Fathers

1 Timothy 4

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But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron, forbidding marriage and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with thanksgiving. For it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer. If you instruct the brothers of these things, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which you have followed. But refuse profane and old wives’ fables. Exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value in all things, having the promise of the life which is now, and of that which is to come. This saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance. For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we have set our trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Let no man despise your youth; but be an example to those who believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity. Until I come, pay attention to reading, to exhortation, and to teaching. Don’t neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the elders. Be diligent in these things. Give yourself wholly to them, that your progress may be revealed to all. Pay attention to yourself and to your teaching. Continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

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What the Fathers say

1 Timothy 4:7

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? …

Homily on 1 Timothy 12 ↗

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! …

Commentary on 1 Timothy ↗

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.

Commentary On 1 Timothy ↗

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. …

Commentary on 1 Timothy ↗

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. …

Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 3 ↗

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? …

Against the Heathen Book 5 ↗