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1 Timothy 4

1 Tim. 4:8 KJV (With Strong’s)

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8
For
pros (Greek #4314)
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated)
KJV usage: about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), X together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at.
Pronounce: pros
Origin: a strengthened form of 4253
esti (Greek #2076)
he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are
KJV usage: are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.
Pronounce: es-tee'
Origin: third person singular present indicative of 1510
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
gar (Greek #1063)
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
KJV usage: and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.
Pronounce: gar
Origin: a primary particle
bodily
somatikos (Greek #4984)
corporeal or physical
KJV usage: bodily.
Pronounce: so-mat-ee-kos'
Origin: from 4983
exercise
gumnasia (Greek #1129)
training, i.e. (figuratively) asceticism
KJV usage: exercise.
Pronounce: goom-nas-ee'-ah
Origin: from 1128
profiteth
Greek #5624
helpful or serviceable, i.e. advantageous
KJV usage: profit(-able).
Pronounce: o-fel'-ee-mos
Origin: from a form of 3786
ξlittle
oligos (Greek #3641)
puny (in extent, degree, number, duration or value); especially neuter (adverbially) somewhat
KJV usage: + almost, brief(-ly), few, (a) little, + long, a season, short, small, a while.
Pronounce: ol-ee'-gos
Origin: of uncertain affinity
: but
de (Greek #1161)
but, and, etc.
KJV usage: also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
Pronounce: deh
Origin: a primary particle (adversative or continuative)
godliness
eusebeia (Greek #2150)
piety; specially, the gospel scheme
KJV usage: godliness, holiness.
Pronounce: yoo-seb'-i-ah
Origin: from 2152
o is
esti (Greek #2076)
he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are
KJV usage: are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.
Pronounce: es-tee'
Origin: third person singular present indicative of 1510
profitable
Greek #5624
helpful or serviceable, i.e. advantageous
KJV usage: profit(-able).
Pronounce: o-fel'-ee-mos
Origin: from a form of 3786
unto
pros (Greek #4314)
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated)
KJV usage: about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), X together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at.
Pronounce: pros
Origin: a strengthened form of 4253
all things
pas (Greek #3956)
apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole
KJV usage: all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.
Pronounce: pas
Origin: including all the forms of declension
, having
echo (Greek #2192)
(used in certain tenses only) a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition)
KJV usage: be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.
Pronounce: ekh'-o
Origin: σχέω (skheh'-o)
promise
epaggelia (Greek #1860)
an announcement (for information, assent or pledge; especially a divine assurance of good)
KJV usage: message, promise.
Pronounce: ep-ang-el-ee'-ah
Origin: from 1861
p of the life
zoe (Greek #2222)
life (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: life(-time). Compare 5590.
Pronounce: dzo-ay'
Origin: from 2198
that now is
nun (Greek #3568)
"now" (as adverb of date, a transition or emphasis); also as noun or adjective present or immediate
KJV usage: henceforth, + hereafter, of late, soon, present, this (time). See also 3569, 3570.
Pronounce: noon
Origin: a primary particle of present time
, and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
of that which is to come
mello (Greek #3195)
to intend, i.e. be about to be, do, or suffer something (of persons or things, especially events; in the sense of purpose, duty, necessity, probability, possibility, or hesitation)
KJV usage: about, after that, be (almost), (that which is, things, + which was for) to come, intend, was to (be), mean, mind, be at the point, (be) ready, + return, shall (begin), (which, that) should (after, afterwards, hereafter) tarry, which was for, will, would, be yet.
Pronounce: mel'-lo
Origin: a strengthened form of 3199 (through the idea of expectation)
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ξ
or,for a little time.
o
1 Tim. 6:6• 6But piety with contentment is great gain. (1 Tim. 6:6)
p
Psa. 84:11• 11For a sun and a shield [is] Jehovah God;{HR}Grace and glory will Jehovah give,{HR}No good thing will he withhold from those that walk uprightly. (Psa. 84:11)

More on:

