What does the Bible say about exercise?
The gospel message addresses the whole person – body, mind, and spirit – recognizing that God's redemptive work encompasses our entire being. Scripture affirms this holistic view through passages like 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." This profound truth establishes that our physical bodies belong to God and deserve appropriate care and stewardship. While spiritual growth remains paramount, the Bible acknowledges the complementary role of physical discipline, as 1 Timothy 4:8 states: "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."
As citizens of God's Kingdom, our lives should reflect His lordship and sovereignty, including how we care for our physical bodies. Romans 12:1 instructs believers to "offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God," suggesting that physical stewardship represents an act of worship and submission. Exercise, then, becomes more than merely pursuing aesthetic goals or health benefits; it transforms into an expression of obedience to God's authority. When we maintain our physical strength and wellness through regular exercise, we better equip ourselves to serve effectively in God's Kingdom work, fulfilling our calling to love and serve others as Jesus commanded in Matthew 22:37-39.
The Holy Spirit empowers believers to fulfill God's purposes, including developing the discipline needed for physical stewardship. Galatians 5:22-23 identifies self-control as a fruit of the Spirit, a quality essential for maintaining healthy exercise habits. Additionally, the provision of God extends to our physical strength, as Isaiah 40:31 reminds us: "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." This promise suggests that while we responsibly care for our bodies through exercise, we ultimately depend on God's sustaining power for our physical vitality and endurance.
Living in light of our future glorification provides a meaningful context for present physical discipline. While Philippians 3:21 promises that Christ "will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body," this future hope does not diminish our current responsibility. Rather, it motivates us to honor our bodies as part of God's creation. The principle of sowing and reaping applies to physical discipline as well as spiritual matters: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows" (Galatians 6:7). Regular exercise represents a form of "sowing" that yields benefits for both present service and future endurance in Kingdom work.
The church community provides an ideal environment for mutual encouragement in holistic growth, including physical well-being. Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages believers to "consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" and to "not give up meeting together." This principle of mutual edification can extend to supporting one another in physical stewardship through exercise. Jesus taught that the greatest commandments involve loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30), indicating that our physical capacity ("strength") forms an integral part of our devotion to God. Therefore, a balanced approach to exercise – neither neglecting physical discipline nor elevating it above spiritual priorities – aligns with the biblical vision of wholeness under God's lordship.
