Darby Bible
1 Timothy 4:7
7But profane and old wives' fables avoid, but exercise thyself unto piety;
1 Timothy 4:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
- New International Version (NIV)Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;
- New King James Version (NKJV)But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.
Context of 1 Timothy 4:7
5for it is sanctified by God's word and freely addressing [him]. 6Laying these things before the brethren, thou wilt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished with the words of the faith and of the good teaching which thou hast fully followed up. But profane and old wives' fables avoid, but exercise thyself unto piety; 8for bodily exercise is profitable for a little, but piety is profitable for everything, having promise of life, of the present one, and of that to come. 9The word [is] faithful and worthy of all acceptation;
Read all of 1 Timothy 41 Timothy 4:7 word by word
τοὺς δὲ βεβήλους καὶ γραώδεις μύθους παραιτοῦ· γύμναζε δὲ σεαυτὸν πρὸς εὐσέβειαν.Read the interlinear
Cross-references for 1 Timothy 4:7
- 1 Timothy 1:4nor to turn their minds to fables and interminable genealogies, which bring questionings rather than [further] God's dispensation, which [is] in faith.
- 1 Timothy 6:20O Timotheus, keep the entrusted deposit, avoiding profane, vain babblings, and oppositions of false-named knowledge,
- 2 Timothy 2:16But profane, vain babblings shun, for they will advance to greater impiety,
- 2 Timothy 4:4and they will turn away their ear from the truth, and will have turned aside to fables.
- 1 Timothy 2:10but, what becomes women making profession of the fear of God, by good works.
- 1 Timothy 3:16And confessedly the mystery of piety is great. God has been manifested in flesh, has been justified in [the] Spirit, has appeared to angels, has been preached among [the] nations, has been believed on in [the] world, has been received up in glory.
- 1 Timothy 6:11But thou, O man of God, flee these things, and pursue righteousness, piety, faith, love, endurance, meekness of spirit.
- Acts 24:16For this cause I also exercise [myself] to have in everything a conscience without offence towards God and men.
- 2 Timothy 3:12And all indeed who desire to live piously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
- Hebrews 5:14but solid food belongs to full-grown men, who, on account of habit, have their senses exercised for distinguishing both good and evil.
- 2 Peter 1:5But for this very reason also, using therewith all diligence, in your faith have also virtue, in virtue knowledge,
Commentaries on 1 Timothy 4:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7But 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7But 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. d 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…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-10Verses 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…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-16Timothy needs to address the false teachers (see 2 Timothy 3:1–4:5).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. refuse--reject, avoid, have nothing to do with (2Ti 2:23; Tit 3:10). old wives' fables--anile myths (1Ti 1:4, 9; Tit 1:14). They are "profane," because leading away from "godliness" or "piety" (1Ti 1:4-7; 6:20; 2Ti 2:16; Tit 1:1, 2). exercise thyself--literally, "exercise thyself" as one undergoing training in a gymnasium. Let thy self-discipline be not in ascetical exercises as the false teachers (1Ti 4:3, 8; compare 2Ti 2:22, 23; He 5:14; 12:11), but…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Timothy 4:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Timothy 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
Darby Bible — 1889 — Public Domain
Commentaries