This being so, the statement from Paul to Timothy regarding spiritual discipline in 1 Timothy 4:7 “Train yourself to be godly” takes on not only transcending importance, but personal urgency. There are other passages which teach discipline, but this is the great classic text of Scripture. The word “train” comes from the word gumnos, which means “naked” and is the word from which we derive our English word gymnasium. In traditional Greek athletic contests, the participants competed without clothing, so as not to be encumbered. Therefore, the word “train” originally carried the literal meaning, “to exercise naked.” By New Testament times it referred to exercise and training in general. But even then, it was, and is, a word with the smell of the gym in it the sweat of a good workout. “Gymnasticize (exercise, work out, train) yourself for the purpose of godliness” conveys the feeling of what Paul is saying.
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PAUL ON DISCIPLINE