1 Timothy 4:8

“For bodily exercise profiteth little, etc.] Meaning not the exercise of the body in the Olympic games, as by running, wrestling, etc. which profited but little, for the obtaining of a corruptible crown at most; though since a word is used here, and in the preceding verse, borrowed from thence, there may be an allusion to it: much less exercise of the body for health or recreation, as riding, walking, playing at any innocent diversion; which profits but for a little time, as the Syriac and Arabic versions read; and the latter renders the phrase “bodily recreation”: nor is the exercise of the body in the proper employment of trade and business, to which a man is called, and which profits for…”

“profiteth little--Greek, "profiteth to (but) a small extent." Paul does not deny that fasting and abstinence from conjugal intercourse for a time, with a view to reaching the inward man through the outward, do profit somewhat, Act 13:3; Co1 7:5, Co1 7:7; Co1 9:26-27 (though in its degenerate form, asceticism, dwelling solely on what is outward, Ti1 4:3, is not only not profitable but injurious). Timothy seems to have had a leaning to such outward self-discipline (compare Ti1 5:23). Paul, therefore, while not disapproving of this in its due proportion and place, shows the vast superiority of godliness or piety, as being profitable not merely "to a small extent," but unto all things; for,…”

“For bodily exercise profiteth little - Margin, “for a little time.” The Greek will admit of either interpretation, and what is here affirmed is true in either sense. The bodily exercise to which the apostle refers is of little advantage compared with that piety which he recommended Timothy to cultivate, and whatever advantage could be derived from it, would be but of short duration. “Bodily exercise” here refers, doubtless, to the mortifications of the body by abstinence and penance which the ancient devotees, and particularly the Essenes, made so important as a part of their religion. The apostle does not mean to say that bodily exercise is in itself improper, or that no advantage can be…”

“Bodily exercise profiteth a little - Increases the health and strength of the body. 1 Timothy 4:10”

“4:8-9 physical training . . . godliness: Cp. 1 Cor 9:24-27; Col 2:23. • benefits in this life . . . the life to come: Cp. 1 Tim 4:16; 6:6-8; Mark 10:29-30; Eph 6:2-3. • trustworthy saying: See study note on 1 Tim 1:15.”

“bodily: Sa1 15:22; Psa 50:7-15; Isa 1:11-16, Isa 58:3-5; Jer 6:20; Amo 5:21-24; Co1 8:8; Col 2:21-23; Heb 13:9 little: or, for a little time, Heb 9:9, Heb 9:10 godliness: Ti1 6:6; Job 22:2; Tit 3:8 having: Deu 28:1-14; Job 5:19-26; Psa 37:3, Psa 37:4, Psa 37:16-19, Psa 37:29, Psa 84:11, Psa 91:10-16; Psa 112:1-3, Psa 128:1-6, Psa 145:19; Pro 3:16-18; Ecc 8:12; Isa 3:10, Isa 32:17, Isa 32:18; Isa 33:16, Isa 65:13, Isa 65:14; Mat 5:3-12, Mat 6:33, Mat 19:29; Mar 10:19, Mar 10:20; Luk 12:31; Luk 12:32; Rom 8:28; Co1 3:22; Pe2 1:3, Pe2 1:4; Jo1 2:25; Rev 3:12, Rev 3:21 1 Timothy 4:9”