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Godliness,
Life

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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bodily.
1 Sam. 15:22• 22And Samuel said,{HR}Hath Jehovah as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,{HR}As in obeying the voice of Jehovah?{HR}Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,{HR}And to hearken than the fat of rams. (1 Sam. 15:22)
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Psa. 50:7‑15• 7Hear, my people, and I will speak;{HR}O Israel, and I will testify unto (against) thee:{HR}God, thy God [am] I.
 8I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices{HR}And thy burnt offerings continually before me.
 9I will take no bullock out of thy house,{HR}[Nor] he-goats out of thy folds.
 10For mine [is] every beast of the forest,{HR}Cattle upon a thousand hills ;
 11I know every bird of the mountains,{HR}And the moving creature of the field [is] mine.
 12If I were hungry, I would not tell thee;{HR}For mine [is] the world and its fullness.
 13Should I eat the flesh of bulls ,{HR}And drink the blood of he-goats?
 14Sacrifice unto God thanksgiving{HR}And pay unto the Most High thy vows;
 15And call upon me in the day of trouble:{HR}I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. (Psa. 50:7‑15)
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Isa. 1:11‑16• 11To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith Jehovah: 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.
 12When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to trample my courts?
 13Bring no more vain oblations: incense is an abomination unto me; new moon and Sabbath, the calling of assemblies, — I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn meeting.
 14Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear [them].
 15And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
 16Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes. (Isa. 1:11‑16)
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Isa. 58:3‑5• 3Wherefore have we fasted, [say they,] and thou seest not? [wherefore] have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find [your own] pleasure, and exact all your labours.
 4Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness; ye fast not [this] day to cause your voice to be heard on high.
 5Is such the fast that I have chosen? the day for a man to afflict his soul—that he should bow down his head as a rush, and spread sackcloth and ashes [under him]? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to Jehovah? (Isa. 58:3‑5)
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Jer. 6:20• 20To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me. (Jer. 6:20)
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Amos 5:21‑24• 21I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.
 22Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.
 23Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.
 24But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. (Amos 5:21‑24)
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1 Cor. 8:8• 8But meat shall not commend us to God; neither if we eat have we the advantage, nor if we eat not do we come short. (1 Cor. 8:8)
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Col. 2:21‑23• 21Handle not, neither taste, nor even touch
 22(which are all for destruction in the using), according to the injunctions and trainings of men;
 23which have a reputation indeed of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and unsparingness of [the] body, not in any honour to satisfying of the flesh. (Col. 2:21‑23)
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Heb. 13:9• 9Be not carried away with divers and strange doctrines; for [it is] good that the heart be confirmed with grace; not with meats, in which those that walked were not profited. (Heb. 13:9)
little.
or, for a little time.
Heb. 9:9‑10• 9the which [is] a parable for the time present, according to which are offered both gifts and sacrifices, unable as to conscience to perfect the worshipper,
 10only with meats and drinks and different washings, ordinances of flesh imposed until a season of rectification. (Heb. 9:9‑10)
godliness.
1 Tim. 6:6• 6But piety with contentment is great gain. (1 Tim. 6:6)
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Job 22:2• 2Can a man [a hero] then profit God?{HR}For, being wise, he profiteth himself. (Job 22:2)
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Titus 3:8• 8Faithful [is] the saying; and concerning these things I will that thou affirm strongly, in order that those who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men; (Titus 3:8)
having.
Deut. 28:1‑14• 1And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of Jehovah thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that Jehovah thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth;
 2and all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of Jehovah thy God.
 3Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
 4{i}Blessed shall be the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the offspring of thy kine, and the increase of thy sheep.{/i}
 5{i}Blessed shall be thy basket and thy kneading-trough.{/i}
 6{i}Blessed shalt thou be in thy coming in, and blessed shalt thou be in thy going out.{/i}
 7{i}Jehovah will give up, smitten before thee, thine enemies that rise up against thee; they shall come out against thee one way, and by seven ways shall they flee before thee.{/i}
 8{i}Jehovah will command blessing on thee in thy granaries, and in all the business of thy hand; and he will bless thee in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.{/i}
 9{i}Jehovah will establish thee unto himself a holy people as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou keep the commandments of Jehovah thy God, and walk in his ways.{/i}
