Let us begin with the Barclay Commentary for
verses 6-10
ADVICE TO A SERVANT OF CHRIST
1 Timothy 4:6–10
If you lay these things before the brothers, you
will be a fine servant of Jesus Christ, if you feed
your life on the words of faith, and the fine
teaching of which you have been a student and a
follower. Refuse to have anything to do with
irreligious stories like the tales old women tell to
children. Train yourself towards the goal of true
godliness. The training of the body has only a
limited value; but training in godliness has a
universal value for mankind, because it has the
promise of life in this present age, and life in the
age to come. This is a saying which deserves to be
accepted by all. The reason why we toil and struggle
so hard is that we have set our hopes on the living
God, who is the Saviour of all men, and especially
of those who believe.
THIS passage is closely packed with practical
advice, not only for Timothy but for any servant of
the Church who is charged with the duty of work and
leadership.
(1) It tells us how to instruct others. The word
used for laying these things (hupotithesthai) before
the brothers is significant. It does not mean to
issue orders but rather to advise, to suggest. It is
a gentle, humble and modest word. It means that
teachers must never dogmatically and belligerently
lay down the law. It means that they must act rather
as if they were reminding people of what they
already knew or suggesting to them, not that they
should learn from them, but that they should
discover from their own hearts what is right.
Guidance given in gentleness will always be more
effective than bullying instructions laid down with
force. It is possible to lead people when they will
refuse to be driven.
(2) It tells us how to face the task of teaching.
Timothy is told that he must feed his life on the
words of faith. No one can give out without taking
in. Those who teach must be continually learning. It
is the reverse of the truth that when people become
teachers they cease to be learners; each day they
must come to know Jesus Christ better before they
can bring him to others.
(3) It tells us what to avoid. Timothy is to avoid
pointlesstales like those which old women tell to
children. It is easy to get lost in side issues and
to get entangled in things which are at best
embellishments. It is on the great central truths
that people must constantly feed their minds and
nourish their faith.
(4) It tells us what to seek. Timothy is told that,
as athletes train their bodies, so Christians must
train their souls. It is not that bodily fitness is
despised; the Christian faith believes that the body
is the temple of the Holy Spirit. But Paul is
pleading for a sense of proportion. Physical
training is good, and even essential; but its use is
limited. It develops only part of an individual, and
it produces only results which last for a short
time, for the body passes away. Training in
godliness develops the whole person in body, mind
and spirit, and its results affect not only time but
eternity as well. Christians are not athletes of the
gymnasium, they are the athletes of God. The
greatest of the Greeks recognized this. The Athenian
orator Isocrates wrote: ‘No ascetic ought to train
his body as a king ought to train his soul.’ ‘Train
yourself by submitting willingly to toils, so that
when they come on you unwillingly you will be able
to endure them.’
(5) It shows us the basis of the whole matter. No
one has ever claimed that the Christian life is an
easy way; but its goal is God. It is because life is
lived in the presence of God and ends in his still
nearer presence that Christians are willing to
struggle so hard. The greatness of the goal makes
the toil worth while.
~Barclay Commentary
Now to the other commentaries...and a quick look at
the phrases in verse 6 to keep things in context.
If thou put the brethren in
remembrance of these things - Of the truths
just stated. They are, therefore, proper subjects to
preach upon. It is the duty of the ministry to show
to the people of their charge what “is” error and
where it may be apprehended, and to caution them to
avoid it. ~Barnes Notes
Nourished up in the words of
faith - That is, you will be then “a good
minister of Jesus Christ, as becomes one who has
been nourished up in the words of faith, or trained
up in the doctrines of religion.” The apostle
evidently designs to remind Timothy of the manner in
which he had been trained, and to show him how he
might act in accordance with that. From one who had
been thus educated, it was reasonable to expect that
he would be a faithful and exemplary minister of the
gospel. ~Barnes Notes
Whereunto thou hast attained
- The word used here means, properly, to
accompany side by side; to follow closely; to follow
out, trace, or examine. It is rendered “shall
follow,” in Matthew 16:17; “having had
understanding,” in Luke 1:3; and “hast fully known,”
in 2 Timothy 3:10. It does not elsewhere occur in
the New Testament. The meaning here seems to be,
that Timothy had followed out the doctrines in which
he had been trained to their legitimate results; he
had accurately seen and understood their bearing, as
leading him to embrace the Christian religion. His
early training in the Scriptures of the Old
Testament 2 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 3:15, he had now
fully carried out, by embracing the Lord Jesus as
the Messiah, and by evincing the proper results of
the early teaching which he had received in
connection with that religion. If he now followed
the directions of the apostle, he would be a
minister of the Lord Jesus, worthy of the
attainments in religious knowledge which he had
made, and of the expectations which had been formed
of him. No young man should, by neglect, indolence,
or folly, disappoint the reasonable expectations of
his friends. Their cherished hopes are a proper
ground of appeal to him, and it may be properly
demanded of every one that he shall carry out to
their legitimate results all the principles of his
early training, and that he shall be in his
profession all that his early advantages make it
reasonable to “expect” that he will be.
~Barnes Notes
Quoted verses:
Matthew 16:17
phrase "to accompany side
by side" here is "shall follow"
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art
thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not
revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in
heaven.
Luke 1: 3 phrase
"to accompany side by side"
here is "having had understanding."
It seemed good to me also, having had perfect
understanding of all things from the very first, to
write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
2 Timothy 3:10
phrase "to accompany side
by side here" is "hast fully known"
But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of
life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity,
patience,
2 Timothy 1:5
Timothy's early training in
the scriptures
When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that
is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother
Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that
in thee also.
