What does it mean that bodily exercise profits a little (1 Timothy 4:8)?

Here as in 1 Cor. 9 the figure of "exercise" appears to be taken from the public games and the necessary preparation for them, so familiar to the Greek mind. Timothy was to be in constant training: "Exercise thyself unto piety, for bodily exercise is useful (profitable) for a little, but piety is useful (profitable) for all things, having promise of life that is now and of that to come." The allusion is evident. Outward exercise profits physically or as he says strictly, "bodily exercise is useful for a little." Piety is spiritual exercise and demands as constant vigilance, as holy self-restraint, as complete subjection to the revealed will of God, even as training for the games called for habitual abstinence from every relaxing habit and for daily practice toward the end in view. How little the latter goal! How transcendent the former! Piety is profitable for all things, having promise of life that is now and of that to come. Christianity does not take tithes like Judaism, but can allow no reserve though all be grace. It has and from its very nature must have the entire man, dead to sin and alive unto God, right through the present life into eternity. And this wide practical scope of godliness is pre-eminent in these pastoral Epistles; not so much heavenly privilege or dispensational peculiarity is enforced as a sound and devoted life according to godliness. This the apostle presses on Timothy, as Timothy was bound to press it on others.

“But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.” (1 Timothy 4:7-9)

Having received the first we move to another faithful saying which has to do with godliness, a life according to God. The apostle Paul, having stated this, makes the remark, ‘Now Timothy, I want you to exercise yourself unto godliness (or ‘piety’)’. This is a kind of inward exercise that goes on in heart and mind and conscience, it is not muscular exercise, the exercise of your legs and arms and lungs, which “profits for a little”, exercise unto godliness is another form of exercise which affects the heart and the conscience and the mind. This is “profitable unto all things”, not only to a little thing. This is because it has promised “of the life that now is” and it has promise “of the life which is to come”. That was also a saying that was current amongst the early Christians of Antioch and elsewhere, early Christians would say to each other, ‘This life of godliness into which we have been introduced is profitable for now and for the life to come’.

Some time ago I was returning from Scotland and talking to my friend who had had a remarkable conversion. He had been a young lad of 19 who worked in the coal mine and always drank heavily. He was earning £14 a week but regularly spent £5 of it on cigarettes and drink. He would not have lived very long in that condition, but now he has entered upon a life that is profitable. It is profitable for the life that is. I know a number of servants of God who looked after their bodies and who have lived to a healthy old age, long after their unbelieving contemporaries have died. Why? They do not indulge in all the harmful things of this world, they live godly lives. It is quite profitable to live a godly life for the life that is and it is ten times more profitable for the life that is to come. The gospel introduces us to a new character of life. The godly, converted person accepts this faithful saying that godliness is profitable for all things. He not only has his or her bodily exercise, especially when young, but he lives the life of godliness which is profitable for the life that is and also for the life which is to come. Look at the apostle Paul again, the chief of sinners, who got converted. What a day is coming for Paul when in the presence of the Lord Jesus he meets the thousands who were converted through his instrumentality. What a day it will be! Paul wrote a very sound thing and we accept it. This godly life is the life that is profitable for all things. That is its character. The godly man or woman is one who has sterling Christian character. I commend it to you. If you can say, ‘Yes, by the grace of God I know the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ’ this introduces you to a new kind of life and it is a profitable life; go in for it.

But besides "profane" these are called "old wives' fables," that is, they are perpetuated and disseminated by idle gossip, not by the pure energy of the Spirit of God. This type of thing is to be resolutely refused, and the positive exercise of godliness cultivated. This calls for a constant stirring up of the heart in concern for the glory of God and conformity to His own character. As physical exercise promotes the health and vigor of the body, so this spiritual exercise is necessary for the normal health of the soul.

Bodily exercise, it is conceded, does profit for a little while, that is, it is of value temporarily (therefore not to be ignored): but godliness has both present and eternal value: this life is benefited by it inestimably, and it has in it a character that reaps eternal results. How well worth cultivating!

(V. 7). Having exhorted us to follow the truth, the Apostle warns us to refuse all that which is outside “the words of the faith”. The imaginations of men will always tend to profanity and foolishness, which the Apostle characterises with contempt as “old wives' fables”. Our great “exercise” should be to be found walking in piety. We may put service first; but there is ever the grave danger of being active in service while neglecting personal piety. The good servant will exercise himself to piety that he may be “meet for the Master's use, and prepared to every good work.” We may, at times, like the Corinthian saints, be very active in service and boast in our gifts, and like them be very unspiritual through not exercising ourselves to piety.

