1 Timothy 4:6 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

If thou put the brethren in remembrance, &c. Ταυτα υποτιθεμενος τοις αδελφοις, suggesting these things to the brethren, concerning the lawfulness of all sorts of meats, and concerning the corrupt doctrines and practices which are to arise in the church; thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ And shalt act as may be expected from one who has been nourished up From his very childhood; in the words of faith Words laying a foundation for faith, and the means of producing it in men's hearts; and good doctrine True, genuine, gospel doctrine; whereunto That is, to the knowledge of which, thou hast attained So η παρηκολουθηκας may be properly translated. See Luke 1:3, where the same verb is rendered, having perfect understanding. It is a just remark of Macknight here, that, “If any prejudices, with respect to the distinction of meats, remained in Timothy's mind, through the strictness of his education in the Jewish religion, the clear and express manner in which the apostle here asserted the lawfulness of eating all kinds of meats, must have entirely freed him from these pre-possessions.” But refuse profane and old wives' fables This, says Dr. Doddridge, “undoubtedly signifies Jewish traditions; and if they were such as those with which the rabbinical writers abound, nothing ever better deserved the name, they being not only the most incredible, but the most insipid and senseless tales anywhere to be met with.” In Bishop Newton's opinion, however, the apostle intended here to signify, that all the things which the lying teachers would preach, during the above-mentioned apostacy, concerning the worship of angels, abstinence from meats, and the miracles said to be performed by the saints and their relics, in confirmation of the superstitions which they inculcated, are no better than profane and old wives' fables, told to amuse children. And exercise thyself (the word γυμναζε, so rendered, is used in allusion to the exercises by which the contenders prepared themselves for the combats in the Grecian games) unto godliness Train thyself up in holiness of heart and life with the utmost vigour and diligence.