One of Life’s Greatest Needs

Topic: Discipline
Passage: 1 Timothy 4:1–10

March 15, 2022

Commentary

The danger that Timothy faced in Ephesus came from people in the church who were following Greek philosophers who taught that the body was evil and that only the soul mattered. Good appearances are not enough. If a teaching contradicts the Bible, it is false. Paul warned Timothy of those who would deliberately withdraw from the faith they once professed (vv. 1-2). They come under the influence of spirits commanded by Satan and no longer have a conscience for the things of God. Men arose who tried to be stricter than God. They forbid marriage and commanded abstinence from meats (vv. 3-4). Do you want to know if something is good for you or not? Here’s the test: (1) does God’s word condemn it? (Acts 15 is part of God’s Word) & (2) is my prayer life hampered by it? 

The word Paul uses here for discipline comes from the Greek word for “gymnasium” and “gymnastics.” It means to train or to exercise. This word conveys the idea of rigorous, strenuous, self-sacrificing training an athlete undergoes. In Paul’s day, physical fitness was the rage like it is today. No matter what Greek city you went to you would find a gymnasium. There was great emphasis in the Greek culture on physical training and in gaining glory from the winning of athletic events. Timothy was to channel God’s truth to others; he was to have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales (vv. 6-7). Paul introduced an athletic image with the words “exercise thyself “(v. 7). But Timothy’s training was to be for godliness, not physical fitness. As valuable as physical fitness may be, spiritual fitness, or godliness is much more valuable (v. 8). Physical fitness is profitable only “for a little, but godliness is profitable for all things,” not merely in this present life but in the life to come. To this end, said Paul, we labor and strive to develop the godliness (vv. 9-10). His hope was set, not on himself, some philosophy of life, other men, or nonexistent gods, but in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.  

Application

I would like to learning how to live a more disciplined life in Christ. It isn’t so much the learning of new truths but simply putting into practice the truths I already know, and this takes discipline.

1 Timothy 4:1– 10 (NET)

1 Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will desert the faith and occupy themselves with deceiving spirits and demonic teachings, 2 influenced by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared. 3 They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creation of God is good and no food is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. 5 For it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer.

6 By pointing out such things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, having nourished yourself on the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7 But reject those myths fit only for the godless and gullible, and train yourself for godliness. 8 For “physical exercise has some value, but godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.” 9 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. 10 In fact this is why we work hard and struggle, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of believers.