Three Minute Bible

May 23, 2026May 22, 2026

1 Timothy 4:10 – Why We Train

A picture of a man digging a deep hole. (Grok)

That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

Summary: This passage is a hum-dinger. Paul’s words leave us with a paradox wrapped up in a controversy.

This verse, like so many others in this letter to Timothy, is difficult. It can be analyzed from several different angles, but for the sake of this meditation, we are going to use a very simple analysis. Paul’s sentence can be divided into two parts. One is paradoxical, and the other is controversial.

The first part is this: “That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior…”

Paul has been talking about how we should train ourselves to be godly (1 Timothy 4:7). The paradox is that it is God who saves us by grace, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9), so why do we have to “labor and strive”?

Now, before we answer that question, let’s go on to part two, the controversial portion:

“…[God, who is the Savior] of all people, and especially of those who believe.”

What does Paul mean by saying that God is the “Savior of all people”? What does he mean by “especially of those who believe”? Depending on your theological views, there might be sixteen or more different interpretations of what Paul meant.

Without attempting to answer these questions, let me ask two more: Assuming there are sixteen different interpretations of this verse, can they all be right? Alternatively, can they all be wrong?

Now, another question: If some, most, or all of these potential interpretations are wrong, do the wrong ones qualify as the “godless myths and old wives’ tales” that Paul talks about in verse seven?

While we ponder the possibility that some or all of the traditional interpretations are wrong, let’s return to the paradoxical portion of the verse: Why do we have to put out an effort to be “godly?”

Before Adam and Eve sinned by eating from the forbidden tree (Genesis 3:1-7), there was no need to be “godly.” Adam and Eve walked in God’s garden where God had placed them. When they rebelled and disobeyed God, their eyes were opened, and like God, they (and we) now know “good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). The difference is that, unlike God, we are not strong enough to ignore the evil and be unaffected by it. We have to work to resist evil. That is to say, we have to work to do God’s will (Matthew 22:37-40).

We don’t “train ourselves to be godly” so that we can earn our way into heaven. We train ourselves to be godly so that we can try to stop digging the hole we are in deeper.

Application: Strive to love God above all else and our neighbors as ourselves.

Food for Thought: If we don’t understand something in the Bible, how should we deal with that situation?

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May 22, 2026May 23, 2026

1 Timothy 4:9 – Focus on the Truth

This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance.

Summary: Looking back at Paul’s ‘trustworthy sayings’ helps us gain perspective on his strategy for the Lord’s churches.

The words in this passage represent the third time Paul has pointed to a “trustworthy saying.”

May 21, 2026May 23, 2026

1 Timothy 4:8 – The Life to Come

A man works out with two angels watching. (Grok)

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Summary: Does godliness have a value? It turns out that it does.

Perhaps you have heard it said that this is a “dog eat dog” world?

As gruesome as that saying is, the reality of a world without Christ is much worse. When it comes to “getting your way” in the world, the shortest distance between you and what you want is probably at the end of a good, stout club.

May 20, 2026May 19, 2026

1 Timothy 4:7b – Training For Jesus

A fighter is working out with a punching bag. The bag has the word "SIN" on it in large letters -- perhaps drawn as if they were sewn into the bag. With each punch words fly out from the impact. These words include love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. "Grok"

… rather, train yourself to be godly.

Summary: Learning to train ourselves to be godly requires thinking about spiritual training in a whole new way.

I would love to sit down with Paul and talk about the history of the church so far. It would be interesting to hear his take on what he would categorize as “godless myths and old wives’ tales.”

Over the years, the church has had to deal with many different attacks on the truth of the Gospel. In Paul’s day, it was the Judaizers who insisted that Christians should submit to the old covenant laws of Moses. It is possible that mystery religions like Gnosticism were gnawing at the edges of Christianity even while Paul was alive.

What we learn from reading about Paul is that being a Christian doesn’t mean that life is without conflict. What it means is that as Christians, we deal with conflict differently than non-believers do.

If we are going to be effective representatives of God’s Kingdom here on earth, we need to be ready for anything. We need to be “in shape,” just like a fighter who is preparing for a match.

So what are we to do? How do we “train” ourselves to be godly?

If we use physical training as a model for godly training, there are some pointers we can pick up.

First, a fighter is careful about what they eat. Different fighters have different weight goals, but whatever their game is, they eat appropriately for the fight.

Second, a fighter in training is disciplined. They run to build up their cardio capacity, exercising and training to develop strength and muscle memory. When they step into the ring or onto the mat, they don’t have time to think about what they are going to do. The body has to be trained to operate without thinking.

Third, a fighter in training takes direction. The coach is someone who knows things about the fighter that they themselves don’t see. The coach sees the patterns in the fighter’s technique that leave him open to attack. He trains the fighter diligently for the day when he goes into battle.

As Christians, we need to be in God’s Word every day. We need to know the Bible inside and out. Doing battle with Satan requires confidence that we know God’s Word and his promises.

We need to practice dealing with attacks from within. When anger wells up, we punch back with love (agapē). When impatience rears its head, we slow down and walk, breathing deeply. When injustice causes pain, we turn that pain over to Jesus.

Which brings us to the Coach.

God gives each one of us his Holy Spirit. We do well to listen to what he tells us.

Application: Train for Jesus every day.

Food for Thought: How does training ourselves to be godly change our lives?

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May 19, 2026May 20, 2026

1 Timothy 4:7a – The Line

The picture illustrates the line that runs between Calvary and the Lake of Fire. We call it "Choice." — The picture illustrates the line that runs between Calvary and the Lake of Fire. We call it “Choice.”

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales…

Summary: Paul’s challenge to avoid “godless myths and old wives’ tales” makes us wonder how we tell the difference between truth and fiction.

What is the difference between the truth and a “godless myth”?

May 18, 2026May 19, 2026

1 Timothy 4:6b – Spiritual Food

… nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.

Summary: Nourishment is essential for healthy living. This is true for our faith as well as our bodies.

Good nourishment is essential for growth. This is true for house plants, garden vegetables, and people. People who don’t get proper nourishment struggle to survive, let alone grow.

May 15, 2026May 16, 2026

1 Timothy 4:4b-5 – Achin’ for Bacon

A young boy sneaks a piece of bacon from a platter on the table (Grok)

… and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

Summary: Paul’s instruction about food provides a jumping-off place for understanding the frictions between Jew and Gentile and a warning against falling under false “religious laws.”

When I was about five years old, my parents moved to a small mill town on the Willamette River. Our house overlooked the river, and the street we lived on was named “River Street.” Most of the property around our house was undeveloped woods, but nearby was another house owned by the town dentist. He had two children about the same age as my brothers and me.

May 14, 2026May 15, 2026

1 Timothy 4:4a – Strange Stories

For everything God created is good…

Summary: “Good,” it is said, “is relative.” That can mean a lot of things, but mostly it means we need to see things as God sees them.

“If everything God created is good, why is there so much evil in the world?”

May 13, 2026May 14, 2026

1 Timothy 4:3 – Secret Decoder Ring

They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.

Summary: Paul’s message in this passage might seem complicated to some, but to those who know God’s Word, he is pointing the way to the answers to our questions.

Before we dive too deeply into this passage, let’s review the larger context.