Definition and Context:
Exercise, in the context of the Bible, refers to physical activity or training that is often used metaphorically to describe spiritual discipline and growth. While the Bible does not explicitly focus on physical exercise as a primary theme, it does provide insights into the value of bodily discipline and its relationship to spiritual well-being.

Biblical References and Insights:

1. 1 Timothy 4:8 · "For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come."
This verse acknowledges the benefits of physical exercise but emphasizes the superior value of spiritual discipline. The Apostle Paul uses the analogy of physical training to highlight the importance of cultivating godliness, which has eternal significance.

2. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 · "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable. Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air. No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified."
Paul uses the metaphor of athletic competition to illustrate the Christian life. Just as athletes exercise discipline to achieve a temporal reward, believers are called to exercise spiritual discipline for an eternal reward. The passage underscores the importance of self-control and perseverance in the pursuit of spiritual goals.

3. Hebrews 12:11 · "No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it."
While not directly about physical exercise, this verse speaks to the broader concept of discipline, which can include physical training. The temporary discomfort of discipline, whether physical or spiritual, ultimately leads to positive outcomes, such as righteousness and peace.

4. Proverbs 31:17 · "She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong."
This verse, part of the description of the virtuous woman, highlights the value of physical strength and preparedness. It suggests that maintaining physical health and strength is commendable and beneficial for fulfilling one's responsibilities.

Theological Implications:

· Balance of Body and Spirit: While the Bible places a greater emphasis on spiritual growth, it does not dismiss the importance of caring for the physical body. Believers are encouraged to maintain a balance, recognizing that physical health can support spiritual endeavors.

· Metaphor for Spiritual Discipline: Physical exercise serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual discipline. Just as physical training requires effort, consistency, and perseverance, so does the pursuit of godliness. The discipline developed through physical exercise can be applied to spiritual practices such as prayer, study, and service.

· Stewardship of the Body: The body is viewed as a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), and believers are called to honor God with their bodies. This includes maintaining physical health through exercise, which can enhance one's ability to serve God and others effectively.

Practical Applications:

· Incorporating Exercise into Daily Life: Believers are encouraged to incorporate physical exercise into their daily routines as a means of maintaining health and vitality. This can enhance their ability to fulfill their God-given roles and responsibilities.

· Using Exercise as a Time for Reflection: Physical activity can also serve as a time for prayer and reflection, allowing individuals to connect with God while caring for their physical well-being.

· Encouraging Community and Fellowship: Group exercise activities can foster community and fellowship among believers, providing opportunities for mutual encouragement and support in both physical and spiritual growth.Exercise, bodily

(1 Timothy 4:8). An ascetic mortification of the flesh and denial of personal gratification (Comp. Colossians 2:23) to which some sects of the Jews, especially the Essenes, attached importance.

1. (n.) The act of exercising; a setting in action or practicing; employment in the proper mode of activity; exertion; application; use; habitual activity; occupation, in general; practice.

2. (n.) Exertion for the sake of training or improvement whether physical, intellectual, or moral; practice to acquire skill, knowledge, virtue, perfectness, grace, etc.

3. (n.) Bodily exertion for the sake of keeping the organs and functions in a healthy state; hygienic activity; as, to take exercise on horseback.

4. (n.) The performance of an office, a ceremony, or a religious duty.

5. (n.) That which is done for the sake of exercising, practicing, training, or promoting skill, health, mental, improvement, moral discipline, etc.; that which is assigned or prescribed for such ends; hence, a disquisition; a lesson; a task; as, military or naval exercises; musical exercises; an exercise in composition.

6. (n.) That which gives practice; a trial; a test.

7. (v. t.) To set in action; to cause to act, move, or make exertion; to give employment to; to put in action habitually or constantly; to school or train; to exert repeatedly; to busy.

8. (v. t.) To exert for the sake of training or improvement; to practice in order to develop; hence, also, to improve by practice; to discipline, and to use or to for the purpose of training; as, to exercise arms; to exercise one's self in music; to exercise troops.

9. (v. t.) To occupy the attention and effort of; to task; to tax, especially in a painful or vexatious manner; harass; to vex; to worry or make anxious; to affect; to discipline; as, exercised with pain.

10. (v. t.) To put in practice; to carry out in action; to perform the duties of; to use; to employ; to practice; as, to exercise authority; to exercise an office.

11. (v. i.) To exercise one's self, as under military training; to drill; to take exercise; to use action or exertion; to practice gymnastics; as, to exercise for health or amusement.

