1 Timothy 4:7-11

Timothy Has Rather To Exercise Himself Towards Godliness And Set His Hope On The Living God (1 Timothy 4:7-11 ).

Rather than being an ascetic Timothy is to ‘exercise’ himself towards godliness, which signifies having his heart set on the living God (1 Timothy 4:10). This reference to the living God takes us back to 1 Timothy 3:15. His responsibility is to be to the church of the living God, which is the mainstay of the truth. Paul does not want him simply to exchange one set of rules for another, for as he has demonstrated in 1 Timothy 3:16, his eyes are to be set on higher things which he has to support and sustain. It is significant that in combating a similar false teaching at Colossae Paul similarly also directed the Colossians to set their minds on higher things (Colossians 3:1-3). While Christians can enjoy the good things that this world offers, their eyes must remain on God, which was why in fact Paul has emphasised thanksgiving. For what is godliness? It is to have our hope set on the living God Who is the Saviour of all men, and especially of those who believe (1 Timothy 4:10).

Analysis.

a And exercise yourself towards godliness (1 Timothy 4:7 b).

b For bodily exercise is profitable for a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come (1 Timothy 4:8).

c Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptance (1 Timothy 4:9).

b For to this end we labour and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of those who believe (1 Timothy 4:10).

a These things command and teach (1 Timothy 4:11).

Note that in ‘a’ he is to exercise himself towards piety, and in the parallel he is to command and teach piety. In ‘b’ bodily exercise profits little while true religious worship is profitable for all things, benefiting both this life and the coming one, while in the parallel we labour and strive for true religious worship, because our hope is set on the living God. Centrally in ‘c’ what he is saying is faithful and worthy of acceptance.