the Christian life
"Bodily Exercise" and "A Form of Godliness": Connecting 1 and 2 Timothy
by Carol Berubee
Most Christians read 1 Timothy 4:8 to mean that Paul is speaking of physical fitness, as in lifting weights, or running, or some other type of physical exercise. However, given the context, we find that Paul is addressing a false doctrine that espouses disciplining the body against perceived sin.
1 Timothy 4:8a
“…for bodily training is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things…”
The Greek word here is “gymnasia,” which of course has the connotation of sports or physical fitness. However, this is a hapax legomenon (a word used only once in the Bible), so we have to look to the immediate context to discern its meaning as used by Paul.
If we translate “gymnasia” as “training,” and read the verse without its antecedent context, we can end up building a doctrine that would not at all have been in the mind of the Apostle. Indeed, there may be entire ministries that are built on an interpretation of “gymnasia” as “physical fitness.”
We must back up and examine Paul’s train of thought. (No pun intended, but we can see how the same word can have very different meanings!)
1 Timothy 4:6-8
6 In pointing out these things to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. 7 But refuse godless myths fit only for old women. On the other hand, train (gymnaze) yourself for the purpose of godliness, 8 for bodily training (gymnasia) 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.
We can see here why the LSB translators (and many others) have bodily “training” in v. 8 as it corresponds with the “train” of v. 7. So far, so good, but what does Paul mean by “train” and “bodily training?” Does he mean lifting weights and running, literally?
If we try to import that meaning into v. 7b, it would be awkward. In fact, Paul is making a contrast between the two verses. In v. 7b, Timothy is to train himself for godliness by refusing godless myths (7a). Clearly, the reference has nothing to do with physical fitness, but of sound doctrine (v. 6). If Timothy is diligent to be faithful to sound doctrine by being disciplined in his study and teaching of the Word of God, he will be able to refuse the godless myths.
So, our instruction is:
Not godless myths, but godliness;
training for godliness, not training the body.
We can see the first contrast easily enough: Rather than giving heed to godless myths, Timothy is to, on the other hand, train himself for godliness. But what about the second contrast? Where is Paul getting the idea of “bodily training,” and what does it mean?
We’ve been looking at vv. 6-8, but we need to go back further to discover what Paul means by “bodily training,” so let’s look at vv. 1-3.
1 Timothy 4:1-3
1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by the hypocrisy of liars, who have been seared in their own conscience, 3 who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God created to be shared in with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
Paul speaks of “deceitful spirits” with “doctrines of demons” (v. 1), “liars” who have a “seared conscience” (v. 2), who “forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods…” (v. 3). This is our immediate context -- the ascetics and legalists who had very strict rules regarding the body. These men taught that the way to godliness was by bodily repression. Paul is instructing Timothy that sheer willpower over the body is not the way to godliness, though there is some benefit, temporally, in abstaining from fleshly desires, even if through self-will.
Paul, however, had written elsewhere that he keeps his body in subjection (1 Corinthians 9:27; AD 57). Was Paul contradicting himself? The difference between the two passages is that Paul’s method of subjection was under the power of the Holy Spirit as the means given by God to live a godly life, while the false teaching was one of “worldly wisdom” and the “traditions of men” in connection with superstitions of the day.
To support this interpretation of 1 Timothy 4:8, other passages can be examined. Let’s put together a chronological picture of Paul’s teaching on this subject, a subject he had to deal with because some were teaching falsely in regard to ascetic practices.
Colossians 2 (AD 62) offers the most direct correlation with our text in 1 Timothy 4.
Colossians 2:8-23
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, and not according to Christ…. 16 Therefore, no one is to judge you in food and drink, or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— things which are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. 17 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement… 20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees: 21 ‘Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch’? 22 Which deal with everything destined to perish with use, which are in accordance with the commands and teachings of men; 23 which are matters having, to be sure, a word of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
Written just a couple of years earlier than our text of 1 Timothy (AD 64), Colossians 2:23 makes explicit the meaning of “bodily training.” This Colossian heresy was rooted in “will-worship,” including "self-abasement and severe treatment of the body.” This is the "bodily exercise" of which Paul speaks in our text of 1 Timothy 4:8. Colossae was about 100 miles east of Ephesus, which was Timothy’s base of operations at this time. It would be important for Timothy to quell this false teaching coming out of Colossae before it spread all over Asia Minor.
After Paul writes to Timothy, he writes to Titus whom Paul had left at Crete. The epistle to Titus (AD 65-66) mentions the teachings of the ascetics at 1:10-11 and 14-15. In this passage, we have those “especially of the circumcision” (Jews) who are teaching “Jewish myths and commandments of men.” Verse 15 gives us the context,
"To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure..."
which corresponds to what Paul had already told Timothy about those who forbid marriage and the eating of certain foods (1 Timothy 4:3-4).
Finally, in Paul’s second letter to Timothy (AD 67), he writes about those who have “a form of godliness” but who deny its power (3:5). I believe this refers once again to the ascetics and legalists. To the ignorant or immature, these men would have appeared as very spiritual, having sought godliness by self-abasement and severely treating their bodies, but this was nothing more than self-imposed will-worship. These men had denied the power that produces true godliness.