Sign in
1 Timothy 4:8 — King James Version← Study notes

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 4:8Greek Interlinear

Greek · 1 Timothy 4:823 words
GreekMeaning
thearticleG3588
γὰρgar
ForwordG1063
σωματικὴsōmatikē
bodilyadjectiveG4984
γυμνασίαgymnasia
exercisenounG1129
πρὸςpros
ofprepositionG4314
ὀλίγονoligon
a littleadjectiveG3641
ἐστὶνestin
isverbG1510
ὠφέλιμοςōphelimos
profitadjectiveG5624
thearticleG3588
δὲde
butwordG1161
εὐσέβειαeusebeia
godlinessnounG2150
πρὸςpros
forprepositionG4314
πάνταpanta
everythingadjectiveG3956
ὠφέλιμόςōphelimos
profitableadjectiveG5624
ἐστινestin
isverbG1510
ἐπαγγελίανepangelian
the promisenounG1860
ἔχουσαechousa
holdingverbG2192
ζωῆςzōēs
of lifenounG2222
τῆςtēs
of thearticleG3588
νῦνnyn
presentadverbG3568
καὶkai
andwordG2532
τῆςtēs
whicharticleG3588
μελλούσηςmellousēs
is comingverbG3195
Greek text from the SBL Greek New Testament (SBLGNT). Transliteration follows SBL Academic conventions.

Church Fathers on 1 Timothy 4:8

“For bodily exercise profits little.” This has by some been referred to fasting; but away with such a notion! For that is not a bodily but a spiritual exercise. If it were bodily it would nourish the body, whereas it wastes and makes it lean, so that it is not bodily. Hence he is not speaking of the discipline of the body. What we need, therefore, is the exercise of the soul. For the exercise of the body has no profit, but may benefit the body a little, but the exercise of…

Chrysostom · 4th century · Homily 12 on First Timothy
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a note on this verse
RK
Ruth KimNote3mo ago
Physical Discipline Points Toward Spiritual Discipline
I'm a seminary student, and we're often taught to be suspicious of the body, to prioritize spiritual disciplines while minimizing physical ones. But Paul's words here suggest something more integrated...
1
MV
Michael van BergNote3mo ago
Bearing fruit that lasts - 1 Timothy 4
God is faithful in every circumstance. God is faithful in every circumstance. God is faithful in every circumstance. His timing, His methods, His purposes - all beyond our comprehension, yet perfectly...
1