What does the Bible say about exercise?
Although the Bible doesn’t offer fitness plans or gym schedules, it has much to say about the body and its care. Exercise, in a biblical framework, is not merely about appearance or personal ambition. Instead, it connects to deeper truths about stewardship, worship, and our calling as people redeemed by Christ. Scripture portrays the human body as part of God's good creation and as an instrument for His purposes. While spiritual maturity remains the greater priority, the Bible affirms the value of physical discipline when rightly ordered under God's reign.
This article explores five key biblical perspectives on exercise:
Our bodies belong to God
Exercise as worshipful stewardship
Self-control and divine strength
Physical discipline in light of future glory
Encouraging one another in holistic growth
1. Our Bodies Belong to God
The Bible teaches that our physical bodies are not our own. In 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, Paul writes, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit…? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” This profound reality reframes how Christians think about exercise. If our bodies are temples, then they are sacred spaces to be treated with reverence and care.
The gospel is not just about rescuing souls from sin but about redeeming the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. Caring for the body through healthy exercise habits reflects an understanding that God created and values our physical existence. While we await the full redemption of our bodies, we are already called to live in a way that honors their purpose in God’s mission.
2. Exercise as Worshipful Stewardship
Physical training, though not ultimate, has real value. Paul affirms this in 1 Timothy 4:8: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things.” The Bible doesn’t pit spiritual and physical pursuits against each other but places them in proper order. Godliness remains central, but exercise has worth when practiced as an act of stewardship.
Romans 12:1 urges believers to “offer your bodies as a living sacrifice… holy and pleasing to God.” This suggests that even physical efforts, including exercise, can be part of worship when done to honor the Lord. Regular movement, strength training, and healthy routines equip believers to serve others more fully and to carry out their callings with energy and endurance.
The pursuit of physical health is not about self-glory but about availability—being ready and able to respond to God’s call in everyday life.
3. Self-Control and Divine Strength
The Bible identifies self-control as a fruit of the Spirit, and it plays a key role in maintaining healthy exercise habits. Galatians 5:22–23 lists self-control among the qualities that characterize those led by the Spirit. Building consistent routines for physical well-being often requires resisting short-term comfort for long-term faithfulness.
Yet believers are not left to their own strength. As Isaiah 40:31 reminds us, “Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength… they will run and not grow weary.” Even in physical fatigue, God sustains His people. Exercise becomes an act of faith when we trust Him not only for spiritual power but also for physical renewal.
This spiritual-physical connection points to a larger reality: the Spirit of God empowers believers to live with intentionality and discipline in every area of life—including how we treat our bodies.
4. Physical Discipline in Light of Future Glory
While our present bodies are temporary, the Bible holds out a hope of resurrection and transformation. Philippians 3:21 speaks of Christ, who “will transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body.” This eschatological promise does not negate the value of our present physicality. Instead, it dignifies it.
Rather than neglecting the body while waiting for future glory, believers are called to live responsibly now. As Galatians 6:7 says, “A man reaps what he sows.” This principle applies to physical as well as spiritual habits. Exercise is a form of sowing: it strengthens us to persevere, equips us to serve others, and aligns our daily life with the hope of future resurrection.
In this way, caring for the body becomes a testimony to the value of God’s creation and a preparation for future participation in His renewed world.
5. Encouraging One Another in Holistic Growth
The Bible emphasizes mutual encouragement within the church. Hebrews 10:24–25 urges believers to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” and not to neglect meeting together. While this typically refers to spiritual growth, the principle also applies to physical well-being.
Loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30) includes the physical aspect of our devotion. The body is not separate from our discipleship—it’s part of how we serve, worship, and relate to others. Churches can encourage physical stewardship as part of holistic formation, whether through accountability, shared habits, or community rhythms that promote rest, movement, and health.
A biblical view of exercise avoids two extremes: treating the body as unimportant, or idolizing health and fitness. Instead, it finds balance by integrating physical care into our worship, service, and spiritual maturity.
Conclusion: Stewarding the Body in Light of the Gospel
The Bible presents a vision of human life that includes the body as a good and important part of God’s creation. Exercise, when rightly practiced, aligns with this vision—not as a path to self-exaltation but as a response to God’s redeeming love and lordship. It is an act of stewardship, obedience, and preparation.
Because the Gospel restores the whole person, it transforms how we think about physical discipline. As we await the full redemption of our bodies, we live now in ways that reflect God’s purposes—including how we move, rest, and serve. In this way, exercise becomes part of our larger calling to live faithfully as citizens of God’s kingdom—embodying love, strength, and readiness for every good work.
Bible verses about exercise:
1 Timothy 4:8, "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."
1 Corinthians 6:19–20, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."
Romans 12:1, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."
Galatians 5:22–23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Isaiah 40:31, "But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Philippians 3:21, "Who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself."
Mark 12:30, "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."
Proverbs 31:17, "She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong."
Galatians 6:7, "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap."
Hebrews 12:11, "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
