1Ti 4:7, 2Ti 2:16 | JFB | STEP | 7. refuse —reject, avoid, have nothing to do with ( ). old wives' fables —anile myths ( ). They are "profane," because leading away from "godliness" or "piety" ( ). 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 ( ; compare ), but with a view to godliness or "piety" ( ).

1 Timothy 4:7

7. 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; Heb 5:14; 12:11), but with a view to godliness or "piety" (1Ti 6:11, 12).

2 Timothy 2:16

16. shun—literally, "stand above," separate from, and superior to.

vain—opposed to "the truth" (2Ti 2:15).

babblings—with loud voice: opposed to the temperate "word" (Tit 3:9).

increase—Greek, advance"; literally, "strike forward": an image from pioneers cutting away all obstacles before an advancing army. They pretend progress; the only kind of progress they make is to a greater pitch of impiety.

more ungodliness—Greek, "a greater degree of impiety."