EXERCISE

ek'-ser-siz (`asah; gumnazo, poieo):

"Exercise" (meaning originally, "to drive or thrust out") has different shades of meaning: It means

(1) "to do," "to put into action" (Jeremiah 9:24, `asah, "to do," "Yahweh who exerciseth lovingkindness"; Revelation 13:12, poieo, "to do," "He exerciseth all the authority of the first"; APC Tobit 12:9, the Revised Version (British and American) "do");

(2) with violence implied, gazal, "to take away violently," "have exercised robbery" (Ezekiel 22:29); "to act habitually" (Psalm 131:1, halakh, "to walk," "Neither do I exercise myself in great matters" the Revised Version, margin "walk"; Acts 24:16, askeo, "to work up"; compare APC 2Esdras 15:8; Ecclesiasticus 50:28);

(3) "to train" or "discipline," gumnazo, "to use exercise," "to train up" (1 Timothy 4:7, "Exercise thyself unto godliness"; Hebrews 5:14; Hebrews 12:11 2 Peter 2:14; compare APC 1Macc 6:30 2Macc 15:12);

(4) "to afflict" (Ecclesiastes 1:13; Ecclesiastes 3:10, `anah, "to be afflicted," "exercised therewith," "exercised in it"); in Matthew 20:25 Mark 10:42, katakurieuo, "to lord it over," and katexousiazo, "to exercise authority," are translated respectively "exercise dominion" and "exercise authority," the English Revised Version "lord it over" and "exercise authority"; in Luke 22:25, the Greek words are kurieuo, "to be lord over" and exousiazo, "to have power or authority over," the Revised Version (British and American) "have lordship," "have authority." In 1 Timothy 4:8 the noun, gumnasia, meaning gymnastic exercise, occurs (somatike gumnasia), translated "bodily exercise," contrasted with "exercise unto godliness," the Revised Version (British and American) "For bodily exercise is profitable for a little (m "for little"); but godliness is profitable for all things," a saying to which the youth of all times would do well to give heed. In 2 Maccabees 4:9, Jason is said to have set up "a place of exercise" (gumnasion) in Jerusalem. In 1 Peter 5:2 the Revised Version (British and American), "exercising the oversight" is substituted for "taking the oversight."

W. L. Walker

1129. gumnasia -- exercise
... exercise. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: gumnasia Phonetic Spelling:
(goom-nas-ee'-ah) Short Definition: physical exercise Definition: (physical ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1129.htm - 7k

1128. gumnazo -- to exercise naked, to train
... to exercise naked, to train. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: gumnazo Phonetic
Spelling: (goom-nad'-zo) Short Definition: I train by physical exercise ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1128.htm - 7k

2715. katexousiazo -- to exercise authority over
... to exercise authority over. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: katexousiazo Phonetic
Spelling: (kat-ex-oo-see-ad'-zo) Short Definition: I have power over ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2715.htm - 7k

1850. exousiazo -- to exercise authority over
... to exercise authority over. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: exousiazo Phonetic
Spelling: (ex-oo-see-ad'-zo) Short Definition: I exercise authority ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1850.htm - 7k

1467. egkrateuomai -- to exercise self-control
... to exercise self-control. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: egkrateuomai Phonetic
Spelling: (eng-krat-yoo'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I exercise self ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1467.htm - 7k

831. authenteo -- to govern, exercise authority
... to govern, exercise authority. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: authenteo Phonetic
Spelling: (ow-then-teh'-o) Short Definition: I domineer over Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/831.htm - 6k

2616. katadunasteuo -- to exercise power over
... to exercise power over. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: katadunasteuo Phonetic
Spelling: (kat-ad-oo-nas-tyoo'-o) Short Definition: I overpower, quell ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2616.htm - 6k

2634b. katakurieuo -- to exercise dominion over
... 2634a, 2634b. katakurieuo. 2635 . to exercise dominion over. Transliteration:
katakurieuo Short Definition: dominion. Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2634b.htm - 5k

2616a. katadunasteuo -- to exercise power over
... 2616, 2616a. katadunasteuo. 2616b . to exercise power over. Transliteration:
katadunasteuo Short Definition: oppress. Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2616a.htm - 5k

2634. katakurieuo -- to bend down
... to bend down. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: katakurieuo Phonetic Spelling:
(kat-ak-oo-ree-yoo'-o) Short Definition: I exercise authority over, overpower ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2634.htm - 6k

3925. lamad -- to exercise in, learn
... 3924, 3925. lamad. 3926 . to exercise in, learn. Transliteration: lamad Phonetic
Spelling: (law-mad') Short Definition: teach. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/3925.htm - 6k

1497. gazal -- to tear away, seize, rob
... catch, consume, exercise robbery, pluck off, rob, spoil, take away by force,
violence,. A primitive root; to pluck off; specifically ...
/hebrew/1497.htm - 6k

6213. asah -- do, make
... be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, + displease,
do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast ...
/hebrew/6213.htm - 6k

1980. halak -- to go, come, walk
... literally and figuratively) -- (all) along, apace, behave (self), come, (on)
continually, be conversant, depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow ...
/hebrew/1980.htm - 8k

6031. anah -- to be bowed down or afflicted
... applications, as follows) -- abase self, afflict(-ion, self), answer (by mistake
for anah), chasten self, deal hardly with, defile, exercise, force, gentleness ...
/hebrew/6031.htm - 6k

