The below excerpt is from a blog written by Greg Linville the Executive Director of CSRM. You can continue reading the full blog here.
The following blog is the second of a three part segment focusing on a Biblical foundation for Sport. It contains excerpts from Chapter 3 of Dr. Greg Linville’s book on the Theology of Competition. Chapters 1 & 2 have been posted weekly on Facebook since January of 2012.
Last week’s blog outlined the first two Biblical Principles for Sport: Creation and Stewardship Principles. This week features number three including an exegesis of I Timothy 4.7,8.
Principle #3 – Physical fitness and keeping the earthly body fit
The Biblical concept of Physical Fitness, particularly as taught by the Apostle Paul, provides yet a further Biblical principle that justifies Christian participation in sport. This includes three passages found in the Corinthian Correspondence (I Cor 3.16/6.19; II Cor. 6.16) concerning the value of the human body and its proper and improper ways of utilization. However, there is one verse which is frequently cited to deningrate physical exercise. It is a most important but sometimes misunderstood and misinterpreted verse concerning bodily exercise is I Timothy 4.8. Some interpret this verse to condemn all sport and athletics. Others believe it downplays the importance of bodily exercise. Still others state the verse dismisses sport as inconsequential. Yet, when understood within the overall context of the passage, and also within the overall Pauline theology of sport and the body, it becomes clear this verse is actually very supportive of fitness and the discipline of athletics. Still after reading I Timothy 4.8 many athletes ask the following question:
How can I as an athlete justify my sporting endeavors when I Timothy 4.8 reads: “exercise is of little value?”
Yes, I Timothy 4.8 is often translated to say physical exercise (and by implication, sports and athletics) is of little value and sadly this verse is often used to deter people from engaging in physical activity such as sports and athletics. Yet to use this verse to condemn or even criticize athletics demonstrates a lack of understanding of how to interpret the Bible (hermeneutics) including a classical error of basing one’s interpretation on a poor translation. All good Biblical interpretation begins with a translation faithful to the orthodox traditions of hermeneutics. To that end, the following discussion begins with establishing the best possible translation of this verse. It continues with an exegesis of the verse and its context, including the requisite implications and applications the passage suggests. The result provides a reasonable assessment for athletes in regards to their involvement in athletics and whether or not their “physical exercise profiteth little.” Taken in its entirity, the following discussion helps to substantiate the third principle for establishing a Biblical defense for Sport and Athletics. It begins with an overview of the context in which verse eight is found.
1. Context
Paul wrote two letters to his protégé, Timothy, who he had assigned as the leader (bishop) of the Ephesian Church. The first epistle written to Timothy outlined directives for how the Ephesian church was to be organized, how leaders were to be chosen and developed, as well as how individual church members were to attain “Godliness.” In this specific passage, found in chapter 4 of the first letter to Timothy, Paul is outlining obstacles to the spiritual growth necessary for attaining Godliness. Verses seven and eight were given as a model to help overcome such obstacles. The specific model the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to articulate was an athletic one! The significance of this must not be overlooked or undervalued. Paul was inspired to urge first Century Ephesian Christians to pursue Godliness as an athlete pursued physical prowess. By extension, the model proposed to those in the early church is applicable for believers in all subsequent generations.
You can continue reading the full blog here.
