1 Timothy 4:8-9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Timothy 4:6-16

The apostle would have Timothy to instil into the minds of Christians such sentiments as might prevent their being seduced by the judaizing teachers. Observe, Those are good ministers of Jesus Christ who are diligent in their work; not that study to advance new notions, but that put the brethren in remembrance of those things which they have received and heard. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you knew them, 2 Pet. 1:12. And elsewhere,... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 4:6-10

4:6-10 If you lay these things before the brothers, you will be a fine servant of Jesus Christ, if you feed your life on the words of faith, and of the fine teaching of which you have been a student and a follower. Refuse to have anything to do with irreligious stories like the tales old women tell to children. Train yourself towards the goal of true godliness. The training of the body has only a limited value; but training in godliness has a universal value for mankind, because it has the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 4:8

For bodily exercise profiteth little ,.... Meaning not the exercise of the body in the Olympic games, as by running, wrestling, &c.; which profited but little, for the obtaining of a corruptible crown at most; though since a word is used here, and in the preceding verse, borrowed from thence, there may be an allusion to it: much less exercise of the body for health or recreation, as riding, walking, playing at any innocent diversion; which profits but for a little time, as the Syriac and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 4:9

This is a faithful saying ,.... A true one, and to be believed, that godliness has such promises annexed to it; see 1 Peter 3:10 . and worthy of all acceptation ; by all godly persons, to encourage them to the exercise of godliness. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 4:8

For bodily exercise profiteth little - Προς ολιγον εστιν ωφελιμος . Those gymnastic exercises, so highly esteemed among the Greeks, are but little worth; they are but of short duration; they refer only to this life, and to the applause of men: but godliness has the promise of this life, and the life to come; it is profitable for all things; and for both time and eternity. But godliness is profitable unto all things - By godliness we are to understand every thing that the Christian... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 4:9

This is a faithful saying - The truth of this doctrine none need doubt; and every man has it in his power to put this to the proof. See on 1 Timothy 1:15 ; (note). read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 4:8

Verse 8 8For bodily exercise is of little profit. By the exercise “of the body,” he does not mean that which lies in hunting, or in the race-course, or in wrestling, or in digging, or in the mechanical occupations; but he gives that name to all the outward actions that are undertaken, for the sake of religion, such as watchings, long fasts, lying on the earth, and such like. Yet he does not here censure the superstitious observance of those things; otherwise he would totally condemn them, as he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 4:9

Verse 9 9This is a faithful saying He now sets down, at the conclusion of the argument, what he stated twice at the beginning of it; and he appears to do so expressly, because he will immediately subjoin the contrary objection. Yet it is not without good reason that he employs so strong an assertion; for it is a paradox strongly at variance with the feeling of the flesh, that God supplies his people, in this world, with everything that is necessary for a happy and joyful life; since they are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 4:1-16

The history of the Christian Church is the history of the sowing of tares as well as of the sowing of good grain; and it describes the work of seducing spirits as well as that of the Spirit of God. The work of heresy is not merely the denial of true doctrine, but it is the invention and propagation of a multitude of false doctrines. Nor, again, are the false doctrines so invented and promulgated, on the face of them, necessarily ungodly doctrines. On the contrary, they often assume to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 4:8

Is profitable for a little for profiteth little , A.V.; for, for unto , A.V. ; which for that , A.V. Bodily exercise. Exercise which only affects the body, such as those rules which the Jewish ascetics enforced. γυμνασία only occurs here in the New Testament, and not at all in the LXX ., but is not uncommon in classical Greek. Another form is γύμνασις , and γυμνάσιον is the place where such γύμνασις takes place. For a little ; margin, for little , ... read more

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