 10{i}And all peoples of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of Jehovah, and they shall be afraid of thee.{/i}
 11{i}And Jehovah will give thee abundance of good, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land that Jehovah swore unto thy fathers to give thee.{/i}
 12{i}Jehovah will open to thee his good treasure, the heavens, to give rain unto thy land in its season, and to bless all the work of thy hand; and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow.{/i}
 13{i}And Jehovah will make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if thou hearken unto the commandments of Jehovah thy God, which I command thee this day, to keep and to do them,{/i}
 14{i}and if thou turn not aside from any of the words that I command thee this day, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.{/i} (Deut. 28:1‑14)
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Job 5:19‑26• 19In six troubles he will deliver thee,{HR}And in seven no evil shall befall thee.
 20In famine he hath redeemed thee from death,{HR}And in war from the hand of the sword.
 21In the scourge of the tongue thou art hidden,{HR}And fearest not destruction when it cometh;
 22At destruction and at famine thou shalt laugh,{HR}And thou shalt not be afraid before beasts of the earth.
 23For with the stones of the field is thy covenant,{HR}And the wild beasts of the field are at peace with thee.
 24And thou knowest that thy tabernacle [is] peace,{HR}And thou shalt oversee thy place and miss nothing.
 25And thou shalt know that thy seed [is] great,{HR}And thine offspring as the green herb of the earth.
 26Thou shalt go to the grave in a full age,{HR}As the heap of sheaves mounteth up in its season. (Job 5:19‑26)
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Psa. 37:3‑4,16‑19,29• 3Trust in Jehovah and do good,{HR}Inhabit the land and feed upon truth.
 4Delight thyself also in Jehovah,{HR}And he will give thee the requests of thy heart.
 16Better [is] a little to the righteous [man]{HR}Than the abundance of many wicked.
 17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,{HR}But Jehovah upholdeth the righteous.
 18Jehovah knoweth the days of the upright,{HR}And their inheritance shall be forever.
 19They shall not be ashamed in the time of evil,{HR}And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
 29The righteous shall inherit the earth{HR}And shall dwell forever upon it. (Psa. 37:3‑4,16‑19,29)
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Psa. 84:11• 11For a sun and a shield [is] Jehovah God;{HR}Grace and glory will Jehovah give,{HR}No good thing will he withhold from those that walk uprightly. (Psa. 84:11)
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Psa. 91:10‑16• 10No evil shall befall thee,{HR}And no plague shall draw near thy tent.
 11For his angels he will charge concerning thee,{HR}To keep thee in all thy ways;
 12Upon [their] hands they shall bear thee,{HR}Lest thou strike against the stone thy foot.
 13On lion and adder thou shalt tread;{HR}Thou shalt trample young lion and dragon.
 14Because he hath set his love on me,{HR}I too will deliver him;{HR}I will set him on high,{HR}Because he knoweth my name.
 15He shall call me, and I will answer him;{HR}With him [am] I in trouble;{HR}I will deliver him and glorify him.
 16[With] length of days will I satisfy him,{HR}And show him my salvation. (Psa. 91:10‑16)
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Psa. 112:1‑3• 1Praise ye Jah.{HR}Blessed [is] the man fearing Jehovah,{HR}In his commandments delighting greatly.
 2Mighty on the earth shall be his seed;{HR}The generation of the upright shall be blessed.
 3Wealth and riches [shall be] in his house,{HR}And his righteousness standeth forever. (Psa. 112:1‑3)
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Psa. 128:1‑6• 1A song of the ascents.{HR}Happy [is] every fearer of Jehovah,{HR}That walketh in his ways.
 2Labour of thy hands when thou shalt eat,{HR}Happy thou and well with thee:
 3Thy wife as a fruitful vine on the sides of thy house;{HR}Thy sons as plants of olives around thy table.
 4Behold, thus shall be blessed{HR}A man fearing Jehovah.
 5Jehovah shall bless thee out of Zion;{HR}And see thou (in) the good of Jerusalem all thy life's days;
 6And see sons of thy sons.{HR}Peace [be] upon Israel. (Psa. 128:1‑6)
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Psa. 145:19• 19The pleasure of those that fear him he will do;{HR}And their cry he will hear and save them. (Psa. 145:19)
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Prov. 3:16‑18• 16Length of days [is] in her right hand,{HR}In her left hand riches and honour.
 17Her ways [are] ways of pleasantness,{HR}And all her paths [are] peace.
 18She [is] a tree of life to them that lay hold on her;{HR}And blessed [is] he that retaineth her. (Prov. 3:16‑18)
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Eccl. 8:12• 12Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and prolong his days,{HR}Yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, (Eccl. 8:12)
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Isa. 3:10• 10Say ye of the righteous, that [it shall be] well [with him]; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. (Isa. 3:10)
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Isa. 32:17‑18• 17And the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.
 18And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting-places. (Isa. 32:17‑18)
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Isa. 33:16• 16he shall dwell on high, his high retreat [shall be] the fortresses of the rocks; bread shall be given him; his waters [shall be] sure. (Isa. 33:16)
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Isa. 65:13‑14• 13Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed;
