1 Timothy 4:8 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

For bodily exercise profiteth little That is, say Estius, Whitby, Doddridge, and some others, the exercises about which many are so solicitous, and in the pursuit of which they go through so many fatigues, namely, in preparing for and attending the public games, are but of little use, the best rewards of them being of a very transient and fading nature. Or by bodily exercise may be understood rather the mortifications which the Jewish fables were framed to recommend, and the austerities and labours of the Essenes and Pythagoreans, according to the rules and institutions of their sects: to which we may add, All the diligence that can be used in mere external duties, however laboriously and punctually performed, and with whatever degree of self-denial and punctuality, even although commanded of God, can be of little use to any man, separated from the devotion of the heart; and all inventions and observances merely human, must be still more useless and vain. The apostle, however, may be understood in a yet different sense. He had said in the preceding verse, Exercise thyself unto godliness; including in that term all the graces and virtues of the Christian life. He then adds, η γαρ σωματικη γυμνασια προς ολιγον εστιν ωφελιμος; literally, for bodily exercise profiteth a little; that is, the exercise of the body is of some use, increasing its health and strength; but godliness In all its branches, namely, true, substantial, and practical godliness, the worship and service of God, by both the inward and outward man, the heart and life; is profitable for all things Benefits a man in every respect; is useful to him in things temporal as well as spiritual, in his domestic and civil, as well as religious affairs and in all his relations and connections in the present world; having the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come Christ having assured us that if we seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, things necessary shall be added unto us, Matthew 6:33. And moreover, that as he gives grace and glory, he will withhold no good thing from them that walk uprightly, Psalms 84:11. It is true these, and such like promises, do not ascertain to all who live in a godly manner, health, and wealth, and reputation; but they assure us that true piety and virtue have a natural tendency to promote our happiness even in this world, and indeed do promote it, not only in being attended with peace of mind, a conscience void of offence, a well-grounded and lively hope of future felicity, and communion with God, which is heaven begun on earth; but with protection in dangers, succour in temptations, support and comfort in troubles, with an assurance that all things which God may permit to happen to us, even poverty, reproach, affliction, and death, shall work together for our good.