The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Timothy — Section 86

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1, 2.-A predicted apostasy in IM Ohristian Ohurck. In opposition to thie exhibition of the mystery of godline~s, the apostle places the prediction of a serious apostasy from the faith. I. THE APOSTASY IS A SUBJECT OF EXPRESS PREDICTION. "But the Spirit speaketh expressly, tbat in after times some shall depart from the faith." It may seem strange that apostasy should be thou~ht of so soon after the foundation of Christianity, but the Church is fully forewarned of the coming danger. It was foretold, not obscurely, but expressly, in the propbeci~s by Daniel (vii. 25; viii. 23), of our Lord (Matt. xxiv. 4, 11), and of the apostle himself (2 Thess. ii. ; Acts xx. 29, 30; Col. ii.). But he here alludes more specitically to a development of error in the future, the germs of which be discerns in the present. IL THE TI?.n: OF ITS APPEARANCE. "In after times." The words signify any period subsequent to the age in ,vhicb the apostle lived, for he saw in the apostasy of the present the beginning of a still more seri.,us apostasy in the future. The mystery of iniquity had already begun to work. But it would project its evil shadow far forward into the dispensatio", in many various forms. III. THE EXTE:S'T OF THE APOSTASY. "Some shall depart from the faith." 1. Some, not aJ,l. Not the whole visible Church, but a consideralile part of it. Thus an assur- ance is given that the true Church of God shall not be extinguished. 2. The apostasy ia from the doctrine of faith-though it be the mystery of godliness-not th£ grace of faith, wbicl,, being of an incorruptible origin, cannot be lost. Christ is the Author and Finisher of faith. The elect cannot be finally deceived. The doctrine of faith was to be corrupted by "denying what was true, by adding what was false." IV. THE REASON OR PRoct:ss OF THE APOSTASY. "Giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." The prime movers were not false teachers, but unseen agents in the spirit-world. 1. Man does not stand isolated in this world. If he is not influenced by the Holy Spirit, he is influenced by the spirits of delusion, who are the emissaries of Satan. If we BJ"e not possessed by the truth, error will make an easy conquest of us. Often the heart that is made empty by scepticism is the most ready to welcome super- stition. 2. It is possible/or evil spirits to influence lhe human mind. (1) Satan could tempt David to number the people (1 Chron. xxi. 1). As the father of lies, the suggestion of error would be a congenial work. The coming of the man of sin is to be after the working of Satan. (2) There is a sacrifice to devils, a communion with devils, a cup of devils, a table of devils (1 Car. x. 20, 21). There is a spiritual wickedness in high places capable of compassing great destruction by error. (3) The apostle teaches the personality of such evil spirits. ( 4) There is no more difficulty in understanding their communication of thought to man, than in under~tanding the communication of thought from one evil man to another. An evil man can communicate evil by a glance of his eye. But if the Spirit of God can, without the intervention of the senses, influence the minds of believers, it is easy to understand that seducing spirits can have access to the centres of thought and feeling without any similar intervention. V. THE CHARACTER OF THE FALSE TEACHERS UNDER BUCH EVIL INSPIRATION, "ID tLe hypocrisy of speaker~ of lies, being branded in their own cunscience as with a hot i.ron." 1. Th£y aBsu:rried a ma,k of holineaa wkich th£y did not posses,, with tbe view OR. IV, 1-16,] THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY. 75