1 Timothy 4:6-10

THE PREACHER AND THE FALSE TEACHERS. 1 Timothy 4:6-10

Text 4:6-10

6 If thou put the brethren in mind of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which thou hast followed until now: 7 but refuse profane and old wives-' fables. And exercise thyself unto godliness: 8 for bodily exercise is profitable for little; but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come. 9 Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation. 10 For to this end we labor and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of them that believe.

Thought Questions 4:6-10

122.

What is the meaning of the expression put the brethren in mind?

123.

What things are meant in 1 Timothy 4:6?

124.

Do you believe the term minister in 1 Timothy 4:6 is used in an official sense? Explain.

125.

How are we to understand the connection between reminding the brethren of certain things, and being nourished in the words of the faith?

126.

Was Timothy neglecting the faith and the good teaching? Why mention the faith and teaching?

127.

Just what is involved in old wives-' fables?

128.

Be practical in answering this question: How can I exercise myself unto godliness?

129.

Specify the profitableness of bodily exercise,

130.

Is Paul saying: we should control our bodies; but more important is the control of the spirit?

131.

How would Paul's admonitions relate to those who are over-weight, and otherwise self-indulgent?

132.

Godliness, or the Christian way of life, offers the very best for the life which now is, Show how this is true economically, socially, politically.

133.

Is there a life that is to come? If so, how will godliness affect it?

134.

Why is it that so many of us feel that after death there is an existence, but not a whole life to be lived?

135.

Just what is the faithful saying?

136.

To what end or goal did Paul and his fellow-workers labor and strive?

137.

If we sometimes feel the Christian life is not worth the effort, what is wrong? Specify.

138.

In what sense is God the Saviour of all men?

139.

How shall we understand that in a special sense He is the Saviour of them that believe?

Paraphrase 4:6-10

6 By laying these things, concerning the lawfulness of all sorts of meats, and concerning the corrupt doctrines and practices which are to arise in the church, before the brethren in Ephesus under thy care, thou wilt be a faithful minister of Jesus Christ, nourished by the precepts of the true faith and of the sound doctrine, to the knowledge of which thou hast attained by my instructions.
7 But the foolish stories and old wives-' fables which the Judaizers tell to establish their false doctrines, reject, as tending to impiety; and employ thyself in those exercises of the understanding and of the affections, in which godliness consists.
8 For the bodily mortification which the Jewish fables are framed to recommend, is attended with little advantage; but the exercise of godliness, that is, the practice of piety and morality, is profitable for advancing all our interests, temporal and eternal, having the blessings of the present life and of that to come promised to it.
9 What I have said concerning the unprofitableness of bodily exercise, and the profitableness of godliness, is true, and worthy of the most hearty reception.
10 On account of this, I both endure great hardships and suffer reproach from Jews and Gentiles, that I trust to be made happy both here and hereafter, neither through bodily exercise, nor through the sacrifice of beasts, nor through the power of any idol, but by the living God, who is the preserver of all men, but especially of believers.

Comment 4:6-10

1 Timothy 4:6. We cannot help but notice Paul's evaluation of a good servant or minister and the image of one so popular in our day. Paul states in no uncertain terms, not only here but elsewhere, that a good minister is known by what he believes as well as what he does. The word minister as here used is not in the official sense. The same word was used of the deacon. Timothy is to instruct the Christians of Ephesus, and particularly the elders of the various churches, in a kind but convincing manner, concerning the apostasy of the later times. If such persons are thoroughly indoctrinated, Timothy can consider his divine position and responsibility fulfilled. In carrying out this injunction of the apostle, Timothy will be feeding his own soul; how vastly important this is! It is possible to feed others and yet starve to death yourself. It is also very possible to have the humility necessary to practice what we preach. Paul does not imagine that Timothy has neglected the good teaching; he rather points out that Timothy has been following the right diet; it is now a matter of getting others to do likewise.