2 Timothy 3:15
Timothy's early training in
the scriptures
And that from a child thou hast known the holy
scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto
salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Now to the commentaries
Once again, the verse reads:
1 Timothy 4:7
But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and
exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
Barnes Notes:
But refuse - That is,
refuse to pay attention to them, or reject them. Do
not consider them of sufficient importance to occupy
your time.
Profane - The word here
used does not mean that the fables here referred to
were blasphemous or impious in their character, but
that they had not the character of true religion; 2
Timothy 2:16. And old wives’ - Old women’s stories;
or such as old women held to be important. The word
is used here, as it is often with us, in the sense
of silly.
Quoted verse:
2 Timothy 2:16
But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will
increase unto more ungodliness.
Fables - Fictions, or
stories that were not founded on fact. The pagan
religion abounded with fictions of this kind, and
the Jewish teachers were also remarkable for the
number of such fables which they had introduced into
their system. It is probable that the apostle
referred here particularly to the Jewish fables, and
the counsel which he gives to Timothy is, to have
nothing to do with them.
And exercise thyself rather
unto godliness - Rather than attempt to
understand those fables. Do not occupy your time and
attention with them, but rather cultivate piety, and
seek to become more holy.
~Barnes Notes
Adam Clarke:
But refuse profane and old
wives’ fables - This seems to refer
particularly to the Jews, whose Talmudical writings
are stuffed with the most ridiculous and profane
fables that ever disgraced the human intellect. It
may with equal propriety be applied to the legends
of the Romish Church. Let any man read the
Aurea Legenda, and he will find of profane and
old wives’ fables what may stand, with considerable
propriety, column for column with the Talmud. See
Joseline’s Life of St. Patrick for miracles,
without rhyme or reason, abundantly more numerous
and more stupendous than all the necessary ones
wrought by Jesus Christ and his apostles. This is
enough to persuade a man that the Spirit of God had
these very corruptions and this corrupt Church
particularly in view.
Exercise thyself rather unto
godliness - To understand this expression it
is necessary to know that the apostle alludes here
to the gymnastic exercises among the Greeks, which
were intended as a preparation for, their contests
at the public games. They did this in order to
obtain a corruptible or fading crown, i. e, a
chaplet of leaves, which was the reward of those who
conquered in those games; Timothy was to exercise
himself unto godliness, that he might be prepared
for the kingdom of heaven, and there receive a crown
that fadeth not away. ~Adam
Clarke
John Gill:
But refuse profane and old
wives' fables - Either Jewish ones, the
traditions of the elders; or those of the Gnostics,
concerning God, angels, and the creation of the
world; or those doctrines of demons, and which
forbad marriage, and commanded abstinence from meats
before mentioned; which are called profane, because
impious and ungodly, and old wives' fables, because
foolish and impertinent; and which were to be
rejected with abhorrence and contempt, in comparison
of the words of faith and good doctrine.
And exercise thyself rather
unto godliness - either to the doctrines
which are according to godliness, and tend to godly
edification, which the above fables did not, study
these, meditate on them, digest them, and deliver
them to others; or to a godly life and conversation,
exercise thyself, to have a conscience void of
offence to God and men; or to internal religion,
inward godliness, the exercise of the graces of
faith, hope, love, fear, reverence, humility, &c. or
rather to the spiritual worship of God, according to
his will, not in a formal, cold, and customary way,
but with the heart, in truth and sincerity, in
faith, and with fervency and purity.
~John Gill
Geneva Bible Translation Notes:
(10) But refuse profane and
old wives' fables, (11)
and exercise thyself [rather]
unto (g)
godliness.
(10) He contrasts again true doctrine not only with
the false and apostate doctrine, but also with all
vain and curious wiles.
(11) It is not only necessary that the minister of
the word be sound in doctrine, but also that his
life is godly and religious.
(g) In the true serving of God.
~Geneva Bible Translation
NotesTreasury of Scriptural
Knowledge
Notice how many are from the letters to Timothy.
For, "But refuse profane and
old wives' fables":
1 Timothy 1:4
see lesson on this verse
Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies,
which minister questions, rather than godly edifying
which is in faith: so do.
1 Timothy 6:20
O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy
trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and
oppositions of science falsely so called:
2 Timothy 2:16
But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will
increase unto more ungodliness.
2 Timothy 2:23
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing
that they do gender strifes.
2 Timothy 4:4
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth,
and shall be turned unto fables.
Titus 1:14
Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments
of men, that turn from the truth.
Titus 3:9
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and
contentions, and strivings about the law; for they
are unprofitable and vain.
For "and exercise thyself
rather unto godliness.":
1 Timothy 1:4
see lesson on this verse
Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies,
which minister questions, rather than godly edifying
which is in faith: so do.
1 Timothy 2:10
see lesson on this verse
But (which becometh women professing godliness) with
good works.
1 Timothy 3:16
see lesson on this verse
And without controversy great is the mystery of
godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified
in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the
Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into
glory.
1 Timothy 6:11
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and
follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love,
patience, meekness.
Acts 24:16
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a
conscience void of offence toward God, and toward
men.
2 Timothy 3:12
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution.
Titus 2:12
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly
lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and
godly, in this present world;
Hebrews 5:14
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full
age, even those who by reason of use have their
senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
2 Peter 1:5-8
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your
faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance
patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to
brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they
make you that ye shall neither be barren nor
unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus
Christ. ~Treasury of
Scriptural Knowledge
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