1 Timothy 4:3

Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

Sensuality leads to false spiritualism. Their own inward impurity they attribute to the world without; hence, their asceticism (Titus 1:14) (Wiesinger). By a spurious spiritualism (2 Timothy 2:18), which made moral perfection consist in abstinence from outward things, they pretended to reach a higher perfection. Matthew 19:10, cf. 1 Corinthians 7:8; 1 Corinthians 7:26; 1 Corinthians 7:38, gave a seeming handle to their "forbidding marriage" (contrast 1 Timothy 5:14): the Old Testament distinction as to clean and unclean, gave a pretext for teaching to "abstain from meats" (cf. Colossians 2:16; Colossians 2:20). As these Judaizing Gnostics combined the harlot, or apostate Old Testament church, with the beast (Revelation 17:3), or spiritualizing anti-Christianity, so Rome's Judaizing elements (1 Timothy 4:3) shall ultimately be combined with the worldly-wise anti-Christianity of the false prophet or beast (1 Timothy 6:20; 1 John 4:1; Revelation 13:12). Austerity gained for them a show of sanctity while preaching false doctrine (Colossians 2:8; Colossians 2:23). The Essences and Thetapeutoe already practiced false asceticism. Long afterward, Eusebius ('Ecclesiastical History,' 4: 29) quotes Irenaeus (1: 8), stating that Saturninus, Marcion, and the Encratites, preached abstinence from marriage and animal meats. Paul prophetically warns against notions the seeds of which already were sown (1 Timothy 6:20; 2 Timothy 2:17).

To be received, [ eis (G1519) metaleempsin (G3336)] - 'to be partaken of.'

Of them - rather, (created) 'for them,' etc. Though all (even the unbelieving, Psalms 104:14; Matthew 5:45) partake of these foods, 'they which believe' alone fulfill God's design in creation by partaking of them with thanksgiving; as opposed to those who abstain from, or in partaking of them, do not do so with thanksgiving. The unbelieving have not the designed use of such foods by their 'conscience being defiled' (Titus 1:15). The children of God alone "inherit the earth;" for obedience is the necessary qualification (as in the original grant of the earth to Adam).

And know. Defining who are 'they which believe.' [ Epegnookosi (G1921), 'And have full knowledge of the truth' (note, Philippians 1:9).] Thus, he contradicts the assumption of superior knowledge and perfection put forward by the heretics on the ground of abstinence from marriage and meats. "The truth" is contrasted with their "lies" (1 Timothy 4:2).