New Testament Studies· 2026Q1
Teachings of Demons in Later Times (1 Tim 4.1–5)
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- 2026year
Short summary
A new syntactic reading of 1 Timothy 4.1-3a argues that demonic teachings primarily target dietary restrictions, not marriage prohibitions, resolving long-standing interpretative issues.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Traditional interpretation of 1 Tim 4.1-3a faces syntactic and textual difficulties regarding marriage and food prohibitions.
- The study proposes an alternative syntactic reading of the passage.
- This new reading resolves interpretative tensions by focusing demonic teachings on dietary restrictions.
- The revised interpretation better explains the subsequent focus on food in 1 Tim 4.3b-5.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Abstract In this short study, the syntactic structure of 1 Tim 4.1–3a is re-examined to address long-standing interpretative challenges regarding its apocalyptic warning against demonic teachings. A traditional reading of the passage, as reflected in many translations and commentaries, asserts that the opponents are accused of both forbidding marriage and mandating abstinence from certain foods. This interpretation often relies on invoking the phenomenon of zeugma to explain the syntax. However, this approach generates significant difficulties, particularly in reconciling the Greek text with the subsequent focus on dietary restrictions in 4.3b–5. The study proposes an alternative reading that resolves interpretative tensions, respects the text’s syntax and explains why the subsequent discussion does not address marriage prohibitions.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. New Testament Studies, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Religious studies
Religious studiesArts and Humanities