 14behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit. (Isa. 65:13‑14)
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Matt. 5:3‑12• 3Blessed the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.
 4Blessed they that mourn; for they shall be comforted.
 5Blessed the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.
 6Blessed they that hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled.
 7Blessed the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy.
 8Blessed the pure in heart; for they shall see God.
 9Blessed the peace-makers; for they shall be called sons of God.
 10Blessed they that have been persecuted for righteousness' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.
 11Blessed are ye when they shall reproach and persecute you, and falsely say every wicked word against you for my sake.
 12Rejoice and exult; for your reward is great in the heavens; for thus persecuted they the prophets that were before you. (Matt. 5:3‑12)
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Matt. 6:33• 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matt. 6:33)
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Matt. 19:29• 29{i}And everyone who has left houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit life eternal.{/i} (Matt. 19:29)
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Mark 10:19‑20• 19Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
 20And he answered and said to him, Teacher, all these have I observed from my youth. (Mark 10:19‑20)
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Luke 12:31• 31but seek his kingdom; and [all] these things shall be added unto you. (Luke 12:31)
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Luke 12:32• 32{i}Fear not, little flock, for it has been the good pleasure of your Father to give you the kingdom.{/i} (Luke 12:32)
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Rom. 8:28• 28But we do know that all things work together for good to those that love God, to those that are called according to purpose. (Rom. 8:28)
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1 Cor. 3:22• 22whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours, (1 Cor. 3:22)
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2 Peter 1:3‑4• 3As his divine power hath granted to us all things that [are] for life and godliness through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and excellence,
 4through which he hath granted to us the greatest and precious promises, that through these ye may become partakers of a divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world in lust. (2 Peter 1:3‑4)
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1 John 2:25• 25And this is the promise which he promised us, life eternal. (1 John 2:25)
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Rev. 3:12,21• 12He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall never go out more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, that cometh down out of the heaven from my God, and my new name.
 21He that overcometh, I will give him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with my Father in his throne. (Rev. 3:12,21)
• Here as in 1 Cor. 9 the figure appears to be taken from the public games, and the necessary preparation for them, so familiar to every Greek mind. Timothy was to be in constant training. (“On 1 Timothy 4:6-16” by W. Kelly)
• Piety is spiritual exercise and demands as constant vigilance as holy self-restraint, as complete subjection to the revealed will of God, as training for the games called for habitual abstinence from every relaxing habit and daily practice toward the end in view. (“On 1 Timothy 4:6-16” by W. Kelly)
• Bodily exercise profited little, but godliness much—both here below and for eternity. (“1 Timothy 4” by J.N. Darby)
• The safeguard against these evils is found in,"godliness". The truth of godliness (or according to the better translation "piety") has a very prominent place in this First Epistle to Timothy. The word is used sixteen times in the New Testament, nine of these occasions being found in this Epistle, 1 Tim. 2:2; 3:16; 4:4,7,8; 6:3,5,6,11). Piety is the confidence in the known and living God that leads the believer to walk in the holy fear of God amidst all the circumstances of life. It recognizes and honors God, and is therefore the very opposite of sanctimoniousness that seeks to exalt self. (“Warnings Against Religious Flesh and Instruction in Piety: 1 Timothy 4” by H. Smith)
• The allusion is probably to the public games, as in 1 Cor. 9:24-25, where, in speaking of the public races, he says, "every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things." He continues to warn us, in that passage, that such exercise in temperance only has a passing advantage; at best it only obtains "a corruptible crown;" in contrast to the "incorruptible" which the Christian has in view. (“Warnings Against Religious Flesh and Instruction in Piety: 1 Timothy 4” by H. Smith)
• Piety is that individual confidence in God that takes up every circumstance of life in relation to God. (“Warnings Against Religious Flesh and Instruction in Piety: 1 Timothy 4” by H. Smith)

J. N. Darby Translation

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8
for bodily exercise is profitable for a littleg, but piety is profitable for everything, having promise of life, of the present one, and of that to come.

JND Translation Notes

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g
That is, "some small thing," rather than "a little time." It is in evident contrast with "everything."

W. Kelly Translation

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8
for bodily exercise is profitable for a little, but piety is profitable for all things, having promise of life that is now and of that which is to come.