Survey
of the Letters of Paul: 1 Timothy 6:11
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness,
godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
This section has six verses:
1 Timothy 6:11-16
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and
follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love,
patience, meekness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on
eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and
hast professed a good profession before many
witnesses.
13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who
quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who
before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
14 That thou keep this commandment without spot,
unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus
Christ:
15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the
blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and
Lord of lords;
16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light
which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath
seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power
everlasting. Amen.
We will begin with the Barclay commentary.
CHALLENGE TO TIMOTHY
1 Timothy 6:11–16
First the paraphrase of the verses:
But you, O man of God, flee from these things.
Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love,
endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of
faith; lay hold on eternal life, to which you are
called, now that you have witnessed a noble
profession of your faith in the presence of many
witnesses. I charge you in the sight of God, who
makes all things alive, and in the sight of Christ
Jesus, who, in the days of Pontius Pilate, witnessed
his noble confession, that you keep the commandment,
that you should be without spot and without blame,
until the day when our Lord Jesus Christ appears,
that appearance which in his own good times the
blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and
the Lord of lords, will show, he who alone possesses
immortality, he who dwells in the light that no man
can approach, he whom no man has seen or ever can
see, to whom be honour and everlasting power. Amen.
THE letter comes to an end with a tremendous
challenge to Timothy, a challenge all the greater
because of the deliberate sonorous [high-flown;
grandiloquent or lofty style] nobility of
the words in which it is clothed.
Right at the outset, Timothy is challenged to excel.
He is addressed as man of God. That is one of the
great Old Testament titles. It is a title given to
Moses. Deuteronomy 33:1 speaks of ‘Moses, the man of
God.’ The title of Psalm 90 is ‘A Prayer of Moses,
the man of God.’ It is a title of the prophets and
the messengers of God. God’s messenger to Eli is a
man of God (1 Samuel 2:27). Samuel is described as a
man of God (1 Samuel 9:6). Shemaiah, God’s messenger
to Rehoboam, is a man of God (1 Kings 12:22). John
Bunyan in The Pilgrim’s Progress calls Great-Grace
‘God’s Champion’.
Here is a tide of honour. When the challenge is
presented to Timothy, he is not reminded of his own
weakness and sin, which might well have reduced him
to pessimistic despair; rather, he is challenged by
the honour given to him, of being God’s man. It is
the Christian way, not to depress people by branding
them as lost and helpless sinners, but rather to
uplift them by summoning them to be what they have
it in them to be. The Christian way is not to fling
a humiliating past in someone’s face, but to set
before that person the splendour of the potential
future. The very fact that Timothy was addressed as
‘man of God’ would make him stand up straight and
throw his head back as one who has received his
commission from the King.
The virtues and noble qualities set before Timothy
are not just heaped haphazardly together. There is
an order in them. First, there comes righteousness,
dikaiosune¯. This is defined as ‘giving both to
other people and to God their due’. It is the most
comprehensive of the virtues; the righteous are
those who do their duty to God and to their
neighbours.
Second, there comes a group of three virtues which
look towards God. Godliness, eusebeia, is the
reverence of the person who never ceases to be aware
that all life is lived in the presence of God.
Faith, pistis, here means fidelity, and is the
virtue of the person who, through all the chances [opportunities]
and the changes of life, down even to the gates of
death, is loyal to God. Love, agape, is the virtue
possessed by those who, even if they tried, could
not forget what God has done for them nor the love
of God to all people.
Third, there comes the virtue which looks to the
conduct of life. It is hupomone¯. The Authorized
Version translates this as patience; but hupomone¯
never means the spirit which sits quietly and simply
puts up with things, letting the experiences of life
flow like a tide over it. It is victorious
endurance. ‘It is unswerving constancy to faith and
piety in spite of adversity and suffering.’ It is
the virtue which does not so much accept the
experiences of life as conquer them.