(V. 8). To emphasise the importance of spiritual exercise as to piety, the Apostle contrasts it with “bodily exercise”. The allusion is probably to the public games, as in 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, where, in speaking of the public races, he says, “Every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things”. He continues to warn us in that passage that such exercise in temperance has only a passing advantage; at best it obtains only “a corruptible crown”, in contrast with the “incorruptible” which the Christian has in view. So here, he says, that this bodily exercise is only profitable in some small things; but the spiritual exercise of piety is profitable to all things, being rich with blessing in this life as well as in that which is to come.

The true exercise must be unto godliness, pious, consecrated living; and the true exercise is self-judgment, maintaining a good conscience and communion with God. Bodily exercise by erratic living, abstaining from meats and other things, profits but little. It is far different with true godliness. It is profitable for everything, both in this life and that to come. This is another faithful word and worthy of all acceptation (1:15). And for this doctrine the apostle labored and suffered reproach; but he had faith in the living God, who as Saviour-God, by His power and providence, sustains all men. He is the preserver of all men, but especially of those who believe. As Creator He is the preserver and benefactor of all men; but for those who believe He is much more than that. In this God as Creator and Saviour, preserver and keeper, the believer trusts. "These things command and teach." It is another remedy against the seducing spirits and doctrines of demons. None should despise his youth. Timothy was very young when he joined Paul (Acts 16:1-3), and now after some eleven years he was still youthful, especially in comparison with Paul the aged. He urges him to be in his life and walk a model of the believers--in word, in conduct, in faith and in purity.

There is ever the danger of going to extremes in regard to our bodies, and some would give so much attention to the body that divine things are neglected. Things are to be kept in divine perspective, so the Apostle tells Timothy, “For bodily exercise profits (for a) little: but godliness is profitable unto all things” (1 Tim. 4:8). There is no danger of the body being wilfully neglected if we seek after true piety, nor will we give the body undue attention if the will and glory of God are before us.

Bodily exercise is profitable only for the life that now is, but godliness has “promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” Piety brings its own reward in the present life, for it gives the godly the rest of soul that belongs to those who take upon them the yoke of the lowly Jesus, and the joy of things that belong to God, the things eternal and spiritual to which we have been called. Godliness also holds out promise of the coming good things, the things that we shall have as a reward in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Timothy was to refuse “profane and old wives’ fables,” all that originated in the mind and heart of man, his imaginations and speculations in things religious, and he was to exercise himself unto godliness (1 Tim. 4:7). If Christians are to live piously there must be exercise of soul. Godliness is the fruit of the divine nature that God has given us, but the flesh must be kept in the place of death, and the heart engaged by the Spirit with Christ in glory. Spiritual exercise should deepen with the increase of divine knowledge, so that there might be increased fruit for God’s pleasure in our lives.

Most of us know how to care for our bodies, and it is a right thing to give proper attention to the temple of the Holy Spirit, but we should not be over-occupied with the vessel that holds the divine treasure, “for bodily exercise profits (for a) little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (verse 8). Bodily exercise will profit us a little, but in a very small way in comparison with spiritual exercise that produces godliness. Godliness has its present rewards in spiritual growth, spiritual joy, and in the knowledge that we are living for God’s will and pleasure; and what is produced in us of Christ now by divine exercise will be found in the display of the world to come.

In 1 Tim. 4:7-10 Paul sounds out the praises of godliness. It has promise of the life that now is as well as of that which is to come, and hence is profitable to all things. This is declared to be a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, as much as is the saying that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." The godly man trusts in the living God as verse 10 indicates, and thereby brings Him into everything, even the smallest details of his life.

Now this is a thing in which we are to exercise ourselves. Bodily exercise profits for a little while, the spiritual exercise which results in godliness abides in its healthful effects for eternity. The young people who wish to be in first-rate physical trim willingly submit to a whole round of exercises. They rise early and get to work with their exerciser. The apostle urges us to be at least as much in earnest in our spiritual exercises as they are in their physical. Let us EXERCISE ourselves to godliness.

God's preserving mercy is specially active towards those that believe, so a simple trust in Him should mark us. It marked Paul and carried him through his labours and reproaches. We are to exercise ourselves to godliness. This is a mental exercise of far greater profit than mere bodily exercise. That is profitable in some small things whereas godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of life, both now and to eternity.

It is not that bodily exercise is not profitable, for it is and has its lawful place, but let it not be linked up with what is spiritual. We are not dead to nature, but nature has its place in believers who are to be controlled and upheld by the Spirit of God; it must not therefore intrude into the things of God.