Train for Godliness

1 Timothy 4:6–10 ESV

6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

Good Servant

1 Timothy 4:6 ESV

6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.

Paul has given warning to Timothy

In the first part of this passage Paul gives Timothy warning

warning about the false gods

warning about the wayward trends of so called believers

warning of the waning state of the church

their ultimate end of turning to the false gospels

trusting in the things taught by demons

Paul says he put these things before Timothy

so he can put them before the brothers

To teach

to make them aware of the end that is coming

to make them aware of the need to be fully devoted to God’s teaching

Paul says a good servant will display these things

they will be a good servant of God

trained in Faith and Doctrine

Paul’s constant reminder to Timothy to keep the Faith

Keep with the Truth

Is capped off by a push to deliver this message to the people

A push to let the Timothy know the gain in Faith and Doctrine through this teaching

Paul then moves on to the training aspect

Godly Training

1 Timothy 4:7–9 ESV

7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance.

Paul starts off with a passage similar to 1 Timothy 1:4 “4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.”

Paul gives this warning for teaching off the bat

Here it is back in instruction for Timothy

Paul simply says do not be a part of silly myths

even wive’s tales

Do not be a part of the worldly things but be a part of the eternal kingdom

Paul has been pushing and pushing Timothy to ensure his devotion to God

Focus on the Eternal Kingdom God has created and nothing else

Paul says Rather train yourself in Godliness

He then says bodily training is of some value

It helps keep you healthy

It helps keep an individual in shape

in fact physical health helps a person feel better as a whole

But it does not fulfill man’s life

it takes up and does good for man but it does not fulfill the true innate desire of the heart

Rather

Godliness

is good in every way

Paul is clear that training in Godliness is good for every part of the individual

It is training for the eternal Kingdom

It is not participating in the worldly kingdom

It is a desire to be a part of God’s plan for Salvation instead of the world’s plan for temporary success

Godliness keeps us in good standing in the current life

here on earth

helps train for the eternal

It is a constant reminder and devotion to the Truth that the God who saves will come back and that is Hope for mankind

Paul emphasizes the word Train here

The word train in greek is translated - imnazo

why is where we get our word for gymnasium - a training and sports facility

An Olympic athlete must train rigorously

They must spend time weekly preparing for their sport of choice

These athletes have a desire

A devotion for winning those medals at the Olympics

They also have a desire to represent their country

I did a little digging

These are the training regiments of 3 Olympic athletes

#1 says they spend 25 hours a week in preparation (4-5 hours a day)

#2 says that they train 6 days a week at 8 hours a day during the off season

during big event training they add a second regiment to their daily routine

#3 says they spend four hours training in their respective sport daily and then go to the weight room and other aerobic excercises

This is called devotion

devotion to physical training

God of Salvation

1 Timothy 4:10 ESV

10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

Paul yet again reminds Timothy of the reason for all of this

The living God

This in all reality is where the reason lies

we do not need a better reason than He is the living God

The Savior of all people

this does not mean all people go to heaven

he has given all people a chance

If he punished sin at the moment of its error humanity would have been erased a long time ago

instead through Christ He became the Savior of all people

through offering Salvation to all people

Salvation is offered to all not just a few

Especially those who believe

This shows teh true belief

those who will be eternally saved

those who will reside with the Creator of the universe for all eternity

There is no better reason to toil and strive than for these things in verse 10!

What a God we serve

he deserves full devotion

A God sized commitment by the individual to serve and Glorify Him