η 3588 T-NSF γαρ 1063 CONJ σωματικη 4984 A-NSF γυμνασια 1129 N-NSF προς 4314 PREP ολιγον 3641 A-ASM εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S ωφελιμος 5624 A-NSM η 3588 T-NSF δε 1161 CONJ ευσεβεια 2150 N-NSF προς 4314 PREP παντα 3956 A-APN ωφελιμος 5624 A-NSM εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S επαγγελιαν 1860 N-ASF εχουσα 2192 5723 V-PAP-NSF ζωης 2222 N-GSF της 3588 T-GSF νυν 3568 ADV και 2532 CONJ της 3588 T-GSF μελλουσης 3195 5723 V-PAP-GSF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
8. Bodily exercise (h swmatikh gumnasia). With gumnasia comp. gumnaze, ver. 7. N.T.o . Swmatikov bodily only here and Luke iii. 22. o LXX. The adverb swmatikwv bodily-wise, Col. ii. 9. The words are to be taken in their literal sense as referring to physical training in the palaestra - boxing, racing, etc. Comp. 1 Cor. ix. 24-27. Some, however, find in them an allusion to current ascetic practices; against which is the statement that such exercise is profitable, though only for a little.Profiteth little (prov oligon estin wfelimov). Lit. is profitable for a little. The phrase prov ojligon only here and Jas. v. 14. In the latter passage it means for a little while. Comp. Heb. xii. 10, prov ojligav hJmerav for a few days. According to some, this is the meaning here; but against this is the antithesis prov panta unto all things. The meaning is rather, the use of the athlete's training extends to only a few things. Wfelimov useful or profitable, only in Pastorals. Comp. 2 Tim. iii. 16; Tit. iii. 8. o LXX.
Godliness (eusebeia). See on ch. ii. 2, and Introduction, VI.
Having promise (epaggelian ecousa). The exact phrase only here. Comp. 2 Cor. vii. 1; Heb. vii. 6. The participle is explanatory, since it has promise. For ejpaggelia promise see on Acts i. 4.
The life that now is (zwhv thv nun). According to the strict Greek idiom, life the now. This idiom and the following, thv melloushv N.T.o . The phrase oJ nun aijwn the present aeon, 1 Tim. vi. 17; 2 Tim. iv. 10; Tit. ii. 12. O aijwn ou=tov this aeon, a few times in the Gospels, often in Paul, nowhere else. We have oJ aijwn oJ mellwn the aeon which is to be, and oJ aijwn oJ ejrcomenov or ejpercomenov the aeon which is coming on, in the Gospels, once in Paul (Eph. ii. 7), and in Hebrews once, mellwn aijwn without the article. En tw kairw toutw in this time, of the present as contrasted with the future life, Mark x. 30; Luke xviii. 30. O nun kairov the now time, in the same relation, Rom. viii. 18. For zwh life see on John i. 4. The force of the genitive with ejpaggelia promise may be expressed by for. Godliness involves a promise for this life and for the next; but for this life as it reflects the heavenly life, is shaped and controlled by it, and bears its impress. Godliness has promise for the present life because it has promise for the life which is to come. Only the life which is in Christ Jesus (2 Tim. i. 1) is life indeed, 1 Timothy vi. 19. Comp. 1 Pet. iii. 10; 1 Cor. iii. 21-23.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
4:8 {Bodily exercise} (he swmatike gumnasia). gumnasia (from gumnazw), also a common old word, here only in N.T. So also swmatike (from swma, body) in N.T. only here and #Lu 3:22. {Profitable} (wfelimos). Another old word (from wfelew, to help, to profit), in N.T. only here, #Tit 3:8; 2Ti 3:16. {For a little} (pros oligon). "For little." Probably extent in contrast to pros panta (for all things), though in #Jas 4:14 it is time "for a little while." {Which now is} (tes nun). "The now life." {Of that which is to come} (tes mellouses). "Of the coming (future) life."
