that thy proficiency may be manifest in all. 16Take heed to thyself, and to thy doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this, thou wilt both save thyself and those that hear thee.