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Read the Bible

Murdock Translation

1 Timothy 4:7

But the silly tales of old women, shun thou; and occupy thyself with righteousness.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Commandments;   Doctrines;   Fable;   Minister, Christian;   Sarcasm;   Tradition;   Thompson Chain Reference - Cultivate Gifts;   Exercise, Spiritual;   Fables;   Gifts;   Godliness;   Righteousness-Unrighteousness;   Spiritual;   Spirituality;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Fable;   Faith;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Perseverance;   Teacher;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Discipline;   Godly, Godliness;   Myth;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Fable;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - John the Apostle;   Timothy, the First Epistle to;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Babbler;   Godlessness;   Godliness;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Church Government;   Fable;   Games;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Abstinence;   Education (2);   Fable;   Gnosticism;   Godliness;   Holiness Purity;   Ignatius;   Myth;   Philosophy;   Profane ;   Profaning, Profanity;   Timothy and Titus Epistles to;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Fable,;   Godliness;   Wives' Fables, Old;   41 Common Unclean Defiled Profane;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Fable;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Exercise;   Fable;   Games;   Profane;   Senses;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But have nothing to do with pointless and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness.
King James Version (1611)
But refuse prophane and olde wiues fables, and exercise thy selfe rather vnto godlinesse.
King James Version
But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
English Standard Version
Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;
New American Standard Bible
But stay away from worthless stories that are typical of old women. Rather, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;
New Century Version
But do not follow foolish stories that disagree with God's truth, but train yourself to serve God.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;
Legacy Standard Bible
But refuse godless myths fit only for old women. On the other hand, train yourself for the purpose of godliness,
Berean Standard Bible
But reject irreverent and silly myths. Instead, train yourself for godliness.
Contemporary English Version
Don't have anything to do with worthless, senseless stories. Work hard to be truly religious.
Complete Jewish Bible
But refuse godless bubbe-meises, and exercise yourself in godliness.
Darby Translation
But profane and old wives' fables avoid, but exercise thyself unto piety;
Easy-to-Read Version
People tell silly stories that don't agree with God's truth. Don't follow what these stories teach. But teach yourself to be devoted to God.
Geneva Bible (1587)
But cast away prophane, and olde wiues fables, and exercise thy selfe vnto godlinesse.
George Lamsa Translation
Refuse foolish and old wives fables, and train yourself in righteousness.
Good News Translation
But keep away from those godless legends, which are not worth telling. Keep yourself in training for a godly life.
Lexham English Bible
But reject those worthless myths told by elderly women, and train yourself for godliness.
Literal Translation
But refuse the profane and old-womanish tales. And exercise yourself to godliness.
Amplified Bible
But have nothing to do with irreverent folklore and silly myths. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness [keeping yourself spiritually fit].
American Standard Version
but refuse profane and old wives' fables. And exercise thyself unto godliness:
Bible in Basic English
But have nothing to do with unclean and foolish stories. Give yourself training in religion:
Hebrew Names Version
But refuse profane and old wives' fables. Exercise yourself toward godliness.
International Standard Version
Do not have anything to do with godless myths and fables of old women, but train yourself in godliness.1 Timothy 1:4; 6:20; 2 Timothy 2:16,23; 4:4; Titus 1:14; Hebrews 5:14;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
But from the foolish stories of old women abstain; and exercise thy soul in righteousness.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But cast away prophane & old wiues fables: Exercise thy selfe rather vnto godlynesse.
English Revised Version
but refuse profane and old wives’ fables. And exercise thyself unto godliness:
World English Bible
But refuse profane and old wives' fables. Exercise yourself toward godliness.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But avoid profane and old wives fables, and exercise thyself unto godliness.
Weymouth's New Testament
But worldly stories, fit only for credulous old women, have nothing to do with.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But eschewe thou vncouenable fablis, and elde wymmenus fablis; haunte thi silf to pitee.
Update Bible Version
but refuse profane and old wives' fables. And exercise yourself to godliness:
Webster's Bible Translation
But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself [rather] to godliness.
New English Translation
But reject those myths fit only for the godless and gullible, and train yourself for godliness.
New King James Version
But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.
New Living Translation
Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives' tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly.
New Life Bible
Have nothing to do with foolish stories old women tell. Keep yourself growing in God-like living.
New Revised Standard
Have nothing to do with profane myths and old wives' tales. Train yourself in godliness,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, from the profane and old-wives' stories, excuse thyself, and be training thyself unto godliness;
Douay-Rheims Bible
But avoid foolish and old wives fables: and exercise thyself unto godliness.
Revised Standard Version
Have nothing to do with godless and silly myths. Train yourself in godliness;
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
But cast awaye vngostly and olde wyves fables.Exercyse thy silfe vnto godlines.
Young's Literal Translation
and the profane and old women's fables reject thou, and exercise thyself unto piety,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
As for vngoostly and olde wyuesh fables, cast them awaye, but exercyse thy selfe vnto godlynes.
Mace New Testament (1729)
as for prophane and groundless fables, reject them.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Don't pay any attention to old wives' tales and campfire stories that come from human lips, rather, train yourselves to ride like God wants you to.

