The Grace Notes devotions in 2024 are based on verses from 1 Timothy. Each devotion includes Greek, pastoral ministry notes, and prayer.

This month we study a shorter section, 1 Tim 4:6-10. After warning Timothy about the dangers of false teaching, Paul instructs Timothy about what to teach and do as a good minister of Christ Jesus. “Go to the gym! Work out!” Paul says. But Paul is talking about spiritual γυμνασία. Working out physically is profitable for our body and health. No doubt about it. Working out spiritually is profitable for everything. It has absolute, intrinsic value….

⁶ Ταῦτα ὑποτιθέμενος τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς καλὸς ἔσῃ διάκονος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ, ἐντρεφόμενος τοῖς λόγοις τῆς πίστεως καὶ τῆς καλῆς διδασκαλίας ᾗ παρηκολούθηκας,  ⁷ τοὺς δὲ βεβήλους καὶ γραώδεις μύθους παραιτοῦ. γύμναζε δὲ σεαυτὸν πρὸς εὐσέβειαν·  ⁸ ἡ γὰρ σωματικὴ γυμνασία πρὸς ὀλίγον ἐστὶν ὠφέλιμος, ἡ δὲ εὐσέβεια πρὸς πάντα ὠφέλιμός ἐστιν, ἐπαγγελίαν ἔχουσα ζωῆς τῆς νῦν καὶ τῆς μελλούσης.  ⁹ πιστὸς ὁ λόγος καὶ πάσης ἀποδοχῆς ἄξιος,  ¹⁰ εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ κοπιῶμεν καὶ ὀνειδιζόμεθα, ὅτι ἠλπίκαμεν ἐπὶ θεῷ ζῶντι, ὅς ἐστιν σωτὴρ πάντων ἀνθρώπων, μάλιστα πιστῶν.

⁶ Ταῦτα ὑποτιθέμενος τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς καλὸς ἔσῃ διάκονος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ, ἐντρεφόμενος τοῖς λόγοις τῆς πίστεως καὶ τῆς καλῆς διδασκαλίας ᾗ παρηκολούθηκας,  ⁷ τοὺς δὲ βεβήλους καὶ γραώδεις μύθους παραιτοῦ.

Paul was an apostle of Christ Jesus. Timothy was a minister/servant of Christ Jesus. By God’s grace we are too. What an honor! A minister of Christ Jesus is καλὸς if he points out (ὑποτιθέμενος) the errors and dangers of ταῦτα (the false piety/asceticism described in vv. 1-5). A minister will be equipped to do this only as he nourishes himself regularly (ἐντρεφόμενος—present participle) on “the words of the faith”—the word of God in the Old Testament, in the Gospels, and in the writings of Christ’s apostles. The main verb comes at the end. It is an imperative. Reject or repudiate (παραιτοῦ) worthless (βεβήλους) and highly speculative (γραώδεις) myths. People naturally prefer human ideas about how to be right with God. Timothy has something better: the valuable and reliable good news of God, the saving message of the Lord Jesus Christ.

γύμναζε δὲ σεαυτὸν πρὸς εὐσέβειαν·  ⁸ ἡ γὰρ σωματικὴ γυμνασία πρὸς ὀλίγον ἐστὶν ὠφέλιμος, ἡ δὲ εὐσέβεια πρὸς πάντα ὠφέλιμός ἐστιν, ἐπαγγελίαν ἔχουσα ζωῆς τῆς νῦν καὶ τῆς μελλούσης. 

Paul commands Timothy to work out, in godliness and for godliness. Physical training has some value. Paul does not give the details. He quickly goes to spiritual training which is profitable and has value πρὸς πάντα. The Lord has ordained that true spiritual training will be beneficial for his people. It holds the promise of life—life as a believer in this world and life in the world to come. We don’t want to miss our daily walks or our weekly workouts because, sure, they are good for us. But reading, pondering, and praying through God’s word, such spiritual discipline is vital/essential for all things spiritual and eternal!

⁹ πιστὸς ὁ λόγος καὶ πάσης ἀποδοχῆς ἄξιος,  ¹⁰ εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ κοπιῶμεν καὶ ὀνειδιζόμεθα, ὅτι ἠλπίκαμεν ἐπὶ θεῷ ζῶντι, ὅς ἐστιν σωτὴρ πάντων ἀνθρώπων, μάλιστα πιστῶν.

So what is the faithful saying that is worthy of all acceptance? Is it what precedes or what follows? The NIV goes with verse 10, but there are good reasons to think that the faithful saying is verse 8, especially these words: ἡ δὲ εὐσέβεια πρὸς πάντα ὠφέλιμός ἐστιν. Perhaps we want to put these words on a sign in our office: “Godliness is useful for all things, for spiritual life now and for eternal life.” This godliness starts with a steady diet of God’s word and includes prayer and repentance. Because there is absolute, intrinsic value in spiritual training, we labor (κοπιῶμεν) and strive (ὀνειδιζόμεθα) in this matter, and we encourage our fellow pastors to do the same. As we work out spiritually, we put our hope in the living God who gives us life through the Savior who died for all people, especially believers. 

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, thank you for redeeming me through your Son and for making me your child. Thank you for watching over me. Every day I commend my body, my soul, and all things into your hands. Help me to be a good steward of my body, eating good food and getting some exercise. More importantly, help me to labor and strive in my study of your word, in my prayers, and in all my life, for your glory and for the benefit of the people I serve; through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.

P.S. For further reading, I recommend Pres. emeritus David Valleskey’s recent book, The Splendid Task of the Ministry: A Pastoral Commentary on the Pastoral Epistles (NPH, 2023).

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