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1 Timothy 4:7

by Don Costello  
5/12/2009 / Bible Studies

1 Timothy 4:7

But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

1. "But refuse profane and old wives' fables"

a. refuse [3868 * paraiteomai] [Zodhiates: In the N.T., to decline or refuse, avoid.]

b. profane [952 * bebelos] [Zodhiates: bebelos properly denoted one who either was or ought to have been debarred from the threshold or entrance of a temple. Unhallowed, profane, void of religion, lacks all relationship or affinity to God.]

c. old wives [1126 * graodes] [Zodhiates: silly, old wives tales.]

d. fables [3454 * muthos] [Zodhiates: English: mythology. In the N.T. the word myth does not have the meaning of being a vehicle of some lofty truth as in the early use of the wordit denotes a fable full of falsehoodsThus in 1 Timothy 4:7 described as godless or profane and belonging to old women.]

2. "and exercise thyself rather unto godliness."

a. exercise [1128 * gumnazo] [Zodhiates: naked, to train naked, generally, to train to exercise.]

b. A couple of other uses of this word in the New Testament shed light on its meaning.

c. Hebrews 5:14 "even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

1). use [1838 * hexis] [Zodhiates: Habit. Used usually of life or body, therefore, practice or exercise.]

2). The senses he is speaking of are not our 5 physical senses. In verse 11 the sense of hearing he was referring to was spiritual. The spiritual senses of taste, hearing, seeing, touch, and smell are what he is referring to. We cannot sense good or evil with our physical senses.

a). Ephesians 1:18 "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling"

b). 2 Peter 1:9 "But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off"

3). To understand the phrase "senses exercised" we need to look at a couple of verses.

4). 2 Peter 2:14 "Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart have they exercised with coveteous practices; cursed children:"

a). To exercise the heart with coveteous practices would be to as Ephesians 2:3 says: "fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind"

5). In a good example of the term such as what Hebrews 5:14 is referring to would be in 1 Timothy.

a). 1 Timothy 4:7, "exercise thyself rather unto godliness."

b). It would be to meditate the word, developing a hunger and thirst for it, then walk in obedience to it. Eating and drinking the word by being obedient to it. Remember Isaiah 55:2. "hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness."

My name is Don Costello. Ever since I received Christ in November of 1976 I have had a passion to study and know God's word.My wife Melissa and I have 5 children.

My e-mail address is [email protected]

I have a blog located at:
www.theophilus-loverofgodsword.blogspot.com/

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