1 Timothy 4.8-Godliness Is Superior To Physical Exercise Because It Includes The Promise Of Experiencing Eternal Life During One's Lifetime And Throughout Eternity
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Wednesday June 15, 2011
1 Timothy: 1 Timothy 4:8-Godliness Is Superior To Physical Exercise Because It Includes The Promise Of Experiencing Eternal Life During One’s Lifetime And Throughout Eternity
Lesson # 82
Please turn in your Bibles to 1 Timothy 4:6.
In 1 Timothy 4:8, the apostle Paul teaches Timothy that godliness is superior to physical exercise because it is beneficial to the Christian throughout the ages, i.e. eternity in contrast to physical exercise which benefits the Christian only during his lifetime.
He also teaches that godliness is beneficial throughout the ages, i.e. eternity because it includes the promise of experiencing eternal life now during one’s lifetime as well as experiencing eternal life in a resurrection body throughout eternity.
1 Timothy 4:6 In 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. 7 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness. 8 for 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. (NASU)
“For bodily discipline is only of little profit” is composed of the conjunction gar (γάρ) (gar), “for” and the articular nominative feminine singular form of the adjective somatikos (σωματικός) (soe-mah-teekoce), “bodily” which is modifying nominative feminine singular form of the noun gumnasia (γυμνασία) (yeem-nah-seeah), “discipline” and the preposition pros (πρός) (proce) and its object is the accusative masculine singular form of the adjective oligos (ὀλίγος) (owelee-goce), “only of little” and the third person singular present active indicative form of the verb eimi (εἰμί) (ee-mee), “is” and the nominative feminine singular form of the adjective ophelimos (ὠφέλιμος) (owe-fell-eemoce), “profit.”
The conjunction gar introduces a statement that presents the reason or the basis for the second command that appears in 1 Timothy 4:7.
Thus, 1 Timothy 4:8 teaches that physical exercise, i.e. training the body is beneficial for a short period of time in comparison to godliness, which is beneficial throughout all the ages because it holds the promise of experiencing eternal life during one’s life and throughout all of eternity.
The adjective somatikos means “bodily” referring to that which pertains to the physical body or human body.
It is modifying the noun gumnasia, “discipline,” which refers to engaging in physical exercise as a way of improving the function of the body.
This addresses the historical situation in Ephesus that Paul and Timothy were dealing with in which the Ephesians placed greater emphasis upon the temporal rather than the spiritual aspect of life.
The adjective ophelimos means “beneficial” in the sense of promoting or conducive to well-being and conferring benefits.
Here in 1 Timothy 4:8, oligos is used of time and pertains to a relatively brief extent of time referring to the Christian’s time on earth prior to his death or the rapture, whichever comes first.
The term is the object of the preposition pros, which functions as a marker of a period of time indicating that physical exercise for the believer is beneficial “for a short period of time.”
“But godliness is profitable for all things” is composed of the conjunction de (δέ) (theh), “but” and the nominative feminine singular form of the noun eusebeia (εὐσέβεια) (ef-sev-ee-ah), “godliness” and the preposition pros (πρός) (proce) and its object is the accusative neuter plural form of the adjective pas (πᾶς), “all things” and the nominative feminine singular form of the adjective ophelimos (ὠφέλιμος) (owe-fell-eemoce), “profitable” followed by third person singular present active indicative form of the verb eimi (εἰμί) (ee-mee), “is.”
The conjunction de introduces a statement that stands in contrast with the previous statement that physical exercise is beneficial to the Christian for a short period of time.
Here the word introduces a statement that teaches that godliness is beneficial throughout all the ages because it includes promise of experiencing eternal life now during one’s lifetime as well as throughout all of eternity.
Therefore, the contrast is between the limited period of time in which physical exercise benefits the Christian with that of the unlimited period of time in which godliness benefits them.
The noun eusebeia refers to the Christian way of life, which is experiencing eternal life by appropriating by faith the Spirit’s teaching in the Word of God that the Christian is crucified, died, buried, raised and seated with Christ.
