But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
Parallel translations
- WEB But refuse profane and old wives’ fables. Exercise yourself toward godliness.
- BSB But reject irreverent, silly myths. Instead, train yourself for godliness.
- NKJV But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.
- NASB But stay away from worthless stories that are typical of old women. Rather, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;
- NLT Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Timothy is to reject godless myths and train himself for godliness. It calls ministers to disciplined pursuit of holiness.
Overview
Paul tells Timothy to refuse 'profane and old wives' fables' and instead 'exercise yourself toward godliness.' The athletic image stresses intentional, ongoing effort. Godliness, not speculation, is the proper aim of a servant of Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 2 Tim 2:16But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
- Titus 2:12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
- 1 Tim 1:4Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
- 2 Pet 1:5–8And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
- Titus 3:9But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
- Heb 5:14But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
- 2 Tim 2:23But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
- 1 Tim 6:11But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
- Acts 24:16And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
- 2 Tim 4:4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
- 1 Tim 6:20O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
- 2 Tim 3:12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
- Titus 1:14Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
- 1 Tim 3:16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
- 1 Tim 2:10But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
There is 'one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all' — the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh.
How 1 Timothy 4:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.