1 Timothy 4:7

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

5God’s word and prayer set it apart as holy. 6You are a good servant of Christ Jesus when you point these things out to our brothers and sisters. Then you will be nourished by the words of the Christian faith and the excellent teachings which you have followed closely. Don’t have anything to do with godless myths that old women like to tell. Rather, train yourself to live a godly life. 8Training the body helps a little, but godly living helps in every way. Godly living has the promise of life now and in the world to come. 9This is a statement that can be trusted and deserves complete acceptance.

1 Timothy 4:7 word by word

τοὺς δὲ βεβήλους καὶ γραώδεις μύθους παραιτοῦ· γύμναζε δὲ σεαυτὸν πρὸς εὐσέβειαν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• refuseπαραιτέομαιparaiteomai · to refuse/excuseG3868
• profaneβέβηλοςbebēlos · profaneG952
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• old wives’γραώδηςgraōdēs · old wives’ taleG1126
• fablesμῦθοςmuthos · mythG3454
• exerciseγυμνάζωgumnazō · to trainG1128
• thyselfσεαυτοῦseautou seautō seauton sautou sautō sauton · yourselfG4572
• untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• godlinessεὐσέβειαeusebeia · pietyG2150

Cross-references for 1 Timothy 4:7

• 1 Timothy 1:4and occupying themselves with myths and endless genealogies. These myths and genealogies raise a lot of questions rather than promoting God’s plan, which centers in faith.
• 1 Timothy 6:20Timothy, guard the Good News which has been entrusted to you. Turn away from pointless discussions and the claims of false knowledge that people use to oppose ⌞the Christian faith⌟.
• 2 Timothy 2:16Avoid pointless discussions. People who ⌞pay attention to these pointless discussions⌟ will become more ungodly,
• 2 Timothy 4:4People will refuse to listen to the truth and turn to myths.
• 1 Timothy 2:10This is what is proper for women who claim to have reverence for God.
• 1 Timothy 3:16The mystery that gives us our reverence for God is acknowledged to be great: He appeared in his human nature, was approved by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was announced throughout the nations, was believed in the world, and was taken to heaven in glory.
• 1 Timothy 6:11But you, man of God, must avoid these things. Pursue what God approves of: a godly life, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.
• Acts 24:16With this belief I always do my best to have a clear conscience in the sight of God and people.
• 2 Timothy 3:12Those who try to live a godly life because they believe in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
• Hebrews 5:14However, solid food is for mature people, whose minds are trained by practice to know the difference between good and evil.
• 2 Peter 1:5Because of this, make every effort to add integrity to your faith; and to integrity add 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

• Commandments
• Doctrines
• Fable
• Minister, Christian
• Sarcasm
• Tradition

In the dictionaries

• Attendance
• Charge
• Example
• Fable
• Godliness
• Nourish
• Presbytery
• Profane
• Profiting
• Thanksgiving

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