6 If 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. 7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8 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. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. 10 For 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. 11 These things command and teach. (1 Timothy 4:6-11 KJV)
A Good Servant of Jesus Christ
The apostle wanted Timothy to instill in Christians the kind of teaching that would prevent them from being misled by the Judaizing teachers. Those are good ministers of Jesus Christ who diligently remind believers of what they have already received and heard, not those who chase after new ideas. Peter said, “I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know them” (2 Peter 1:12), and again, “I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance” (2 Peter 3:1). Jude also said, “I will therefore remind you” (Jude 1:5). It was a central duty of the apostles to remind their hearers, for people are prone to forget and slow to remember the things of God. Ministers themselves must be nourished in the words of faith and sound doctrine (1 Timothy 4:6).
Even ministers must keep growing in the knowledge of Christ. The best way for them to grow is by reminding others, for while they teach, they also learn. Those they teach are their brethren and must be treated as such, for ministers are not lords over God’s people (1 Peter 5:3).
Paul urges Timothy to refuse “profane and old wives’ fables” (1 Timothy 4:7), referring to Jewish traditions that only cluttered the mind. Instead, he should “exercise himself to godliness.” Godliness requires constant practice. Bodily exercise profits little—it is of some limited use—but godliness is profitable for all things, having the promise of life both now and in the life to come (1 Timothy 4:8). Abstaining from marriage or certain foods may appear to be acts of self-denial, but they have little spiritual benefit if sin is not mortified.
There is great gain in godliness, for it is useful throughout life and has eternal rewards. The promises made to the godly apply both to the present life and, especially, to the life to come. Under the Old Testament, promises were often temporal, but under the New, they are mainly spiritual and eternal. Even if the godly receive few of life’s good things now, they will be compensated in eternity. Therefore, believers must not only refuse profane teachings but must actively practice godliness—ceasing from evil and learning to do good (Isaiah 1:16-17). Those who are truly godly will not lose in the end, for godliness carries the promises of both lives.
Though godliness may bring labor and reproach, it brings greater reward. This is a “faithful saying” worthy of acceptance: “We labor and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God” (1 Timothy 4:10). Godly people must work hard and expect opposition, for suffering is part of the Christian life. Yet they can depend on the living God, who will not let their labor be in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). The God who is our Master is the living God, eternal and the fountain of life to all who serve Him. He is “the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.”
By His providence, God preserves and sustains all people. He desires the salvation of all, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Since He shows such goodwill toward all, He will especially reward those who believe and serve Him. The salvation He offers believers is more than enough to repay all their sufferings. The Christian life is one of labor and hardship, often marked by reproach for well-doing, yet true Christians trust in the living God and will never be put to shame (Psalm 25:3).