1 Timothy 4:7

But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. REFUSE - have nothing to do with (2 Timothy 2:22; Titus 3:10). (THE) OLD WIVES' FABLES - which are so current (Titus 1:14): "profane" because leading away from "godliness," true worship and piety (1 Timothy 1:4; 1 Timothy 1:7; 1 Timothy 6:20;...

7_Exercise thyself to godliness _(74) After having instructed him as to doctrine, what it ought to be, he now also admonishes him what kind of example he ought to give to others. He says, that he ought to be employed in “godliness;” for, when he says, _Exercise thyself_, he means that this is his proper occupation, his labor, his chief care. As if he had said, “There is no reason why you should weary yourself to no purpose about other matters; you will do that which is of the highest importance, if you devote yourself, with all your zeal, and with all your ability, to godliness alone.” By the word _godliness, _he means the spiritual worship of God which consists in purity of conscience; which is still more evident from what follows, when it is contrasted with bodily exercise....

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 will he be the Rewarder of those who seek and serve him; he will provide well for those whom he has made new creatures....

Verse 7. _BUT 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 _Joseline's_ Life of St. Patrick for miracles, without rhyme or reason, abundantly more numerous and more stupendous than all the _necessary_ ones wrought by Jesus Christ and his apostles. This is enough to persuade a man that the Spirit of God had these very corruptions and this corrupt Church particularly in view. _EXERCISE THYSELF_ rather _unto godliness._] To understand this expression it is necessary to know that th...

BUT 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.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 us, in the sense of silly. FABLES - Fictions, or stories that were not founded on fact. The pagan religion abounded with fictions of this kind, and the Jewish teachers were also remarkable for the number of such fables which they had introduced into their system. It is probable that the apostle referred here particularl

EXPOSITION 1 TIMOTHY 4:1 _But _for _now_,_ _A.V.; _saith _for _speaketh_,_ _A.V.;_ later _for _the latter_,_ _A.V.;_ fall away _for _depart_,_ _A.V. THE SPIRIT SAITH EXPRESSLY (ῥητῶς);_ _only here in the New Testament, and very rare in classical Greek. But the adjective ῥητός, in the sense of something "laid down," "definite.... expressly mentioned," is common. It was, doubtless, on account of these prophetic warnings of a falling away from the faith, that the apostle gave the preceding heads of Christian doctrine in such a terse and tangible form, and laid such a solemn charge upon Timothy. (For examples of these prophetic utterances, see Acts 11:28;...

BUT REFUSE PROFANE AND OLD WIVES' FABLES,.... Either Jewish ones, the traditions of the elders; or those of the Gnostics, concerning God, angels, and the creation of the world; or those doctrines of demons, and which forbad marriage, and commanded abstinence from meats before mentioned; which are called profane, because impious and ungodly, and old wives' fables, because foolish and impertinent; and which were to be rejected with abhorrence and contempt, in comparison of the words of faith and good doctrine. AND EXERCISE THYSELF RATHER UNTO GODLINESS; either to the doctrines which are according to godliness, and tend to godly edification, which the above fables did not, study these, meditate on them, digest them, and deliver them to others; or to a godly life and conversation, exercise thyself, to have a conscience void of offence to God and men; or to internal religion, inward godlines...

IV. CONCERNING THE LATTER-DAY APOSTASY CHAPTER 4 _ 1. What the Spirit has predicted (1 Timothy 4:1)_ 2. The remedies against apostasy (1 Timothy 4:6) 1 Timothy 4:1 The mystery of godliness having been mentioned, the apostle speaks of Satan's power in opposition to the faith and truth of God (the mystery of godliness here, and the mystery of iniquity in 2 Thessalonians). “But the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons.” It is a prophetic warning. Paul had given a similar warning to the Ephesian elders gathered at Miletus a number of years before, and elsewhere in the New Testament t

THE TREATMENT NEEDED. Timothy must meet the errors by (_a)_ personal example (1 Timothy 4:6) and (_b_) diligent teaching (1 Timothy 4:11). In combating error he must continually draw his strength from the doctrinal statements hitherto followed by him. The silly myths that are current (1 Timothy 1:3 *) he must reject. The fully-developed asceticism of 1 Timothy 4:3 lies in the future, but in these fables its _principles_ are already contained. Let him furtner counteract the evil by himself exhibiting the _true_ self-discipline that which aims at producing piety. For a reliable truth while mere bodily s

THE SERVICE OF GOD OR THE SERVICE OF SATAN (1 Timothy 4:1-5)...