1Ti 4:8 | KingComments | STEP | . Paul orders Timothy to point out “these things” he just mentioned, to the believers. He doesn’t give this order as a command. He appeals to Timothy as someone who wants to be “a good servant of Christ Jesus”. He neither says that Timothy must command the believers to consider what he has said regarding marriage and the consumption of food. He has to ‘point out’ these things. He ought to tell them with sensitivity about what God has meant with marriage and food and drink. It is not only about passing them on in words, but that he also makes it effective for the listeners. In that way he will lay a foundation under the teaching of Paul which in this letter is particularly about the conduct in God’s house. It also concerns everyday matters like weddings and the consumption of food. When he performs his duty in that way he ‘will be a good servant’, in whom Christ Jesus is being glorified. ‘Servant’ is not an official function, but it indicates an action. It is simply about a person who serves Christ. You can be that too. A good servant takes care of the saints. He also takes care of his own spiritual health by feeding himself with the Word. “The words of faith” have “nourished” him; he has been and he is being nourished and formed by it. The words of faith are the words that the faith needs, words that strengthens the faith. Those are the words of God’s Word and those are the daily nourishment of the servant. I hope that God’s Word is also your daily nourishment. By the “sound doctrine”, which implies the truths that are revealed in the Scripture, the servant is being kept alive spiritually. Timothy has, after a careful study of the sound doctrine, appropriated this doctrine for himself and has “been following” it ( ; cf. ). That has become visible in his service. Only then is a person able to instruct others what he has learnt. It is also important for you to take in the doctrine of the Scripture first and to practice it before you instruct anything to others ( ). . What contradicts the words of the faith and the sound doctrine are “worldly fables fit only for old women”. Paul orders to always reject and condemn this empty talk of silly old chatterboxes. It is in no way in accordance with the things from God and can therefore not nourish the believers. These foolish imaginations are nourishment for gullible people who turn away from God and His Word. They nourish themselves with things that are no food. After the order to reject something Timothy receives the order to discipline himself in something. Paul calls out to him: “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.” That means to exercise or train yourself in what pleases God. You focus on asking yourself in everything you do whether it is the will of God. With this discipline (literally: gymnastics) is not meant intellectual gymnastics to increase your memory, but how your heart and conscience are being disciplined in God’s presence in learning to know His will. . This is a learning process where the point is to bring everything, including the small details, to God and to make Him guide you step by step. This discipline will never come to an end on earth. That is different from the “bodily discipline”, which is “only of little profit”. The profit of bodily exercise is measurable and limited to a certain time. It in no way affects eternal life, the life after this life. Neither is it of any use there. However, the discipline for the purpose of Godliness is not only profitable for the body, but also for the spirit and soul. Paul doesn’t plea for an abstinence of everything regarding the body. He only wants to put it in the true perspective. In the comparison between bodily discipline and the discipline in Godliness the balance must be completely tipped to the side of the commitment to get disciplined in Godliness. His goal is to show that the spiritual training has an immeasurable value, while the bodily training has only a very limited profit. When there is Godliness things are seen in the light of God. Discipline for the purpose of Godliness brings spirit, soul and body in God’s presence. God promises to show the true meaning of life to those who exercise in it and to give strength to implement this. The value of such a life on earth is already great to God and to the believer himself and this value will also remain in the future. If you focus on God and on doing His will He will fulfill His promise to you. Then you will already enjoy fellowship with God in “the present life” and you will continue to do so in “the [life] to come”. You take it along with you out of this life into eternity. . You can be sure that it is like that. With the assertion “it is a trustworthy statement” and the encouragement “deserving full acceptance” the importance of the discipline for the purpose of Godliness is underlined. Because this saying is that trustworthy (God has said it after all) it deserves full acceptance. He who doesn’t accept it, deficits himself tremendously. You can be sure that this saying is truly profitable. . It is in any case a saying that means everything to Paul. He has a right view of that promise. He knows that that promise ought to be the center in the life of each believer. Therefore he points out to Timothy his commitment “for this”. With the efforts of all his strength, right up to the brink of exhaustion (that is what the word “labor” means) he wants to convince the believers, including you, to discipline themselves for the purpose of Godliness. It is really a tough job to ‘keep the minds’ of believers on this because we all easily forget what our life is all about. When you occupy yourself with it, it will also cause battle. You will definitely face powers that want to guide believers the other way. Paul does not avoid the battle that goes together with it. I hope you don’t either. Bodily discipline is often about the honor of men. In order to persevere in the spiritual labor and battle you should not focus on that, but on the honor of God. Paul fixes his hope on “the living God”. That’s where he draws his strength from to be able to do his heavy duty and to fight the battle that goes together with it. Paul focuses on Him alone. There also is the strength for the service that Timothy has to achieve and also for you and your service. Of that service people are the object. God Himself gives the example of that service by being the “Savior of all men” as ‘the living God’. The purpose is that they will respond to what God asks of them: to live a Godly life. Only in a life with that quality man finds his true destination and satisfaction. Every other fulfillment of his life dishonors God and is damaging to man himself. God is ‘the living God’. He, Who has always existed, is the source of life. All life originates from Him. Real life is the life He gives and that is lived for Him. There is no life outside of Him. People who live outside of Him are dead. In a way all people do enjoy what the believers enjoy unlimited. Although unbelievers do not give thanks to Him for it, He feeds their bodies. He is the ‘Savior’ or ‘Sustainer’ of it. He is not the Savior of the unbelievers in the sense that they are eternally saved, but in the sense that He takes care of them by giving them food ( ). God doesn’t despise anything of His creation, not the food nor marriage and nor also man. Paul, who has no guarantees for a livelihood, knows for sure that God Who is the Savior of all men, is this “especially of believers” (cf. ; ; ). The assurance of the apostle applies also to you, whatever the test is that you may experience now. It is a good thing to look at the immeasurable privileges you may enjoy as a saved sinner and to be grateful to have eternal life and a heavenly hope. But also never forget the continual and loving care of God that He shows you in everyday matters. . Timothy has to “prescribe” the previous matters. ‘Prescribe’ is a stronger word than ‘pointing out’ in . He ought to bring forward authoritatively that the negative things quoted, should be omitted and that the positive things should be done. He also ought to “teach these things”, which means that he has to explain what is being prescribed. Now read 1 Timothy 4:6-11 again. Reflection: How do you exercise yourself in Godliness?