Fourth, there comes the virtue which considers
others. The Greek word is paupatheia. It is
translated as gentleness, but is really
untranslatable. It describes the spirit which never
blazes into anger for its own wrongs but can be
devastatingly angry about wrongs done to other
people. It describes the spirit which knows how to
forgive and yet knows how to wage the battle of
righteousness. It describes the spirit which walks
in humility and yet also in pride of its high
calling from God. It describes the virtue which
enables people to keep a true balance between
concern and respect for others and self-esteem.
MEMORIES WHICH INSPIRE
As Timothy is challenged to the task of the future,
he is inspired with the memories of the past.
(1) He is to remember his baptism and the vows he
took there. In the circumstances of the early
Church, baptism was inevitably adult baptism, for
men and women were coming straight from the old
religions to Christ. It was confession of faith and
witness to all that the baptized person had taken
Jesus Christ as Saviour, Master and Lord. The
earliest of all Christian confessions was the simple
creed: ‘Jesus Christ is Lord’ (Romans 10:9;
Philippians 2:11). But it has been suggested that
behind these words to Timothy lies a confession of
faith which said: ‘I believe in God the Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth, and in Christ Jesus who
suffered under Pontius Pilate and will return to
judge; I believe in the resurrection from the dead
and in the [eternal life].’ It may well have been a
creed like that to which Timothy gave his
allegiance. So, first of all, he is reminded that he
is a man who has given his promise. Christians are
first and foremost men and women who have pledged
themselves to Jesus Christ.
(2) He is to remember that he has made the same
confession of his faith as Jesus did. When Jesus
stood before Pilate, Pilate said: ‘Are you the king
of the Jews?’ and Jesus answered: ‘You say so’ (Luke
23:3). Jesus had witnessed that he was a king, and
Timothy had always witnessed to the lordship of
Christ. When Christians confess their faith, they do
what their Master has already done; when they suffer
for their faith, they undergo what their Master has
already undergone. When we are engaged on some great
enterprise, we can say: ‘We are treading where the
saints have trod’, but when we confess our faith
before others, we are able to say even more; we can
say: ‘I stand with Christ’; and surely this must
lift up our hearts and inspire our lives.
(3) He is to remember that Christ comes again. He is
to remember that his life and work must be made fit
for him to see. Christians are not working to
satisfy other people; they are working to satisfy
Christ. The question a Christian must always ask is
not: ‘Is this good enough to pass the judgment of
others?’ but: ‘Is it good enough to win the approval
of Christ?’
(4) Above all, he is to remember God. And what a
memory that is! He is to remember the one who is
King of every king and Lord of every lord; the one
who possesses the gift of life eternal to give to
men and women; the one whose holiness and majesty
are such that no one can ever dare to look upon
them. Christians must always remember God and say:
‘If God is for us, who is against us?’ (Romans
8:31). ~Barclay Commentary
Now to the rest of the commentaries.
To put verse 11 in context, I want to read verses 9 and 10 as you will see an
admonition in verse 11 speaking specifically to what we read in verses 9 and 10.
1 Timothy 6:9-11
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many
foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted
after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many
sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness,
godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Generally the commentaries break the verse down this way:
1] But thou, O man of God.
2] Flee these things.
3] And follow after righteousness.
4] Godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Often, item 4 here is broken out into its separate words. Each is a fruit of the
Spirit; a spiritual work.
Let us look at the general commentaries first and then to the specific.
It ill becomes any men, but especially men of God, to set their hearts upon the
things of this world; men of God should be taken up with the things of God.
There must be a conflict with corruption, and temptations, and the powers of
darkness. Eternal life is the crown proposed for our encouragement. We are
called to lay hold thereon. To the rich must especially be pointed out their
dangers and duties, as to the proper use of wealth. But who can give such a
charge, that is not himself above the love of things that wealth can buy? The
appearing of Christ is certain, but it is not for us to know the time. Mortal
eyes cannot bear the brightness of the Divine glory. None can approach him
except as he is made known unto sinners in and by Christ. ~Matthew Henry
Concise
Now to the larger Matthew Henry commentary, breaking into the text that there
covers verses 6-12.
