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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - 1 Timothy 4:6 - 4:10
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1Ti_4:6-10
6In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. 7But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. 10For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.
1Ti_4:6 "In pointing out these things to the brethren" Hupotitçmi, which is the middle voice means "suggest." Notice the gentleness with which Paul urges Timothy to correct the members of the church (cf. chapter 5). Notice the contrast in 1Ti_4:11, where he gives strict orders to deal with problems in that fellowship. Both are appropriate in their place.
▣ "constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine" This is present passive participle (although in form it may be middle voice, which would encourage believers to study the truths of the faith for themselves). Ministers are nourished on the true tenets of Christianity (I take these two descriptive phrases as synonymous). This is the true gnosis, not the demonic gnosis of the false teachers! The purposes of Scripture are spelled out clearly in 2Ti_3:15-17, as is the responsibility of each believer in 2Ti_2:15, especially in light of false teaching (cf. 2Ti_2:14-18).
▣ "which you have been following" This is a perfect active indicative. Timothy had a track record of faithfulness. This term can either mean
1. to have followed (cf. 2Ti_3:10)
2. to have closely investigated (cf. Luk_1:3)
1Ti_4:7 "But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women" The Pastoral Letters discourage (present middle [deponent] imperative) speculative discussions with obstinate false teachers (cf. 1Ti_1:4; 1Ti_4:7; 2Ti_2:14-18; 2Ti_2:23; Tit_1:14; Tit_3:9). This very verb (paraiteomai) is used in 1Ti_4:7; 1Ti_5:11; 2Ti_2:23, and Tit_3:10.
The phrase "old women" (graôdçs) is used only here in the NT. Harold K. Moulton, The Analytical Greek Lexicon Revised, p. 82, says by implication it means "silly" and "absurd." It is translated "old wives tales" in NRSV, NJB and "old wives fables" in NKJV.
Since I believe also with Gordon Fee that women were being manipulated by the false teachers and were being used as spokespersons for their views in the house churches, then one wonders
1. Were there old women false teachers (cf. 1Ti_5:6)?
2. Was this a way to accentuate the problem related to women?
3. Was this just a patriarchal cultural idiom?
▣ The term "myth" (NRSV, NJB) in 1Ti_4:7 has been misunderstood. A good article is in G. B. Caird, The Language and Imagery of the Bible, chapter 13, pp. 219-242. Myth has several possible connotations.
▣ "discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness" This is a present active imperative. "Discipline," or "in training," is an athletic metaphor from which we get the English word "gymnasium." Athletic training is a good example of strenuous, dedicated, priority effort for us to emulate as Christians in the spiritual realm which is so much more significant (cf. 1Co_9:24-27; 2Ti_2:5; 2Ti_4:7; Heb_12:1-3).
▣ "godliness"
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1Ti_4:8 The physical body is part of our stewardship of life, but is not the priority. Godliness is priority! This could refer to
1. physical exercise
2. physical discipline
3. asceticism
That which affects the body is significant, but that which affects the spirit is eternal! True exercise is the "labor" and "strive" of 1Ti_4:10! Ministry affects the result of the gospel, but asceticism emphasizes the individual.
1Ti_4:9 "It is a trustworthy statement" This phrase can either go with 1Ti_4:8 or 10. Paul uses this phrase often to highlight significant statements in the Pastoral Letters (cf. 1Ti_1:15; 1Ti_3:1; 1Ti_4:9; 2Ti_2:11; Tit_3:8), much like Jesus used "Amen, amen" or Paul used "I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers" in his earlier writings (cf. Rom_1:13; Rom_11:25; 1Co_10:1; 1Co_12:11; 2Co_1:8; 1Th_4:13).
1Ti_4:10 "we labor and strive" These are both athletic metaphors. The latter, from which we get the English word "agony" or "agonize," is also found also in Php_2:16; 1Ti_6:12; and 2Ti_4:7.
There is a Greek manuscript variant in this phrase:
1. MSS à c, D, L, P, as well as the Vulgate, Peshitta, and Coptic translations have "suffer reproach" (NKJV)
2. à *, A, C, F, G, K, and 075 have "strive" (NASB, NRSV, TEV, NJB, NIV)
The UBS4 gives "strive" a "C" rating, which means the committee had difficulty in deciding between the variants.
NASB "because we have fixed our hope"
NKJV "because we trust in"
NRSV "because we have our hope set on"
TEV "because we have placed our hope"
NJB "is that we have put our trust in"
This is a perfect active indicative. Believers trust in the settled, sure, unchangeable character of God as their only hope (cf. Psa_102:26-27; Mal_3:6; Heb_1:11-12; Heb_13:8; Jas_1:17). The certainty of our salvation is grounded in the character of YHWH (cf. 1Ti_6:17; Rom_15:12; 2Co_1:10).
▣ "on the living God" I think this Greek phrase reflects the name of the OT covenant-making God. This is the root meaning of the term "YHWH," which is from the Hebrew verb "to be" (cf. Exo_3:14; see hyperlink at 2Ti_1:2). YHWH is the ever-living, only-living One.
▣ "who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers" The title "savior" is used quite often in the Pastoral Letters (cf. 1Ti_1:1; 1Ti_2:3; 2Ti_1:10; Tit_1:3-4; Tit_2:10-13; Tit_3:4; Tit_3:6). In earlier chapters of 1 Timothy it is used of God as the Redeemer, potentially, of all mankind (cf. 1Ti_2:4; 1Ti_2:6; Luk_2:11; Joh_1:29; Joh_4:42; Rom_5:18-19; 2Pe_3:9). See full note at 2Ti_1:10. Possibly because of the little phrase "especially of believers" (where one would theologically expect "only") it may be used in its OT sense of Elohim, who is "protector" or "provider" of all life on earth (cf. Mat_5:45; Act_17:28).
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