1 Timothy 4:1,2 -Things taught by demons

4:1

Note that Paul clearly believed that the Holy Spirit spoke. The revelation came from God, not from man. The Spirit warns that “in later times” some will abandon the faith and following deceiving spirits and the teachings of demons. When did the Spirit say this? Well we are not told explicitly, but Jesus taught similar things in the Olivet discourse (Matt 24), and Paul himself gave similar warnings elsewhere. The ESV has “devoting themselves to deceitful spirits”. This is scary, but true. Look at prominent Christian leaders who turn away from the faith. So often they are indeed devoting themselves to deceitful spirits. And the false teachings are inspired by demons. In the church today we are far too soft on false teaching, far too willing to tolerate nonsense.

4:2

So how do demonic teachings come? It is not (at least not usually) via satanic rituals or occult practices, they come in a much more mundane way. They come “through hypocritical liars”. Note that the Bible never says anything good about false teachers! Their consciences have been seared, ie they are immune or insensitive to the internal warnings we should experience when we encounter false teachings.