1 Timothy 4:8
New International Version
For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

New Living Translation
“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”

English Standard Version
for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Berean Standard Bible
For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come.

Berean Literal Bible
For bodily exercise is of a little profit, but godliness is profitable for everything, holding the promise of the present life and of the one coming.

King James Bible
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

New King James Version
For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

New American Standard Bible
for bodily training is just slightly beneficial, but godliness is beneficial for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

NASB 1995
for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

NASB 1977
for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Legacy Standard Bible
for bodily training is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Amplified Bible
For physical training is of some value, but godliness (spiritual training) is of value in everything and in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.

Christian Standard Bible
For the training of the body has limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
for the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

American Standard Version
for bodily exercise is profitable for a little; but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For exercise of the body profits a little for this time, but righteousness profits in everything, and it has the promise of life for this time and of the future.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For bodily exercise is profitable to little: but godliness is profitable to all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

English Revised Version
for bodily exercise is profitable for a little; but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Training the body helps a little, but godly living helps in every way. Godly living has the promise of life now and in the world to come.

Good News Translation
Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way, because it promises life both for the present and for the future.

International Standard Version
Physical exercise is of limited value, but Godliness is very dear, a pledge of life, both there and here.

Literal Standard Version
for bodily exercise is to little profit, but piety is profitable to all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is coming;

Majority Standard Bible
For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come.

New American Bible
for, while physical training is of limited value, devotion is valuable in every respect, since it holds a promise of life both for the present and for the future.

NET Bible
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."

New Revised Standard Version
for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

New Heart English Bible
For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value in all things, having the promise of the life which is now, and of that which is to come.

Webster's Bible Translation
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable to all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

Weymouth New Testament
Train yourself in godliness. Exercise for the body is not useless, but godliness is useful in every respect, possessing, as it does, the promise of Life now and of the Life which is soon coming.

World English Bible
For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value in all things, having the promise of the life which is now and of that which is to come.

Young's Literal Translation
for the bodily exercise is unto little profit, and the piety is to all things profitable, a promise having of the life that now is, and of that which is coming;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Good Minister of Jesus Christ
7But reject irreverent, silly myths. Instead, train yourself for godliness. 8For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come. 9This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance.…

Cross References
Job 36:11
If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness.

Psalm 37:9
For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

Psalm 37:11
But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity.

Proverbs 19:23
The fear of the LORD leads to life, that one may rest content, without visitation from harm.

Proverbs 22:4
The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORD are wealth and honor and life.

Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

Matthew 12:32
Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come.


Treasury of Scripture

For bodily exercise profits little: but godliness is profitable to all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

bodily.

1 Samuel 15:22
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Psalm 50:7-15
Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God…

Isaiah 1:11-16
To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats…

little.

Hebrews 9:9,10
Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; …

godliness.

1 Timothy 6:6
But godliness with contentment is great gain.

Job 22:2
Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?

Titus 3:8
This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

having.

Deuteronomy 28:1-14
And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: …

Job 5:19-26
He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee…

Psalm 37:3,4,16-19,29
Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed…

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Bodily Body Discipline Exercise Godliness Holding Holds Hope Life Physical Piety Possessing Present Profit Profitable Profiteth Promise Religion Respect Soon Train Training Useful Useless Value Way
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Bodily Body Discipline Exercise Godliness Holding Holds Hope Life Physical Piety Possessing Present Profit Profitable Profiteth Promise Religion Respect Soon Train Training Useful Useless Value Way
1 Timothy 4
1. He foretells that in the latter times there shall be a departure from the faith.
6. And to the end that Timothy might not fail in doing his duty, he furnishes him with various precepts.














(8) For bodily exercise profiteth little.--More accurately rendered, bodily exercise is profitable for little. St. Paul here, no doubt, was thinking of those bodily austerities alluded to in 1Timothy 4:3. The stern repression of all human passions and desires, the abstinence from all compliance with the natural impulses of the flesh--such an unnatural warfare, such an exercise, such a training of the body, no doubt in many cases would lead, in many cases certainly has led, the individual to a higher spiritual state. Such a total surrender for the one who so exercises himself is, no doubt, in a certain sense, "profitable." But then it must be remembered that this kind of victory over the flesh, in very many instances, leads to an unnatural state of mind; for the rigid ascetic has removed himself from the platform on which ordinary men and women move. His thoughts have ceased to be their thoughts, his ways are no longer their ways. For practical everyday life such an influence, always limited, is at times positively harmful, as its tendency is to depreciate that home-life and family-life, to raise and elevate which is the true object of Christian teaching. Still, the Apostle, while remembering, and in his teaching ever carrying out, the spirit of the Lord's solemn prayer to the Father, "I pray, not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil," refrains from an entire condemnation of a life which received, on more than one occasion, from the lips of the Sinless One a guarded commendation (Matthew 17:21; Matthew 19:12).

