Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to deceitful spirits, and doctrines of demons;
All Commentaries on 1 Timothy 4:1 Go To 1 Timothy 4
John Chrysostom
AD 407
As those who adhere to the faith are fixed on a safe anchor, so those who fall from the faith can nowhere rest; but after many wanderings to and fro, they are borne at last into the very gulf of perdition. And this he had shown before, saying, that some had already made shipwreck concerning the faith, and now he says, Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits. This is said of the Manichæans, the Encratites, and the Marcionites, and the whole of their tribe, that they should hereafter depart from the faith. Do you see that this departure from the faith is the cause of all the evils that follow!
But what is expressly? Plainly, clearly, and beyond doubt. Marvel not, he says, if some having departed from the faith still adhere to Judaism. There will be a time, when even those who have partaken of the faith will fall into a worse error, not only with respect to meats, but to marriages, and other such things, introducing the most pernicious notions. This refers not to the Jews, (for the latter times, and a departure from the faith, is not applicable to them;) but to the Manichees, and the founders of these sects. And he calls them very justly, seducing spirits, since it was by these they were actuated in speaking such things. Speaking lies in hypocrisy. This implies that they utter not these falsehoods through ignorance and unknowingly, but as acting a part, knowing the truth, but having their conscience seared, that is, being men of evil lives.
But why does he speak only of these heretics? Christ had before said, Offenses must need come Matthew 18:7, and he had predicted the same in his parable of the sower, and of the springing up of the tares. But here admire with me the prophetic gift of Paul, who, before the times in which they were to appear, specifies the time itself. As if he had said, Do not wonder, if, at the commencement of the faith, some endeavor to bring in these pernicious doctrines; since, after it has been established for a length of time, many shall depart from the faith. Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats. Why then has he mentioned no other heresies? Though not particularized, they are implied by the expressions of seducing spirits and doctrines of demons. But he did not wish to instill these things into the minds of men before the time; but that which had already commenced, the case of meats, he specifies. Which God has created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. Why did he not say, by the unbelievers too? How by the unbelievers, when they exclude themselves from them by their own rules? But is not luxury forbidden? Certainly it is. But why? If good things are created to be received. Because He created bread, and yet too much is forbidden; and wine also, and yet excess is forbidden; and we are not commanded to avoid dainties as if they were unclean in themselves, but as they corrupt the soul by excess.
