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;

Verse 1
Doctrines of devils; corrupt and wicked doctrines.

2.

Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Verse 2
Seared with a hot iron; hardened to sin.

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.

Verse 3
Forbidding, &c.; that is, enjoining self-imposed penances and mortifications, as a mode of obtaining the favor of God. There has been, in all ages of the church, a great tendency to this error.

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.

Verse 7
Refuse; reject.--Old wives' fables; nursery tales, which can only please the merest children in religious knowledge.--Rather unto godliness, that is, to moral and spiritual purity, rather than outward sanctity, sought through self-inflicted mortification.

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.

Verse 8
Bodily exercise; the training of the body to privations and hardships, as specified above.--Godliness; holiness of heart.

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.

Verse 10
Who is the Savior of all men; inasmuch as he offers salvation to all.

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.

Verse 12
Let no man despise thy youth; that is, let your life and conversation be such that they will not.

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.

Verse 14
The gift; the ministerial office.--By prophecy; by divine direction.--The presbytery; the eldership, referring to those older than himself in the ministerial work, by whom he was solemnly inducted to the office.

15.

Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

Verse 15
Thy profiting; thy spiritual advancement and welfare.

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.