“But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”
Have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness — Paul's dismissal of bebēlos mythos (irreverent myths) and gerōdeis (old women's stories) contrasts sharply with the imperative gymnazō seauton pros eusebeian (train yourself toward godliness). Spiritual discipline parallels athletic training.
Church Fathers on 1 Timothy 4:7
“Putting them in remembrance,” he says; here you observe no authority; but all is condescension: he does not say “commanding” or “enjoining,” but reminding them: that is, suggest these things as matter of advice, and so enter into discourses with them concerning the faith, “being nourished up,” he says, meaning to imply constancy in application to these things. For as we set before us day by day this bodily nourishment, so he means, let us be continually receiving discourses…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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