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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness." By these are meant Jewish traditions, and he calls them "fables," either because of their falsehood or their unseasonableness. For what is seasonable is useful, but what is unseasonable is not only useless but injurious. Suppose a man of adult age to be suckled by a nurse, would he not be ridiculous, because it is unseasonable? …
Theophylact of Ohrid
That is, remind your own people of what I said, but do not enter into disputes with the corrupted; for it is impossible to benefit them, except perhaps in the case when a scandal might arise, as though out of our weakness we are declining to contend with them. The apostle calls the Jewish observances "fables," either because they are fabricated, or because they are untimely. For imagine if a man of about thirty years clung to the breast — how worthy of ridicule he would be for his untimeliness! …
Oecumenius
Reject, moreover, old and profane fables. old and profane fables." Paul refers to the Jewish observations. For these, in their own time, were useful, but now are old and rotten. He says the same about the Greek and heretical nonsense. Indeed, they are profane and impious, and the words of old men who have gone senile. Zeus, they say, had intercourse with Hera. And Ares committed adultery with Aphrodite. And Hephaestus was thrown down from heaven.
Western Saints
Thomas Aquinas
Then when he says, but avoid foolish and old wives' fables, he shows what is to be avoided, namely, foolish and empty fables. For according to the Philosopher a fable is composed of extraordinary events and in the beginning were invented (as he says in the Politics) to induce men to acquire virtue and avoid vices. Now, uneducated persons are more readily induced to such things by representations than by reasons. Hence, in an unusual event well presented there is pleasure to be found, because reason is pleased when it compares. …
Bonaventure
These words are in the first Epistle to Timothy, in which the Apostle shows that there is a twofold exercise befitting man: one bodily, and another spiritual; and he shows that spiritual exercise is to be preferred to bodily as being a nobler exercise and a more useful one. For bodily exercise has little utility; whence he says: "Bodily exercise profiteth little"; but spiritual exercise has the greatest utility. …
Arnobius of Sicca
And lest in this case they should, being uncovered, be dispersed in the bosom of the earth, did she indeed wash and anoint them with fragrant gums before wrapping and covering them with his dress? For whence could the violet's sweet scent have come had not the addition of those ointments modified the putrefying smell of the member? …
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