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  • 1 Timothy 4:3
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
    • 3 They forbid marriage+ and command people to abstain from foods+ that God created to be partaken of+ with thanksgiving by those who have faith+ and accurately know the truth.

  • 1 Timothy 4:3
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures
    • 3 κωλυόντων of (ones) forbidding γαμεῖν, to be marrying, ἀπέχεσθαι to be holding selves from βρωμάτων foods ἃ which ὁ the θεὸς God ἔκτισεν created εἰς into μετάλημψιν partaking μετὰ with εὐχαριστίας thanksgiving τοῖς to the πιστοῖς faithful ones καὶ and ἐπεγνωκόσι to (ones) having accurately known τὴν the ἀλήθειαν. truth.

  • 1 Timothy 4:3
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References
    • 3 forbidding to marry,+ commanding to abstain from foods+ which God created+ to be partaken of with thanksgiving by those who have faith+ and accurately know the truth.

  • 1 Timothy 4:3
    The Bible in Living English
    • 3* who forbid people to marry, and tell them to abstain from foods which God created to be partaken of with thanks by those who have faith and awareness of the truth;

  • 1 Timothy 4:3
    American Standard Version
    • 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth.

  • 1 Timothy 4:3
    The Emphasized Bible
    • 3 Forbidding to marry, [Commanding] to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them who believe and personally know the truth;

  • 1 Timothy 4:3
    King James Version
    • 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.

  • 1 Timothy
    Watch Tower Publications Index 1986-2023
    • 4:3 w96 7/1 6-7; w90 12/15 21

  • 1 Timothy
    Watch Tower Publications Index 1930-1985
    • 4:3 w79 9/15 31; w75 300-301; g75 5/8 28; g65 7/22 24; g65 11/22 28; w64 199; g63 3/22 3; w62 186, 573; w60 713; w59 707; nh 193; w51 227; w47 42

  • 1 Timothy
    Research Guide for Jehovah’s Witnesses—2019 Edition
    • 4:3

      The Watchtower,

      7/1/1996, pp. 6-7

      12/15/1990, p. 21

      9/15/1979, p. 31

      5/15/1975, pp. 300-301

      4/1/1964, pp. 198-199

      9/15/1962, pp. 572-574

      3/15/1962, pp. 185-187

      12/1/1960, pp. 713-714

      12/1/1959, pp. 707-708

      4/15/1951, pp. 227-228

      Awake!,

      5/8/1975, p. 28

  • 1 Timothy Study Notes—Chapter 4
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)
    • 4:3

      They forbid marriage: This apostate teaching cleverly distorted and misapplied genuine Christian teachings. Jesus did recommend a life of singleness, calling it a gift. (Mt 19:10-12) And Paul was inspired to discuss the advantages of remaining unmarried so as to serve Jehovah with fewer distractions. (1Co 7:32-35) However, neither Jesus nor Paul forbade marriage. On the contrary, Jesus confirmed Jehovah’s original standard for marriage. (Mt 19:3-6, 8) Paul acknowledged that marriage was sometimes advisable and that it was honorable and worthy of protection. (1Co 7:2, 9, 28, 36; Heb 13:4) He noted that some of the apostles were married. (1Co 9:5 and study note) He also gave inspired counsel to husbands and wives on how to fulfill their God-given roles. (Eph 5:28-33) So Paul here exposes the doctrine of enforced celibacy for what it is​—one of the “teachings of demons.”​—1Ti 4:1.

      command people to abstain from foods: In the Mosaic Law, Jehovah commanded the nation of Israel to abstain from foods that he designated as unclean. (Le 11:4-7) But the death of Christ Jesus was “the end of the Law,” so it was no longer in force when Paul wrote this letter, about 61-64 C.E. (Ro 10:4; Col 2:14) Over a decade earlier, the governing body in Jerusalem had outlined the only remaining restrictions regarding food: It must be properly drained of blood, and it must not be eaten as an offering to idols. (Ac 15:28, 29; compare Ac 10:10-16.) Although Christians were free to fast or to abstain from certain foods (Mt 6:16-18), such actions were not necessary for salvation (Ro 14:5, 6; Heb 13:9). So Paul here forcefully shows that any who commanded Christians “to abstain from foods” had rejected accurate knowledge and were instead promoting “teachings of demons.”​—1Ti 4:1 and study note.

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