St. Paul, in his divinely-taught wisdom, recognises that such an austere and severe example and life, though by no means the ideal life of a Christian teacher, yet in the great world workshop of the Master might receive a blessing as "profitable for little."

But godliness is profitable unto all things.--Better, for all things. But while this "bodily exorcise," this austere subduing of the flesh, can only weigh with a narrow and circumscribed group, St. Paul points out that the influence of "godliness is world-wide;" a godliness, not merely an inward holiness, but an operative, active piety, which, springing from an intense love for Christ, manifests itself in love for His creatures. This godliness transfigures, and illumines with its divine radiance all busy, active life--every condition, every rank, all ages. That surely is what the good minister of Jesus Christ must aim at!

Having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.--For this godliness, which may and ought to enter into all states, all ages of life, promises the greatest happiness to those who struggle after it. It promises "life"--that is, the highest blessedness which the creature can enjoy in this world--as well as the rich prospect of the endless life with God in the world to come; whereas a false asceticism crushes out all the joy and gladness of this present life, and is an unreal preparation for that which is future.

Verse 8. - Is profitable for a little for profiteth little, A.V.; for, for unto, A.V.; which for that, A.V. Bodily exercise. Exercise which only affects the body, such as those rules which the Jewish ascetics enforced. Γυμνασία only occurs here in the New Testament, and not at all in the LXX., but is not uncommon in classical Greek. Another form is γύμνασις, and γυμνάσιον is the place where such γύμνασις takes place. For a little; margin, for little, which is the best rendering, Πρὸς ὀλίγον, as Ellicott well remarks, may mean either "for a little while" or "for a little" (better, "for little"), but cannot mean both. The contrast with πρὸς πάντα determines its meaning here to be "for little," which is exactly the same meaning as the A.V. Promise of the life. The genitive here is the genitive of the thing promised, as in Acts 2:33; Galatians 3:14; 2 Timothy 1:1. And the thing promised is "the life that now is," meaning, of course, its enjoyment in peace and happiness (comp. Psalm 34:12 [33, LXX]., where θέλων ζωήν is parallel to ἀγαπῶν ἡμέρας... ἀγαθάς); and "that which is to come," viz. eternal life). There is no occasion to strain after greater grammatical precision. There is no contradiction between tiffs statement of the happiness of a godly life and St. Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 15:19. Another possible way of construing the words is that of Bishop Ellicott and the 'Speaker's Commentary:' "Having the promise of life, both the present and the future." But in this case we should have had τῆς τε νῦν καὶ κ.τ.λ.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

physical
σωματικὴ (sōmatikē)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4984: Bodily, corporeal. From soma; corporeal or physical.

exercise
γυμνασία (gymnasia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1129: (physical) exercise, in a wide sense. From gumnazo; training, i.e. asceticism.

is
ἐστὶν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

of
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

limited
ὀλίγον (oligon)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3641: Puny; especially neuter somewhat.

value,
ὠφέλιμος (ōphelimos)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5624: Profitable, beneficial, useful. From a form of ophelos; helpful or serviceable, i.e. Advantageous.

but
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

godliness
εὐσέβεια (eusebeia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2150: Piety (towards God), godliness, devotion, godliness. From eusebes; piety; specially, the gospel scheme.

is
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

valuable
ὠφέλιμός (ōphelimos)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5624: Profitable, beneficial, useful. From a form of ophelos; helpful or serviceable, i.e. Advantageous.

in
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

every [way],
πάντα (panta)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

holding
ἔχουσα (echousa)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

promise
ἐπαγγελίαν (epangelian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1860: A promise. From epaggello; an announcement.

for the
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

present
νῦν (nyn)
Adverb
Strong's 3568: A primary particle of present time; 'now'; also as noun or adjective present or immediate.

life
ζωῆς (zōēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2222: Life, both of physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence. From zao; life.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

for the [one]
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

to come.
μελλούσης (mellousēs)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3195: A strengthened form of melo; to intend, i.e. Be about to be, do, or suffer something.


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NT Letters: 1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise has some value (1 Tim. 1Ti iTi 1tim i Tm)
1 Timothy 4:7
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