1 Timothy 4:7. The word refuse means to ignore, to avoid, to turn a deaf ear to such stories. We are not to imagine that old wives are the leaders in this false teaching, it is rather that some leaders in the churches are acting and talking like old senile women. Perhaps that is another reference to the fables and endless genealogies of 1 Timothy 1:4. We do not equate old wives-' fables with the doctrine of demons in 1 Timothy 4:1. This is a separate instruction from what has already been given concerning apostasy. It would take a good deal of time and energy to follow out the details of these fables; and since man has just so much time and energy, let us not dissipate it with such foolishness. In contrast, let us give ourselves to developing godliness! If we are going to become like God, then we shall do so because we have studied and practiced His will as revealed in His Word. The word exercise suggests just how strenuous and energetic must be our pursuit of godliness. Timothy is to knit his sinews for the race of godliness.

1 Timothy 4:8. The use of the word exercise would immediately suggest to Timothy the gymnasium. This being true, Paul used such imagery to his own advantage, Go ahead with your muscle development, but remember its limitations; it is indeed profitable (and more such exercise is very much needed today), but we must not forget that our bodies are for God as well as our spirits. Some have thought the reference to bodily exercise indicates abstinence from meats and marriage, however, this hardly fits the use of the term exercise with its physical-culture background. It ought to be said that if one cannot control the passions of the body, he has no place instructing others in the higher control of the spirit.

There is a remarkable connection between the fitness of the body and the health of the spirit, When our bodies are strong and healthy, how much easier is it to exercise ourselves unto godliness! Somehow when we are sick in body we are also sick in spirit. This need not be the case, but it usually is; however, the emphasis should not be on bodily fitness, for when it is at its top performance it is only an instrument of the inward man. The strength of the inward man is far more important. When we watch the diet of the inward man, when we are very careful as to the strength of the will, the health of the emotions and conscience, then life takes on a glorious aspect. We can enjoy life to the fullest here, for we know it's true point and purpose, while we eagerly anticipate the fuller and more wonderful life that is to come.

1 Timothy 4:9. Just what is the faithful saying? We believe we have just discussed it. The thoughts of 1 Timothy 4:10 offer a conclusion to what has been said, and therefore are hardly to be considered as a faithful saying. Such a statement as 1 Timothy 4:10 would be incomplete without 1 Timothy 4:8. All men everywhere should hear the message of 1 Timothy 4:8. Particularly is this true of young men. We cannot help but think of the general care of the body, as well as the care of muscle. The over emphasis on the care of the body is such a serious mistake: it only offers a little pay, it is not enough to satisfy all our needs. How short and temporary is the return for such care. On the other hand, how full and complete the returns, in godly development, of the care of the spirit. No wonder it is a saying recommended to all men, of all time and place.

1 Timothy 4:10. Paul is not ashamed to say that this was the end, or purpose of his strenuous effortsi.e., of developing the inward man. When the reward is commensurate with the effort, no one begrudges the effort. We can give ourselves completely to this matter of living for Christ, because we have a living God to aid us along the way, and to reward us at the end of the way.

In what sense shall we understand the little phrase: who is the Saviour of all men, especially of them who believe? First, fit it into the context. Paul has just said of godliness, that it has promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to comeis not this speaking of present salvation as well as final salvation? Second, every time it appears, we should not equate forgiveness of sins with the word salvation, God is the Saviour of all men in the sense that all men depend on Him for all they have in the physical worldindeed all they have in any realm of living ultimately comes from God. Without God man would be lost physicallymentallymorally. This is true of all men, whether they recognize it or not. But most especially is this true of those who believefor they know the source of all things in the life which now is, and of that which is to come. We would do anything necessary to obtain godliness or salvation because we know how much we need it, and because we know the living God who can and will give it.

Fact Questions 4:6-10

100.

How can we know a good minister of Christ Jesus?

101.

What is the meaning of the expression put the brethren in mindof these things?

102.

When could Timothy feel he had fulfilled his divine responsibility?

103.

In carrying out the instructions of Paul, Timothy is to be greatly benefited. Explain how.

104.

Why not rebuke the ones who tell old wives-' fables? What was to be done?

105.

What is the little profit of bodily exercise? Are we wrong if we do not have it?

106.

Is it possible to control the inward man without thought to the outward man?

107.

How shall we strengthen the inward man?

108.

Show how 1 Timothy 4:10 could not contain the faithful saying.

109.

Why is an over concern for the body a serious mistake?

110.

Toward what did Paul labor and strive?

111.

What is it that sustains our efforts to live for God?

112.

In what sense are we to understand that God is the Saviour of all men?