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 Living Translation (NLT)Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly.

Context of 1 Timothy 4:7

5for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 6If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8For 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. 9This is a faithful saying and worthy of all 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 1:4nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.
• 1 Timothy 6:20O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—
• 2 Timothy 2:16But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.
• 2 Timothy 4:4and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
• 1 Timothy 2:10but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.
• 1 Timothy 3:16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.
• 1 Timothy 6:11But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
• Acts 24:16This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.
• 2 Timothy 3:12Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
• Hebrews 5:14But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
• 2 Peter 1:5But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to 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

• 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