6213a. asah -- do, make
... earns (1), established (1), establishes (1), evildoer* (2), evildoers* (1), execute
(24), executed (10), executes (5), executing (1), exercise (1), exercises (1 ...
/hebrew/6213a.htm - 8k

8323. sarar -- to be or act as prince, rule
... A primitive root; to have (transitively, exercise; reflexively, get) dominion --
X altogether, make self a prince, (bear) rule. 8322, 8323. sarar. 8324 . ...
/hebrew/8323.htm - 6k

Of Prayer--A Perpetual Exercise of Faith
Of Prayer"A Perpetual Exercise of Faith. <. Of Prayer--A Perpetual Exercise
of Faith John Calvin. Henry Beveridge (Translator) Table of Contents. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/of prayer--a perpetual exercise of faith/

A Daily Constant Exercise.
... A DAILY CONSTANT EXERCISE. ... chap. iii. Sec. 25) we here present thee a peculiar exercise,
consisting of all variety of affections and acts of the will, &c. ...
/.../a daily constant exercise.htm

How a Soul is to Exercise Meditation. ...
... VIZ. MEDITATION. CHAPTER III. How a soul is to exercise Meditation.? Sec.
1. How a soul is to exercise Meditation. Sec. Sec. 2 ...
/.../chapter iii how a soul.htm

The Exercise of Mercy Optional with God.
... SERMONS. THE EXERCISE OF MERCY OPTIONAL WITH GOD. ROMANS ix.15.""For
He saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/the exercise of mercy optional.htm

Whether the Angels Exercise Functions of Life in the Bodies ...
... OF THE ANGELS IN COMPARISON WITH BODIES (THREE ARTICLES) Whether the angels
exercise functions of life in the bodies assumed? Objection ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the angels exercise functions.htm

Of Prayer --A Perpetual Exercise of Faith. The Daily Benefits ...
... CHAPTER 20. OF PRAYER"A PERPETUAL EXERCISE OF FAITH. THE DAILY BENEFITS
DERIVED FROM IT. OF PRAYER"A PERPETUAL EXERCISE OF FAITH. ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 20 of prayera perpetual.htm

More Special Advices Touching the Exercise of Affections of Divine ...
... More special advices touching the exercise of affections of divine Love.? Sec. ... 1,
2. More special advices touching the exercise of affections of divine Love. ...
/.../chapter iii more special advices.htm

Another Similitude Concerning the Same Exercise
... THE SECOND BOOK CHAPTER XVI. ANOTHER SIMILITUDE CONCERNING THE SAME EXERCISE.
When summer draws near and the sun rises higher, it ...
/.../chapter xvi another similitude concerning.htm

Of the Most Excellent Exercise we Can Make in the Interior and ...
... OF THE MOST EXCELLENT EXERCISE WE CAN MAKE IN THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR TROUBLES
OF THIS LIFE, AFTER ATTAINING THE INDIFFERENCE AND DEATH OF THE WILL. ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xv of the most.htm

Whether a Man who is in Sin Can Without Sin Exercise the Order He ...
... OF THE QUALITIES REQUIRED OF THOSE WHO RECEIVE THIS SACRAMENT (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether
a man who is in sin can without sin exercise the Order he has received? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether a man who is 3.htm

Exercise (35 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Exercise, bodily. (1 Timothy 4:8). An ascetic mortification
of the flesh and denial of personal gratification (Comp. ...
/e/exercise.htm - 22k

Lordship (12 Occurrences)
... Matthew 20:25 But Jesus having called them to him, said, Ye know that the rulers
of the nations exercise lordship over them, and the great exercise authority ...
/l/lordship.htm - 10k

Practice (71 Occurrences)
... of a similar kind; usage; habit; custom; as, the practice of rising early; the practice
of making regular entries of accounts; the practice of daily exercise. ...
/p/practice.htm - 28k

Lords (63 Occurrences)
... Mark 10:42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they
which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and ...
/l/lords.htm - 28k

Walk (315 Occurrences)
... touches the ground. 2. (vi) To move or go on the feet for exercise or
amusement; to take one's exercise; to ramble. 3. (vi) To be ...
/w/walk.htm - 39k

Train (17 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To teach and form by practice; to educate; to exercise; to discipline; as,
to train the militia to the manual exercise; to train soldiers to the use of ...
/t/train.htm - 14k

Gifts (144 Occurrences)
... The Book of Acts furnishes plentiful evidence of the exercise of this gift by apostles
and other prominent men in the primitive church (Acts 3:7; Acts 5:12-16 ...
/g/gifts.htm - 61k

Rule (291 Occurrences)
... 13. (n.) A composing rule. See under Composing. 14. (n.) To control the will and
actions of; to exercise authority or dominion over; to govern; to manage. 15. ...
/r/rule.htm - 39k

Gentiles (150 Occurrences)
... Matthew 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes
of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise...
/g/gentiles.htm - 45k

Reign (468 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v.) To exercise sovereign power; to rule. 2.
(n.) The territory or sphere which is reigned over; kingdom ...
/r/reign.htm - 42k

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