Contextual Overview

6 If thou shalt inculcate these things on thy brethren, thou wilt be a good minister of Jesus the Messiah, being educated in the language of the faith, and in the good doctrine which thou hast been taught. 7 But the silly tales of old women, shun thou; and occupy thyself with righteousness. 8 For, exercising the body is profitable a little while; but righteousness is every way profitable and hath promise of the life of the present time and of that to come. 9 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of reception. 10 For on this account, we toil and suffer reproach; because we trust in the living God, who is the life-giver of all men, especially of the believers. 11 These things teach thou, and inculcate. 12 And let no one despise thy youth; but be thou a pattern for the believers, in speech, and in behavior, and in love, and in faith, and in purity. 13 Until I come, be diligent in reading, and in prayer, and in teaching. 14 Despise not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, and by the laying on of the hand of the eldership. 15 On these things meditate; give thyself wholly to them: that it may be obvious to all that thou makest advances.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

refuse: 1 Timothy 1:4, 1 Timothy 6:20, 2 Timothy 2:16, 2 Timothy 2:23, 2 Timothy 4:4, Titus 1:14, Titus 3:9

exercise: 1 Timothy 1:4, 1 Timothy 2:10, 1 Timothy 3:16, 1 Timothy 6:11, Acts 24:16, 2 Timothy 3:12, Titus 2:12, Hebrews 5:14, 2 Peter 1:5-8

Reciprocal: Proverbs 19:27 - General Matthew 15:9 - teaching 1 Corinthians 3:12 - wood Ephesians 4:14 - tossed 1 Timothy 6:3 - the doctrine Hebrews 12:11 - exercised 2 Peter 1:6 - godliness 2 Peter 1:16 - we have

Cross-References

Acts 10:35
but, among all the nations, he who feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable with him.
Romans 6:16
Know ye not, that to whomsoever ye give up yourselves to serve in bondage, his servants ye are, whom ye serve; whether it be to sin, or whether it be to righteousness, that ye give ear?
Romans 12:1
I beseech you, therefore, my brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, by a rational service [fn] .
Romans 14:18
For he who is in these things a servant of Messiah, is pleasing to God, and approved before men.
Romans 15:16
that I should be a minister of Jesus Messiah among the Gentiles, and should subserve the gospel of God, that the oblation of the Gentiles might be acceptable, and be sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 1:6
that the glory of his grace might be glorified, which he poured upon us by his Beloved One;
1 Timothy 5:4
But if a widow hath children, or grandchildren, let them first learn to show kindness to their own households, and to repay the obligations to their parents; for this is acceptable before God.
Hebrews 11:4
By faith, Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than that of Cain; and on account of it, he is testified of that he was righteous, and God bore testimony to his offering; and in consequence thereof, though dead he yet speaketh.
James 1:15
And this [fn] lust conceiveth, and bringeth forth sin; and sin, when mature, bringeth forth death.
1 Peter 2:5
And ye also, as living stones, are builded and become spiritual temples, and holy priests, for the offering of spiritual sacrifices, acceptable before God, through Jesus the Messiah.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But refuse profane and old wives' fables,.... Either Jewish ones, the traditions of the elders; or those of the Gnostics, concerning God, angels, and the creation of the world; or those doctrines of demons, and which forbad marriage, and commanded abstinence from meats before mentioned; which are called profane, because impious and ungodly, and old wives' fables, because foolish and impertinent; and which were to be rejected with abhorrence and contempt, in comparison of the words of faith and good doctrine.

And exercise thyself rather unto godliness; either to the doctrines which are according to godliness, and tend to godly edification, which the above fables did not, study these, meditate on them, digest them, and deliver them to others; or to a godly life and conversation, exercise thyself, to have a conscience void of offence to God and men; or to internal religion, inward godliness, the exercise of the graces of faith, hope, love, fear, reverence, humility, &c. or rather to the spiritual worship of God, according to his will, not in a formal, cold, and customary way, but with the heart, in truth and sincerity, in faith, and with fervency and purity.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But refuse - That is, refuse to pay attention to them, or reject them. Do not consider them of sufficient importance to occupy your time.

Profane - The word here used does not mean that the fables here referred to were blasphemous or impious in their character, but that they had not the character of true religion; 2 Timothy 2:16.And old wives’ - Old women’s stories; or such as old women held to be important. The word is used here, as it is often with us, in the sense of silly.

Fables - Fictions, or stories that were not founded on fact. The pagan religion abounded with fictions of this kind, and the Jewish teachers were also remarkable for the number of such fables which they had introduced into their system. It is probable that the apostle referred here particularly to the Jewish fables, and the counsel which he gives to Timothy is, to have nothing to do with them.

And exercise thyself rather unto godliness - Rather than attempt to understand those fables. Do not occupy your time and attention with them, but rather cultivate piety, and seek to become more holy.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 7. But refuse profane and old wives' fables — This seems to refer particularly to the Jews, whose Talmudical writings are stuffed with the most ridiculous and profane fables that ever disgraced the human intellect. It may with equal propriety be applied to the legends of the Romish Church. Let any man read the Aurea Legenda, and he will find of profane and old wives' fables what may stand, with considerable propriety, column for column with the Talmud. See Joseline's Life of St. Patrick for miracles, without rhyme or reason, abundantly more numerous and more stupendous than all the necessary ones wrought by Jesus Christ and his apostles. This is enough to persuade a man that the Spirit of God had these very corruptions and this corrupt Church particularly in view.

Exercise thyself rather unto godliness.] To understand this expression it is necessary to know that the apostle alludes here to the gymnastic exercises among the Greeks, which were intended as a preparation for, their contests at the public games. They did this in order to obtain a corruptible or fading crown, i. e, a chaplet of leaves, which was the reward of those who conquered in those games; Timothy was to exercise himself unto godliness, that he might be prepared for the kingdom of heaven, and there receive a crown that fadeth not away. See the notes on 1 Corinthians 9:24, &c.


 
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