Original Word: γυμνασία, ας, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: gumnasia
Phonetic Spelling: (goom-nas-ee'-ah)
Short Definition: physical exercise
Definition: (physical) exercise, in a wide sense.

Cognate: 1129 gymnasía (from 1128 /gymnázō, "to train, work out, exercise" and the root of the English term, "gymnasium") – properly, physical training ("bodily exercise").

1129 /gymnasía ("bodily exercise"), used only in 1 Tim 4:8, refers to bodily disciplines used for extreme ascetic practices. That is, when physical exercise (like yoga) is viewed as "the necessary gateway to experience true spirituality." Thus exercise per se is not discouraged here, only required bodily exercises in mystical-physical teachings like theosophy. This ancient (and current) philosophy contends the discipline of the body is one of life's chief concerns and special physical exercises as necessary for spiritual advancment. (cf. Expositor's Greek Testament).

["The words are to be taken in their literal sense as referring to physical training in the palaestra – boxing, racing, etc. Compare 1 Cor 9:24-27. 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" (WS, 1035).]

STRONGS NT 1129: γυμνασία

γυμνασία, γυμνασιας, ἡ (γυμνάζω);

a. properly, the exercise of the body in the palaestra.

b. any exercise whatever: σωματική γυμνασία, the exercise of conscientiousness relative to the body, such as is characteristic of ascetics and consists in abstinence from matrimony and certain kinds of food, 1 Timothy 4:8. (4 Macc. 11:19. In Greek writings from Plato, legg. i., p. 648 c. down.)

exercise, training, discipline

From gumnazo; training, i.e. (figuratively) asceticism -- exercise.

see GREEK gumnazo

γυμνασια γυμνασία gumnasia gymnasia gymnasíaInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts