But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
1 Timothy 4:7-8
Introduction and Purpose:
Each of the books of the Bible has been written for a special purpose, but you don’t always find that purpose explicitly stated. If you do, you don’t always find it in the same place. Sometimes it comes at the beginning, sometimes at the end; sometimes we are told that the book was written for non-Christians to lead them to faith in Christ, and at other times, it is for Christians that they might know that they’re Christians. Sometimes books are written to instruct believers, and others are written to deal with problems.
1 Timothy is written to deal with a special problem and we don’t find out about it until you get to chapter 3 verses14-15:
I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; but in case I am delayed, I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
What’s interesting about this passage is that as Paul explains his purpose, he introduces something that, on the surface, seems to be a great problem. However, as we study it, it turns out to be a great blessing.
His purpose is clear. In essence, Paul says that if he doesn’t get a chance to see them personally, he at least wants to put some things down in writing so that the church would know how it should be conducted (3:14-15). The problem is found in the statement, “the church…is the pillar and foundation of the truth.”
It’s not that the idea of a “pillar” or a “foundation” is anything unusual. We find these words all throughout Scripture. If you go to a concordance and look up the word “foundation” (Isa.28:16; Lk.6:48-49; 1 Cor.3:10-11), you’ll find that it speaks of the coming of Christ as a prophecy. Then we are given a promise and a proclamation of His Person as the One on whom we should build our lives.
However, here is where the problem comes: Is Paul contradicting himself here? Is the church the pillar and foundation of the truth, or is the truth the foundation of the church? This was the problem in the church at Ephesus. Some Christians were confused about the relationship between the church and the truth.
- What was their duty to the truth?
- How were they to grow in godliness?
- What was their responsibility as it pertained to the truth and what role did the truth play in their Christian development and witness?
These were just some of issues that this church faced, and it is the same challenge that we face today.
What is the answer to the question: Is the church the pillar and foundation of the truth or is the truth the foundation of the church? The answer is both. When Paul taught that the truth is the foundation of the church, he was speaking of the church’s life and health; the church rests on the truth, depends on it, and cannot exist without it. When Paul speaks of the church as the foundation of the truth (3:15), he is referring to the church’s mission; the church is called to serve the truth, to hold it fast and to make it known. In other words, the church depends on the truth for its existence and the truth depends on the church for its defense and proclamation. To say it another way, the church is the only place in the world where men and women are going to come to a knowledge of the truth because God, in His infinite wisdom, has chosen to reveal the most precious truths about salvation there. It is by the church that the truth of the gospel is made known to the world. Got it?
Now this is not to say that the church is the truth. Oh no, Jesus is the truth (Jn.14:6), but the church has the truth. Yet also, to say that the church is the pillar and foundation of the truth does not mean that the church has “all” the truth. We don’t have scientific truth or all historical truth. What we mean when we say that the church is the pillar and foundation of the truth is that the church has the revelation of God that has been given to the church, both in Scripture and by experience, and the experience is based upon that Scripture.
This is helpful background as we consider the transition between chapter 3 and chapter 4. Chapter 3 ended with a reference to the church as the pillar and support of the truth and a summary of its content, which is Jesus Christ (3:16). Chapter 4 opens with a reference to false teachers and their lies. This flow of thought tells us that Paul is addressing false teachers who were beginning to deny what the church confessed.
What does all this have to do with spiritual disciplines?
The first thing Paul tells us is that spiritual discipline is essential because of the times in which we live.But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron (1 Tim. 4:1-2).
The times in which we live, according to the apostle, are the “’later times.” These times began at the birth of Christ (Heb.1:1-3) and continue to this day. On this side of Calvary, we are not waiting for the last days to arrive; they are already here. A falling away or apostasy will characterize these “later times.” Apostasy is not a time when true believers abandon the faith, but rather where false believers remove themselves from truth. The time of apostasy is not an uprooting of faith because there was never a root to begin with. In reality, those who fall away never truly embraced the truth of the gospel (Cf. 1Tim.1:6; 1:19; 4:1).
Because apostates and heretics nest within the midst of a local church, their departure eventually causes division and factions within the church, which affects the church morally, doctrinally, and emotionally (Matthew 24:10-12; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 1 Timothy 4:1).
How will this apostasy spread (v.2)? Paul tells Timothy that it will be by means of hypocrites or those playing the part. This is true today just as it was then. Now the question is: What were the two erroneous doctrines that false teachers were promoting as a way to be godly?
- Celibacy (v.3a): Forbidding marriage
- Asceticism (v.3b): Abstaining for certain foods
However, in verse 6, what metaphor does Paul use to remind Timothy about what is necessary to be a good servant or follower of Christ? He uses the metaphor of a “nourishing a child.” As you know, the nourishment of a child is all about a disciplined diet.
As Christians, what is the spiritual food that we are to eat (v.6)? Paul tells Timothy—and us—that our disciplined diet is to exist of the words of the faith; in other words, what we believe and sound doctrine or the truths that instruct us concerning how to live well.
In verses 7-8, what is the second metaphor that Paul uses to describe a good servant of Jesus Christ? He uses the metaphor of exercise.
When you combine Paul’s two metaphors of disciplined eating and purposeful exercise, you discover that both are indispensable for bodily health. The same is true for Christian discipleship. The purpose of all spiritual discipline is not to look “holier than thou” before others, or to gain righteousness, but to be godly.
Of the 15 occurrences of eusebeia (“godliness” and “godly”) in the New Testament, thirteen are in the Pastoral Letters (Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus). Nine of them are in 1 Timothy. Godliness simply means Godlikeness. The call to be a Christian is a call from ungodliness to godliness. The way we are to
discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness is by disciplined eating and purposeful exercise.
The context suggests that this is done by maintaining a balance between nourishment and exercise; that is to say, between reading, praying and studying privately and publicly, and serving, fellowshipping, discipling and witnessing.
Another way of looking at what Paul means here is that we are to discipline ourselves to be godly in the same way that we nourish our bodies: consistently and carefully with the purpose of being useful.
How valuable is spiritual discipline according to verse 8? The Apostle makes it clear: It is profitable for this present life and the life to come. If you want to make a difference now and be rewarded in eternity, you must be a spiritually disciplined person. However, the key to all spiritual disciplines lies in what you really value. You only value the things you love. Do you love Jesus enough to discipline yourself so that you may enjoy more of His presence and be more useful in His kingdom?