“But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 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” 1 Tim 4:7-8.
When some talk on caring for the body this text is commonly quoted. Some who oppose exercising (for fear of vanity) will say that “bodily exercise profiteth little”, or that there’s not much advantage to it. Then there are others who will say that “bodily exercise profiteth little”, or that physical exercise does profit for the little time we have on earth.
Now I truly believe from what the Bible says that we ought to be concerned with our physical health and with what we do with our bodies (see 1 Cor 6:19-20; 1 Cor 9:27; Eph 5:29; etc). I also believe that 1 Tim 4:7-8 speaks to the proper maintenance of our body…NOT when it comes to physical exercise, but when it comes to sin. Paul tells Timothy to refuse “profane and old wives’ fables” of the Jewish traditions, for example: Abstinence from certain meats and other acts that passed for mortification and self-denial of the body, yet profited little or turned to little account. Some today may try and mortify their body with traditions and fables, but what good will it do if sin be not mortified? “But godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come”.
The Pastor\'s Pen 