Godliness verses Profane and Old Wives' Fables 1 Timothy 4:7

As Paul the apostle continued to instruct his young protege' Timothy concerning overseeing the church in Ephesus, he told him, “If you put the brethren in remembrance of these things, you shall be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto you have attained”. Paul knew the importance of sharing the truth with the church members because false teachers and doctrine were going to manifest themselves within the church. In chapter four and verse seven of his letter to Timothy, Paul tells Timothy to “refuse profane and old wives fables” and to “exercise” himself to “godliness” where we read:

But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself rather unto godliness.

The verse begins, “But refuse profane and old wives' fables,...” Paul began this verse with the word, “But” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be stated takes precedence over what was previously stated. In this case Paul is referring to putting the “brethren in remembrance” of the ideas of truth, and he adds, “refuse” or “avert by entreaty or deprecate” “profane” which means “unhallowed, common and ungodly” “and old wives'” or “old womanish” “fables” which is the Greek word “mythos” and means “narratives, stories, fictions, inventions and falsehoods”. Timothy was to avoid and avert aligning himself with “old wives' tales” and continue in the truth.

The verse continues, “...and exercise yourself rather unto godliness.” Paul continued, “and exercise” which is the Greek word “gymnazo” and means “to work out vigorously, in any way, either the body or the mind; to train” “yourself” or “your own self” “rather unto” which means “to the advantage of, at, near, by, to, towards, with and with regard to” “godliness” which is “reverence, respect and piety towards God”. Rather than involve himself in “profane and old wive's” tales, Timothy was to train himself in “reverence, respect and piety” for the things of God.

When we meditate upon Paul's words, we can see the strong advantage of aligning with these words. “Ungodly and common wives' tales” have been around for millenniums, and accepting them is quite common behavior among people. Timothy was to “refuse” or “avert” these “fables” and train himself to pay attention to “godliness”. We too can benefit by rejecting the profane “fables” pontificated by others as though it is the truth, and “exercise” ourselves in “Godly” things. Perhaps we would be best served by going to the “gym of godliness”, “exercise” our spirits in the things of Jesus Christ, and allow all those who follow after “profane and old wives' fables” to keep their stories to themselves.

Next time Paul shares about “bodily exercise” and “godliness”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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