‏ 1 Timothy 4:8

Discipline for the Purpose of Godliness

1Tim 4:6. Paul orders Timothy to point out “these things” he just mentioned, to the believers. He doesn’t give this order as a command. He appeals to Timothy as someone who wants to be “a good servant of Christ Jesus”. He neither says that Timothy must command the believers to consider what he has said regarding marriage and the consumption of food. He has to ‘point out’ these things.

He ought to tell them with sensitivity about what God has meant with marriage and food and drink. It is not only about passing them on in words, but that he also makes it effective for the listeners. In that way he will lay a foundation under the teaching of Paul which in this letter is particularly about the conduct in God’s house. It also concerns everyday matters like weddings and the consumption of food.

When he performs his duty in that way he ‘will be a good servant’, in whom Christ Jesus is being glorified. ‘Servant’ is not an official function, but it indicates an action. It is simply about a person who serves Christ. You can be that too. A good servant takes care of the saints.

He also takes care of his own spiritual health by feeding himself with the Word. “The words of faith” have “nourished” him; he has been and he is being nourished and formed by it. The words of faith are the words that the faith needs, words that strengthens the faith. Those are the words of God’s Word and those are the daily nourishment of the servant. I hope that God’s Word is also your daily nourishment.

By the “sound doctrine”, which implies the truths that are revealed in the Scripture, the servant is being kept alive spiritually. Timothy has, after a careful study of the sound doctrine, appropriated this doctrine for himself and has “been following” it (2Tim 3:10; cf. Acts 17:11). That has become visible in his service. Only then is a person able to instruct others what he has learnt. It is also important for you to take in the doctrine of the Scripture first and to practice it before you instruct anything to others (Ezra 7:10).

1Tim 4:7. What contradicts the words of the faith and the sound doctrine are “worldly fables fit only for old women”. Paul orders to always reject and condemn this empty talk of silly old chatterboxes. It is in no way in accordance with the things from God and can therefore not nourish the believers. These foolish imaginations are nourishment for gullible people who turn away from God and His Word. They nourish themselves with things that are no food.

After the order to reject something Timothy receives the order to discipline himself in something. Paul calls out to him: “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.” That means to exercise or train yourself in what pleases God. You focus on asking yourself in everything you do whether it is the will of God. With this discipline (literally: gymnastics) is not meant intellectual gymnastics to increase your memory, but how your heart and conscience are being disciplined in God’s presence in learning to know His will.

