1 Timothy 4:1-3

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,
2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,
3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

In my travels through the Word, as I come across passages that I have provided my reader to consider in relation to conditional security of the believer, there have been some passages that seemed to support the Once Saved Only Saved (OSAS) teaching. Decades ago, these were the passages I would refer to when I met a “heretic” (such as I have become), positing the position of possible apostacy of true believers. One of my standby’s when defeating the heretic was John 10:28-29. I have sought to explain my thinking in this verse in an earlier post. See Conditional Security – John 10:28-29. There were a number of passages I used to refer to in order to support the OSAS position.

One of the passages I would invariably be faced with in the discussion is the passage we will consider today. I can tell you right now, I remember this passage causing me trouble when it was brought up, and I would typically avoid or deflect the seeming obvious message it carried. (I am quite adept at avoiding that which I did not want to face!)

Two actions are described in the first verse. Departing and Devoting. And of course the subject of the sentence is critical for our correct understanding. Who will depart? Who will devote?

The first item of concern is the subject of departing. It seems obvious that Paul is describing true believers doing the departing since he claims it is an express statement from the Spirit. The Spirit is making a specific statement about this departing and devoting. Paul is instructing Timothy, a man who was a leader in the church, a man who was responsible for oversight of a church body, who needed direction for difficult, unforeseen occurrences in the church. Might apostacy be one of these circumstances that Timothy needed express instruction on? Would there be any reason for instruction to be provided to Timothy for those outside of the church? For those outside of the church, what would they be departing from?

Too many questions erupt if we do not understand that this passage is describing true believers. With that established, let us continue considering departing and devoting

Depart from the faith

To depart. ἀφίστημι aphístēmi.

The Greek word Paul used is not as I first expected. I assumed he would have used ποστασία apostasía for this verse, if he is truly describing a falling away from the faith, a defection of faith. You see, I expected this verse to be describing apostacy, a falling away. Maybe not exactly. Paul, in this verse is describing something a bit different, yet I fear the end result is the same.

Paul, by the express message of the Spirit, used aphístēmi in this verse, describing some departure. Our word in this verse speaks of removal, withdrawal, or a drawing away, and this makes sense as we remember that those drawn away are devoting themselves to something. In my initial understanding of this concept, I think Paul may have used this word because he is highlighting outside influences having the desired effect on believers. May it be more than simply be falling away, or rejecting/ignoring the gospel as in apostacy? Might those under consideration in this verse be lured away, drawn away from the gospel, in order to chase something other than the gospel?

Paul says that “some will depart from the faith”. To depart implies leaving a location or position and to seek an alternate goal or end. It also implies the possession of the initial position, that of being in the faith. How can this be? How can those who know the Lord ever walk away, depart, leave Him?

How is it that I have this dangerous heart in me?

In our next post, let’s explore that topic. I hope we can meet again and consider the Bible for the message it has for us.

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