Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 38

Paul Instructs Timothy on being a Good Servant of our Lord Jesus Christ Part 2

1 Timothy 4:8-9 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. KJV

Exercise today has grown around the world into a multi-billion or even trillion dollar business. You can find today on social media men and women constantly and continually advertising to others that their particular method of weight training and cardio training is the best and that if the person send them money, they will receive a workout plan (with video exercise routines) along with a meal plan that will transform their bodies into the best they have ever been, likewise, many people who are seeking to lose weight are told by each of these exercise gurus that they can have them shedding pounds in large quantity soon after signing up with them. The Apostle Paul knew something about the physical fitness of top athletes, for it is certain that he was a frequent spectator at the Greek games (which at that time were equivalent to our Olympics today). Although, it is not clear from Scripture if the Apostle himself ever participated as an athlete, but it is my opinion as a young man (a young Jewish Pharisee), he was an athlete of some sort by virtue of the way he uses it (in the physical) to compare to his new life 'in Christ' now in the spiritual.

For let us not forget this exhortation to the Church @ Corinth, when he wanted to encourage them and we true believers today to exercise themselves/ourselves spiritually for the imperishable crown of life that our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ Himself will present to everyone of His sons and daughters, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] {and} make it yours. Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately {and} restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither. Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air {and} striking without an adversary. But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel {and} things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit]." (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) (Amplified Bible).

The idea that he gave here to the Corinthians is now the same he is giving to Brother Timothy as he writes these words to him, "For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." (1 Timothy 4:8) (KJV). The English words 'profiteth' and 'profitable' are both translated by the same Greek word ōphelimos which means helpful or serviceable, that is, advantageous: - profitable. In other words, to exercise the physical body is a good thing, a helpful thing, and even profitable to the person who makes it a regular part of their life, however, it is only profitable for a little while, for no matter how much someone exercises their physical body, it will still die and turn back into the dust of the earth from which God the Father formed it in the beginning with the first man Adam, as we are reminded by the Apostle James with these words, "Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such {and} such a city and spend a year there and carry on our business and make money. Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen tomorrow. What is the nature of your life? You are [really] but a wisp of vapor (a puff of smoke, a mist) that is visible for a little while and then disappears [into thin air]." (James 4:13-14) (Amplified Bible).

However, Paul declares the exercise of 'godliness' to be profitable for this vapor of a life now and more so for the life that is enduring, endless, and everlasting that we will live in heaven with Christ Jesus our Lord. Again as we declared in the very last study/commentary the English word 'godliness' is translated by the Greek word eusebeia which means piety; specifically the Gospel scheme: - godliness, holiness. Here is what Adam Clarke had to say concerning the profitability of godliness for this life and the one to come, "By godliness we are to understand every thing that the Christian religion either promises or prescribes: the life of God in the soul of man; and the glory of God as the object and end of that life. To receive the first, a man must renounce his sins, deny himself, take up his cross, and follow his Lord through evil and through good report. To obtain the latter, a man must labor to enter into that rest which remains for the people of God. The man that fears, loves, and serves God, has God’s blessing all through life. His religion saves him from all those excesses, both in action and passion, which sap the foundations of life, and render existence itself often a burden. The peace and love of God in the heart produces a serenity and calm which cause the lamp of life to burn clear, strong, and permanent. Evil and disorderly passions obscure and stifle the vital spark. Every truly religious man extracts the uttermost good out of life itself, and through the Divine blessing gets the uttermost good that is in life; and, what is better than all, acquires a full preparation here below for an eternal life of glory above. Thus godliness has the promise of, and secures the blessings of, both worlds."

Paul cements this idea of godliness or the exercising of it being more profitable than the temporary exercise of the physical body that is destined to return to the dust of the earth, by writing these words to Timothy and to we believers today declaring the truthfulness and the trustworthiness of what he just wrote in verse 8, "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation." (1 Timothy 4:9) (KJV). The little English phrase 'This is a faithful' that begins this verse is translated by the Greek word pistos which means objectively trustworthy; subjectively trustful: - believing, sure, and true. The English word 'worthy' is translated by the Greek word axios meaning deserving, comparable or suitable (as if drawing praise): - due reward, meet. The English word 'acceptation' is translated by the Greek word apodochē which means to take fully, that is, welcome (persons), approve (things): - accept, or  acceptance, to receive (gladly). In other words, the Apostle Paul declares to Timothy and we true believers today and of every era and generation that what he has written concerning bodily exercise and the exercise of godliness is more than worthy of everyone's acceptance because it comes directly from the heart and mind of God and it is sure and true and completely trustworthy, for God cannot lie as it is written by this same Apostle Paul to Brother Titus with these words, "[Resting] in the hope of eternal life, [life] which the ever truthful God Who cannot deceive/lie promised before the world {or} the ages of time began." (Titus 1:2) (Amplified Bible).

"The never ending search by men and women for the supposed fountain of youth has served to make many scammers, scoundrels, and swindlers rich over the centuries because the vainness of men and women throughout time has always been and will always be, however, no matter how hard men and women work to look younger or to stay young, it is only a mirage or an illusion for the physical body is doomed, determined, and destined for decay and no man or woman will escape, therefore, to seek eternal life in the flesh is what people want and desire, so they don't have to deal with this Jesus stuff, but everyone has a one on one interview with Jesus Christ whether they believe it or not for this will happen not maybe or probably but surely, 'That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, And every tongue [frankly and openly] confess {and} acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.' (Philippians 2:10-11) (Amplified Bible)." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…