1Tim 4:8. This is a learning process where the point is to bring everything, including the small details, to God and to make Him guide you step by step. This discipline will never come to an end on earth. That is different from the “bodily discipline”, which is “only of little profit”. The profit of bodily exercise is measurable and limited to a certain time. It in no way affects eternal life, the life after this life. Neither is it of any use there. However, the discipline for the purpose of Godliness is not only profitable for the body, but also for the spirit and soul.

Paul doesn’t plea for an abstinence of everything regarding the body. He only wants to put it in the true perspective. In the comparison between bodily discipline and the discipline in Godliness the balance must be completely tipped to the side of the commitment to get disciplined in Godliness. His goal is to show that the spiritual training has an immeasurable value, while the bodily training has only a very limited profit.

When there is Godliness things are seen in the light of God. Discipline for the purpose of Godliness brings spirit, soul and body in God’s presence. God promises to show the true meaning of life to those who exercise in it and to give strength to implement this. The value of such a life on earth is already great to God and to the believer himself and this value will also remain in the future. If you focus on God and on doing His will He will fulfill His promise to you. Then you will already enjoy fellowship with God in “the present life” and you will continue to do so in “the [life] to come”. You take it along with you out of this life into eternity.

1Tim 4:9. You can be sure that it is like that. With the assertion “it is a trustworthy statement” and the encouragement “deserving full acceptance” the importance of the discipline for the purpose of Godliness is underlined. Because this saying is that trustworthy (God has said it after all) it deserves full acceptance. He who doesn’t accept it, deficits himself tremendously. You can be sure that this saying is truly profitable.

1Tim 4:10. It is in any case a saying that means everything to Paul. He has a right view of that promise. He knows that that promise ought to be the center in the life of each believer. Therefore he points out to Timothy his commitment “for this”. With the efforts of all his strength, right up to the brink of exhaustion (that is what the word “labor” means) he wants to convince the believers, including you, to discipline themselves for the purpose of Godliness.

It is really a tough job to ‘keep the minds’ of believers on this because we all easily forget what our life is all about. When you occupy yourself with it, it will also cause battle. You will definitely face powers that want to guide believers the other way. Paul does not avoid the battle that goes together with it. I hope you don’t either.

Bodily discipline is often about the honor of men. In order to persevere in the spiritual labor and battle you should not focus on that, but on the honor of God. Paul fixes his hope on “the living God”. That’s where he draws his strength from to be able to do his heavy duty and to fight the battle that goes together with it. Paul focuses on Him alone. There also is the strength for the service that Timothy has to achieve and also for you and your service.

Of that service people are the object. God Himself gives the example of that service by being the “Savior of all men” as ‘the living God’. The purpose is that they will respond to what God asks of them: to live a Godly life. Only in a life with that quality man finds his true destination and satisfaction. Every other fulfillment of his life dishonors God and is damaging to man himself.

God is ‘the living God’. He, Who has always existed, is the source of life. All life originates from Him. Real life is the life He gives and that is lived for Him. There is no life outside of Him. People who live outside of Him are dead.

In a way all people do enjoy what the believers enjoy unlimited. Although unbelievers do not give thanks to Him for it, He feeds their bodies. He is the ‘Savior’ or ‘Sustainer’ of it. He is not the Savior of the unbelievers in the sense that they are eternally saved, but in the sense that He takes care of them by giving them food (Acts 14:17). God doesn’t despise anything of His creation, not the food nor marriage and nor also man.

Paul, who has no guarantees for a livelihood, knows for sure that God Who is the Savior of all men, is this “especially of believers” (cf. Phil 4:19; Rom 8:32; 1Pet 3:12). The assurance of the apostle applies also to you, whatever the test is that you may experience now. It is a good thing to look at the immeasurable privileges you may enjoy as a saved sinner and to be grateful to have eternal life and a heavenly hope. But also never forget the continual and loving care of God that He shows you in everyday matters.

1Tim 4:11. Timothy has to “prescribe” the previous matters. ‘Prescribe’ is a stronger word than ‘pointing out’ in 1Tim 4:6. He ought to bring forward authoritatively that the negative things quoted, should be omitted and that the positive things should be done. He also ought to “teach these things”, which means that he has to explain what is being prescribed.

Now read 1 Timothy 4:6-11 again.

Reflection: How do you exercise yourself in Godliness?