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Verse Takeaways
1
More Than Physical Training
When Paul contrasts "bodily exercise" with godliness, commentators explain he's not primarily talking about gym workouts. He's referring to religious austerities like extreme fasting or penance, which were seen as paths to holiness. Paul's point is that these external acts have very limited spiritual value compared to the deep, internal transformation of godliness.
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Book Overview
1 Timothy
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Commentaries
7
Albert Barnes
On 1 Timothy 4:8
18th Century
Theologian
For bodily exercise profiteth little. A marginal note reads, for a little time. The Greek will admit of either interpretation, an…
AT Robertson
On 1 Timothy 4:8
Bodily exercise (η σωματικη γυμνασια). Γυμνασια (from γυμναζω), also a common old word, here only in N.T. So also σωματικη (from σ…
Charles Ellicott
On 1 Timothy 4:8
19th Century
Bishop
For bodily exercise profiteth little.—More accurately rendered, bodily exercise is profitable for little. St. Paul here, no doubt…
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Expositor's Bible Commentary
On 1 Timothy 4:8
Timothy is to avoid “godless myths” and tall “tales” such as elderly women love to tell children. That is the way Paul describes the Jewish legends…
John Calvin
On 1 Timothy 4:8
16th Century
Theologian
For bodily exercise is of little profit. By the exercise “of the body,” he does not mean that which consists in hunting, or in the race-co…
John Gill
On 1 Timothy 4:8
17th Century
Pastor
For bodily exercise profiteth little
Meaning not the exercise of the body in the Olympic games, as by running, wrest…
Matthew Henry
On 1 Timothy 4:6–10
17th Century
Minister
Outward acts of self-denial benefit little. What will it benefit us to mortify the body, if we do not mortify sin? No diligence in mere outward thi…