Hence he takes occasion to caution Timothy, and to counsel him to keep in the
way of God and his duty, and particularly to fulfil the trust reposed in him as
a minister. He addresses himself to him as a man of God. Ministers are men of
God, and ought to conduct themselves accordingly in every thing; they are men
employed for God, devoted to his honour more immediately. The prophets under the
Old Testament were called men of God.
1. He charges Timothy to take heed of the love of money, which had been so
pernicious to many: Flee these things. It ill becomes any men, but especially
men of God, to set their hearts upon the things of this world; men of God should
be taken up with the things of God.
2. To arm him against the love of the world, he directs him to follow that which
is good. Follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness:
righteousness in his conversation towards men, godliness towards God, faith and
love as living principles, to support him and carry him on in the practice both
of righteousness and godliness. Those that follow after righteousness and
godliness, from a principle of faith and love, have need to put on patience and
meekness - patience to bear both the rebukes of Providence and the reproaches of
men, and meekness wherewith to instruct gainsayers and pass by the affronts and
injuries that are done us. Observe, It is not enough that men of God flee these
things, but they must follow after what is directly contrary thereto. Further,
What excellent persons men of God are who follow after righteousness! They are
the excellent of the earth, and, being acceptable to God, they should be
approved of men.
3. He exhorts him to do the part of a soldier: Fight the good fight of faith.
Note, Those who will get to [the Kingdom] must fight their way thither.
There must be a conflict with corruption and temptations, and the opposition of
the powers of darkness. Observe, It is a good fight, it is a good cause, and it
will have a good issue. It is the fight of faith; we do not war after the flesh,
for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, 2 Corinthians 10:3-4. He exhorts
him to lay hold on eternal life.
Quoted verse:
2 Corinthians 10:3-4
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the
pulling down of strong holds;)
Observe,
(1.) Eternal life is the crown proposed to us, for our encouragement to war, and
to fight the good fight of faith, the good warfare.
(2.) This we must lay hold on, as those that are afraid of coming short of it
and losing it. Lay hold, and take heed of losing your hold. Hold fast that which
thou hast, that no man take thy crown, Revelation 3:11.
(3.) We are called to the fight, and to lay hold on eternal life.
(4.) The profession Timothy and all faithful ministers make before many
witnesses is a good profession; for they profess and engage to fight the good
fight of faith, and to lay hold on eternal life; their calling and their own
profession oblige them to this. ~Matthew Henry
Quoted verse:
Revelation 3:11 ...the motto of the ICG
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy
crown.
Now to the specific commentaries:
1] But thou, O man of God.
O man of God - This expression is used in the sense of an evangelist devoted to
God's work. ~People's New Testament
But thou, O man of God - Thou, who hast taken God for thy portion, and art
seeking a city that hath foundations, whose builder is the living God, flee
these things. Escape for thy life. Even thou art not out of the reach of the
love of money. How many of the ministers of religion have been ruined by this!
And how much has religion itself suffered by their love of money! ~Adam
Clarke
But thou, O man of God - Not only by creation, as every man is; nor merely by
special grace, as everyone is, that is chosen of God, redeemed by Christ, and
regenerated and sanctified by the Spirit; but by his peculiar office, as an
evangelist and minister of the word, being qualified for, and devoted to, and
employed in the service of God. The phrase is taken out of the Old Testament,
where the prophets, Elijah and Elisha, are so called, 2 Kings 1:9. ~John Gill
Quoted verse:
2 Kings 1:9
Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to
him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man
of God, the king hath said, Come down.
Man of God — who hast God as thy true riches. Applying primarily to Timothy as a
minister, just as the term was used of Moses (Deuteronomy 33:1), Samuel (1
Samuel 9:6), Elijah, and Elisha; but, as the exhortation is as to duties
incumbent also on all Christians, the term applies secondarily to him (so 2
Timothy 3:17) as a Christian man born of God (James 1:18; 1 John 5:1), no longer
a man of the world raised above earthly things; therefore, God’s property, not
his own, bought with a price, and so having parted with all right in himself:
Christ’s work is to be his great work: he is to be Christ’s living
representative. ~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown
Quoted verses:
Deuteronomy 33:1 ...Moses man of God
And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of
Israel before his death.
