1 Timothy 4:1–5 as a neglected eschatological passage

The World Economic Forum predicted that by 2030, ‘You’ll eat much less meat. An occasional treat, not a staple. For the good of the environment and your health.’ The United Nations, however, has not merely called for moderation in meat consumption, but rather for ‘ditching red meat and swapping to vegetarian or vegan diets to prevent climate change’. While legislation has not yet banned meat, proponents of the climate change agenda appear intent on moving in that direction. The Netherlands nearly introduced a meat tax; New Zealand threatened its farmers with taxes on cow burps (and other emissions); and Britons may be required to eat less meat to meet their government’s carbon emission target. To substitute the meat that is to be removed from people’s diets, Gates proposes synthetic alternatives, while The Economist suggests worms, insects, and crickets as untapped food sources. Readers of 1 Timothy might be forgiven for thinking that this sounds vaguely familiar…

So begins an article in which I argue that 1 Timothy 4:1-5 is a neglected eschatological passage. In 1 Timothy 4:1, the Spirit explicitly states that in later times some will devote themselves to the teachings of demons. While acknowledging the future implications of these doctrines, most commentators focus on their historical origins. To demonstrate that 1 Timothy 4:1–5 is an overlooked eschatological passage, this article examined the expression ‘later times’, reconsidered the content of these demonic teachings, and linked the passage to the Noahic covenant – and subsequently to end-time texts. I argue that 1 Timothy 4:1–5 should be recognised as an eschatological passage that has often been neglected. The ‘later times’ of the church age could serve as the backdrop for prophecies destined for fulfilment during the Tribulation Period.

Keywords: the teachings of demons; eschatology; Noahic covenant; 1 Timothy 4; later times; climate change.

To read the article (for free), please click on this link (and wait a bit for the pdf to download from the website of the theological journal In die Skriflig / In Luce Verbi): https://indieskriflig.org.za/index.php/skriflig/article/view/3162/8860

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