Verse
1 Timothy 4:8 — For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable…
“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.”
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Read it in context
The verses around 1 Timothy 4:8.
6If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
7But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
8For 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.
9This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
10For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
Verse explanation
Paul compares physical training, something highly valued in the Greek culture of the time because of the athletic games, with cultivating the spiritual life, which he considers more profitable and longer-lasting in its effect. It isn’t a rejection of caring for the body, it’s a matter of priority and scope.
From the 1 Timothy 4 study in Bible in Stories.
1 Timothy 4:8 in other versions
The same verse in the 4 Bible versions we have on the site.
- KJV · King James
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.
Read the chapter in this version → - ARC · Almeida 1911Português
Porque o exercicio corporal para pouco aproveita, mas a piedade para tudo é proveitosa, tendo a promessa da vida presente e da que ha de vir.
Read the chapter in this version → - BLIVRE · Bíblia LivrePortuguês
Pois o exercício do corpo tem pouco proveito; mas a devoção divina é proveitosa para tudo, pois tem as promessas da vida atual e da futura.
Read the chapter in this version → - VBL · Versión Biblia LibreEspañol
porque aunque el ejercicio físico es útil hasta cierta medida, el ejercicio espiritual es más útil aún. Pues “trae consigo promesa para la vida presente y para la vida venidera”.
Read the chapter in this version →
In other languages: Português (1 Timóteo 4:8) · Español (1 Timoteo 4:8)
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