1 Samuel 9:6 ...Samuel man of God
And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is
an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go
thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.
2 Timothy 3:17 ...showing that the exhortation applies secondarily to
Timothy and primarily to all firstfruits
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
James 1:18 ...firstfruits are born of God
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
1 John 5:1 ...firstfruits are born of God
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that
loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
2] Flee these things.
Flee these things — namely, “the love of money” with its evil results.
~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown
Flee these things - The love of money. Instead of following after money, seek
after righteousness, etc. ~People's New Testament
But thou, O man of God, flee these things - These allurements of wealth, and
these sad consequences which the love of gold produces. ~Barnes Notes
Flee these things - the Arabic version reads "these abominations"; namely, all
questions and strifes of words, from whence so many evils follow,
1 Timothy 6:4 and all worldly gain, selfish
interest, and mercenary views in religion; a wicked resolution to be rich, at
any rate, and an immoderate love of the things of the world, and an eager
pursuit after them, which expose to great danger, and even utter ruin; things
very unbecoming any professor of religion, but much more a minister of the
Gospel. ~John Gill
Quoted verse:
1 Timothy 6:4 [see
lesson]
He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words,
whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, [...and the closing
admonition of verse 5: "from such withdraw thyself]
3] And follow after righteousness.
And follow after righteousness - Make these the grand object of your pursuit. On
the virtues here enumerated see Galatians 5:22-23 [fruits of the Spirit list].
~Barnes Notes
Follow after righteousness - Justice and uprightness in all thy dealings with
men. Godliness - a thorough conformity to the image of God and mind of Christ.
Faith in Jesus, and in all that he has spoken; and fidelity to the talents thou
hast received, and the office with which thou art entrusted. ~Adam Clarke
And follow after righteousness - not for justification before God, that he had
followed after, and attained unto, which is the righteousness of Christ, and not
of the law; but for the honour of religion before men; and intends the doing of
justice between man and man, giving everyone their own, which in undue affection
for the world sometimes leads men from. ~John Gill
4] Godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Godliness - spiritual religion, holiness of heart, and conversation, which has
the promise of this life, as well as of the other, and with contentment is great
gain; wherefore to pursue this is much better than greedily to run after the
riches of this world, or with the false teachers to suppose that godliness lies
in worldly gain, or in securing to a man his worldly interest: ~John Gill
Godliness — “piety.” Righteousness is more in relation to our fellow man; piety
(“godliness”) to God”; faith is the root of both. ~Jamieson, Fausset,
Brown
Faith - the grace of faith, which looks not to things seen, which are temporal,
but to things not seen, which are eternal; and leads off the mind from sublunary
enjoyments to God, and Christ, and the glories of another world; and is the
leading grace to all others, and the foundation of good works, without which
there is no pleasing in acts of moral righteousness, or in any acts of religious
worship, which may be called godliness: ~John Gill
Love - to God, which is inconsistent with serving mammon, or with an immoderate
love of money; and to Christ, which will put a man on seeking, not his own
things, but the things of Christ; and to the saints, which will direct him to
serve them by acts of beneficence and liberality: ~John Gill
Love - To God and all mankind. Patience in all trials and afflictions. ~Adam
Clarke
Love — by which “faith worketh.” ~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown
Patience — enduring perseverance amidst trials. ~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown
Patience - in bearing reproaches and indignities; in suffering injuries, loss of
goods, imprisonment, and every sort of persecution, for the sake of the Gospel;
which a covetous disposition will not admit of: last of all, ~John Gill
Meekness - Bearing up with an even mind under all adversities and
contradictions. ~Adam Clarke
Meekness - or humility, not seeking great things, but being content with a lower
station of life; for generally it is pride that puts men upon a determination to
be rich at any rate: it may also design meekness in instructing the ignorant, in
refuting error, and in reproving offenders. ~John Gill
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