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Selected Verse: 1 Timothy 4:4 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| 1Ti 4:4 |
King James |
For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Translate as Greek, "Because" (expressing a reason resting on an objective fact; or, as here, a Scripture quotation)--"For" (a reason resting on something subjective in the writer's mind).
every creature . . . good-- (Gen 1:31; Rom 14:14, Rom 14:20). A refutation by anticipation of the Gnostic opposition to creation: the seeds of which were now lurking latently in the Church. Judaism (Act 10:11-16; Co1 10:25-26) was the starting-point of the error as to meats: Oriental Gnosis added new elements. The old Gnostic heresy is now almost extinct; but its remains in the celibacy of Rome's priesthood, and in its fasts from animal meats, enjoined under the penalty of mortal sin, remain.
if . . . with thanksgiving--Meats, though pure in themselves, become impure by being received with an unthankful mind (Rom 14:6; Tit 1:15). |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
For every creature of God is good - Greek, "all the creatures, or all that God has created" - πᾶν κτίσμα pan ktisma: that is, as he made it; compare Gen 1:10, Gen 1:12, Gen 1:18, Gen 1:31. It does not mean that every moral agent remains good as long as he is "a creature of God," but moral agents, human beings and angels, were good as they were made at first; Gen 1:31. Nor does it mean that all that God has made is good "for every object to which it can be applied." It is good in its place; good for the purpose for which he made it. But it should not be inferred that a thing which is poisonous in its nature is good for food, "because" it is a creation of God. It is good only in its place, and for the ends for which he intended it. Nor should it be inferred that what God has made is necessarily good "after" it has been perverted by man. As God made it originally, it might have been used without injury.
Apples and peaches were made good, and are still useful and proper as articles of food; rye and Indian-corn are good, and are admirably adapted to the support of man and beast, but it does not follow that all that "man" can make of them is necessarily good. He extracts from them a poisonous liquid, and then says that "every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused." But is this a fair use of this passage of Scripture? True, they "are" good - they "are" to be received with gratitude as he made them, and as applied to the uses for which he designed them; but why apply this passage to prove that a deleterious beverage, which "man" has extracted from what God has made, is good also, and good for all the purposes to which it can be applied? As "God" made these things, they are good. As man perverts them, it is no longer proper to call them the "creation of God," and they may be injurious in the highest degree. This passage, therefore, should not be adduced to vindicate the use of intoxicating drinks. As employed by the apostle, it had no such reference, nor does it contain any "principle" which can properly receive any such application.
And nothing to be refused - Nothing that God has made, for the purposes for which he designed it. The necessity of the case the "exigency of the passage" - requires this interpretation. It "cannot" mean that we are not to refuse poison if offered in our food, or that we are never to refuse food that is to us injurious or offensive; nor can it anymore mean that we are to receive "all" that may be offered to us as a beverage. The sense is, that as God made it, and for the purposes for which he designed it, it is not to be held to be evil; or, which is the same thing, it is not to be prohibited as if there were merit in abstaining from it. It is not to be regarded as a religious duty to abstain from food which God has appointed for the support of man.
If it be received with thanksgiving - see the Co1 10:31 note; Eph 5:20 note; Phi 4:6 note. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Creature (κτίσμα)
Not in Paul. See Jam 1:18; Rev 5:13; Rev 8:9. A created thing. For κτίσις creation or creature, frequent in Paul, see on Rom 8:19; see on Co2 5:17; see on Col 1:15. Κτίσμα in lxx, Wisd. 9:2; 13:5; 14:11; Sir. 38:34; 3 Macc. 5:11.
Refused (ἀπὸβλητον)
Lit. thrown away. N.T.o. In ecclesiastical writings, excommunicated. On the whole verse, comp. Act 10:15; Rom 11:15; Co1 10:25, Co1 10:26, Co1 10:30, Co1 10:31. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| For every creature of God is good - That is: Every creature which God has made for man's nourishment is good for that purpose, and to be thankfully received whenever necessary for the support of human life; and nothing of that sort is at any time to be refused, ουδεν αποβλητον, rejected or despised. We find a saying very similar to this in Lucian's Timon: Ουτοι αποβλητα εισι δωρα τα παρα Διος. The gifts which are from Jove ought not to be Despised. This appears to have been a proverbial saying among the heathens. |
15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.