Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 2nd Letter Volume 28

Paul tells Timothy to Study and Know the Word of God Part 6

2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.  KJV

The Apostle Paul (now at the time of writing this letter) was an old man serving as a mentor to this much younger man Brother Timothy and he wanted to give him very sage, sensible, and sound guidence that would keep him from the chastening and correcting hands of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, so the very next verse Paul writes these words to him and to we true believers of every era and generation, "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Timothy 2:22) (KJV). There are various desires of the flesh and the gratification of our carnal nature that are most peculiar to youth. Paul as a young man was no exception to this rule and so he wants to remind this young man Timothy to flee these carnal desires. The English word 'flee' is translated by the Greek word pheugō which is apparently a primary verb meaning to run away (literally or figuratively); by implication to shun; by analogy to vanish: - escape, flee (away). In other words, there are some tempting sinful scenes, scenarios, or situations that can only be avoided by placing one foot in front of the other.

For example this is what Joseph did when Potiphar's wife tried to seduce him as described here, "Potiphar left everything up to Joseph, and with Joseph there, the only decision he had to make was what he wanted to eat. Joseph was well-built and handsome, and Potiphar's wife soon noticed him. She asked him to make love to her, but he refused and said, 'My master isn't worried about anything in his house, because he has placed me in charge of everything he owns. No one in my master's house is more important than I am. The only thing he hasn't given me is you, and that's because you are his wife. I won't sin against God by doing such a terrible thing as this.' She kept begging Joseph day after day, but he refused to do what she wanted or even to go near her. One day, Joseph went to Potiphar's house to do his work, and none of the other servants were there. Potiphar's wife grabbed hold of his coat and said, 'Make love to me!' Joseph ran out of the house, leaving her hanging onto his coat." (Genesis 39:6-12) (Contemporary English Version).

Instead of engaging in these sinful things that only serve to steal away one's joy, peace, and love for our Lord Jesus Christ, Paul exhorts Brother Timothy and we true believers of every era and generation to follow after or to pursue or to press toward these four (4) things; righteousness, faith, charity, and peace. The English word 'righteousness' is translated by the Greek word dikaiosunē which means (as used here) equity (of character or act). In other words, Paul wants to see Brother Timothy and we true believers of every era and generation to make a conscious effort (by yielding to God the Holy Spirit) of allowing Him to lead us into a steady pursuit of a moral character and actions that would be agreeable and pleasing to our Lord Jesus Christ, just as he wrote to the Thessalonian believers exhorting them with these words, "Finally, my dear friends, since you belong to the Lord Jesus, we beg and urge you to live as we taught you. Then you will please God. You are already living that way, but try even harder. Remember the instructions we gave you as followers of the Lord Jesus. God wants you to be holy, so don't be immoral in matters of sex. Respect and honor your wife. Don't be a slave of your desires or live like people who don't know God. You must not cheat any of the Lord's followers in matters of sex. Remember, we warned you that He punishes everyone who does such things. God didn't choose you to be filthy, but to be pure. So if you don't obey these rules, you are not really disobeying us. You are disobeying God, who gives you His Holy Spirit." (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8) (Contemporary English Version).

The English word 'faith' is translated by the Greek word pistis which means (as used here) moral conviction of the truthfulness of God and the constancy in such profession. In other words, Paul wants Timothy and us to just believe God and not waiver in our faith because of persecution or personal tragedy in our lives. The English word 'charity' is translated by the Greek word agapē which means (as used here) love, that is, affection or benevolence. In other words, God's love is that which has been poured into our hearts/inner man or inner woman by God the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5) when we were born again, so out of our inner man flow the issues of this earthly life and out of God's love flow all the other fruit of the Spirit which is joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance/self-control and without us allowing God's love for us, to us, and through us to have preeminance, then we will certainly not enjoy our salvation here as pilgrims on the earth with all of the spiritual battles we face day by day from our enemy. The English word 'peace' we just spoke of is translated by the Greek word eirēnē which means (as used here) quietness or rest of soul. Again as we said above, out of God's love shed abroad in our hearts does this peace flow like a river, yet we must actively follow after this peace that passes our understanding and gives us calmness in every storm and spiritual battle.

Here is what Adam Clarke had to say concerning this verse, "Not only all irregular and sensual desires, but pride, ambition, and, above all, the lust of power, to which most men will sacrifice all other propensities, their ease, pleasure, health, etc. This is the most bewitching passion in the human heart. Both in Church and state it is ruinous; but particularly so in the former. Timothy was now between thirty and forty years of age, the very age in which ambition and the love of power most generally prevail. Carnal pleasures are the sins of youth; ambition and the love of power the sins of middle age; covetousness and carking cares the crimes of old age. Flee from sin, pursue goodness. Righteousness - whatever is just, holy, and innocent. Faith - fidelity both to God and man, improving that grace by which thy soul may be saved, and faithfully discharging the duties of thy office, that thou mayest save the souls of others. Charity - love to God and man. Peace among all the members of the Church, and as far as possible with all men; but especially among those who invoke the Lord out of a pure desire to glorify His name."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…