8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
8 For bodily exercise profiteth little:
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.
8 Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever.
8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
8 "Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come."
14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth.
14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.
14 so they can recover a robust faith.
14 not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.
14 They must stop listening to Jewish myths and the commands of people who have turned away from the truth.
(Read Titus 1:10-16)
False teachers are described. Faithful ministers must oppose such in good time, that their folly being made manifest, they may go no further They had a base end in what they did; serving a worldly interest under pretence of religion: for the love of money is the root of all evil. Such should be resisted, and put to shame, by sound doctrine from the Scriptures. Shameful actions, the reproach of heathens, should be far from Christians; falsehood and lying, envious craft and cruelty, brutal and sensual practices, and idleness and sloth, are sins condemned even by the light of nature. But Christian meekness is as far from cowardly passing over sin and error, as from anger and impatience. And though there may be national differences of character, yet the heart of man in every age and place is deceitful and desperately wicked. But the sharpest reproofs must aim at the good of the reproved; and soundness in the faith is most desirable and necessary. To those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; they abuse, and turn things lawful and good into sin. Many profess to know God, yet in their lives deny and reject him. See the miserable state of hypocrites, such as have a form of godliness, but are without the power; yet let us not be so ready to fix this charge on others, as careful that it does not apply to ourselves.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Timothy 4:8
Commentary on 1 Timothy 4:6-10
(Read 1 Timothy 4:6-10)
Outward acts of self-denial profit little. What will it avail us to mortify the body, if we do not mortify sin? No diligence in mere outward things could be of much use. The gain of godliness lies much in the promise; and the promises to godly people relate partly to the life that now is, but especially to the life which is to come: though we lose for Christ, we shall not lose by him. If Christ be thus the Saviour of all men, then much more will he be the Rewarder of those who seek and serve him; he will provide well for those whom he has made new creatures.