through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron;
The Spirit plainly warns that false teachers will come, placing all holiness in outward ceremonies while they shadow the true spiritual worship of God. Men love hypocrisy by nature, and Satan finds it easy work to persuade them that God is honored by ceremonies rather than by the heart.
AI summary
Commenting on 1 Timothy 4:1-16
Heretics pretend holiness and will not lurk shamefully in corners, they will play their part as skilled actors. Yet beneath all their disguise their consciences have grown so hard that they require, by sheer necessity, to be burned with a hot iron.
AI summary
The seducers profess to lead others to holiness while their own consciences are branded with the consciousness of crimes committed against their better knowledge. Like criminals marked by a branding iron, they bear the scar within yet strive with hypocritical show of sanctity to seduce others.
AI summary