Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Timothy 4:7

W. H. place a comma after παρηκολούθηκας and a full stop after παραιτοῦ; so R.V. nearly. But as παραιτοῦ is an imperative, as in reff. in Pastorals, it is best taken as antithetic to γύμναζε.

γραώδεις : The μῦθοι, in addition to their profane nature, as impeaching the goodness of the Creator, were absurd, unworthy of a grown man's consideration. See note on chap. 1 Timothy 1:4. Hort's view (Judaistic Christianity, p. 138) that βεβήλους here merely means “the absence of any divine or sacred character” does not seem reasonable.

παραιτοῦ : refuse, turn away from, as in Hebrews 12:25. Alf. renders excuse thyself from, as in Luke 14:18 (bis), 19. Decline would be a better rendering. In addition to the reff. given above, παραιτέομαι occurs in Mark 15:6; Acts 25:11 (a speech of St. Paul's), Hebrews 12:19.

γύμναζε : There is here an intentional paradox. Timothy is to meet the spurious asceticism of the heretics by exercising himself in the practical piety of the Christian life. See chap. 1 Timothy 2:2. The paradox is comparable to φιλοτιμεῖσθαι ἡσυχάζειν of 1 Thessalonians 4:11. The true Christian asceticism is not essentially σωματική, although the body is the means by which the spiritual nature is affected and influenced. Although it brings the body into subjection (1 Corinthians 9:27), this is a means, not an end in itself.

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Timothy 4:7

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