Eusebeia is the result of appropriating by faith the Spirit’s teaching in the Word of God that the Christian is in union with Christ identified with Him in His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and session.
This results in obedience to the commands and prohibitions in the Word of God that are inspired by the Spirit.
It also results in godly conduct that honors the Father and reflects His perfect norms and standards.
Also, it manifests the character of Christ in the life of the believer as well as the omnipotence of God in that exercising faith in the Spirit’s teaching that one is in union with Christ and identified with Him appropriates the omnipotence of God.
The preposition πρὸς functions as it did in the pervious prepositional phrase as a marker of a period of time and specifically, it is a marker of an indefinite or infinite period of time.
The adjective pas is used of time in its totality referring to all the ages including the Christian’s lifetime, his existence in a resurrection body after the rapture of the church as well as his existence in the eternal state in a resurrection body.
Therefore, this prepositional phrase is teaching that the benefits of godliness are not relegated to the Christian’s lifetime prior to his death or receiving his resurrection body.
The benefits of godliness are superior to the benefits of physical exercise since the former benefits the believer not only during his lifetime on earth prior to receiving a resurrection body but also benefits him in a resurrection body which he will exist in throughout all of eternity.
1 Timothy 4:8 for 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. (NASU)
“Since it holds promise for the present life” is composed of the accusative feminine singular form of the noun epangelia (ἐπαγγελία) (ep-ahn-gah-lee-ah), “promise” and is followed by the nominative feminine singular present active participle form of the verb echo (ἒχω) (eh-ho), “since it holds” and the genitive feminine singular form of the noun zoe (ζωή) (zoe-ee), “life” and the articular genitive feminine singular form of the adverb of time nun (νῦν) (neen), “the present.”
The verb echo means “to include” and suggests that godliness includes experiencing eternal life now in time during one’s lifetime as well as throughout all of eternity in a resurrection body as its inevitable consequence.
It also suggests that experiencing eternal life now during one’s life as well as throughout all of eternity in a resurrection body are a constituent, component or subordinate part of godliness, i.e. living the Christian way of life.
The verb functions as a causal participle indicating that it is expressing the reason why godliness is, as an eternal spiritual truth beneficial throughout all the ages.
The noun epangelia refers to the Lord Jesus Christ’s promise that those sinners who trust in Him as Savior will experience eternal life during their lifetime as well as throughout all of eternity (John 3:16; 5:26; 6:33, 35, 54, 63; 11:25; 14:19; 17:1-3; 20:31).
This promise also includes the promise to the justified sinner, i.e. the Christian that they will experience eternal life during their lifetime through faith in His teaching.
The noun zoe refers to eternal life and contains the figure of metonymy meaning that eternal life is put for experiencing eternal life.
This is indicated by the fact that Paul is teaching regarding the benefit or the result of practicing godliness, which is in fact, experiencing eternal life.
The adverb of time nun is a genitive of time indicating that the Christian is benefited by godliness “during” his or her lifetime.
Therefore, because of this it does not designate a point of time in the past or future or “at the present moment” referring to the moment when Paul wrote this epistle.
Rather it speaks of the present lifetime of the Christian.
1 Timothy 4:8 for 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. (NASU)
“And also for the life to come” is composed of the conjunction kai (καί) (keh), “and” and the articular genitive feminine singular present active participle form of the verb mello (μέλλω) (meh-low), “for…to come.”
The verb mello refers to the period of time after the believer’s physical death or the rapture whichever comes first.
It teaches that godliness not only benefits the Christian during his lifetime while on earth but also it will benefit them “in the future” after their death when they are in a resurrection body.
It teaches that in the future, after their physical death or the rapture when they are in their resurrection body, godliness will result in their experiencing eternal life.
It also functions as a genitive of time indicating that the Christian will be benefited by godliness “during the future” when he or she is in a resurrection body.
The present tense is a “futuristic” present emphasizing the certainty that godliness for the Christian includes the promise of experiencing eternal life in the future after their death while in a resurrection body.