1 Timothy 4:2

speaking lies in hypocrisy Rather, as R.V. through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, that is, the -false prophets," -many of whom," we read, by the time of the writing of 1 John 4:1, -are gone out into the world" as the scene of their activity; cf. Westcott's note there. -The words point, as it appears, to the great outbreak of the Gentile pseudo-Christianity which is vaguely spoken of as Gnosticism, the endeavour to separate the ideas of the Faith from the facts of the historic Redemption."

having their conscience seared Lit. branded as to their own conscience, grown callous in their own case as flesh would with the branding of hot iron: the word is found nowhere else in N.T. Individually conscious of their ownresponsibility, they were like branded slaves who knewtheir guilt.