2 Timothy 2:22

Contextual Overview

²²Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.²² Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²² Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.²²Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. ²²Whip and spur as fast as you can from anything that makes you act like a young stud with only one thing on his mind. A real stud can be ridden and used in any situation without lust grabbing ahold. This is done by living the right way, being faithful, loving others, and exhibiting peace in all you are and do. Ride with other cowboys who ride in a manner worthy of the Lord's service. ²² But keep yourself from those desires of the flesh which are strong when the body is young, and go after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those whose prayers go up to the Lord from a clean heart. ²² But youthful lusts flee, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those that call upon the Lord out of a pure heart. ²² Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. ²² Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²² Flee also youthful desires; but follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace with them that call upon the Lord, out of a pure heart.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Flee: Proverbs 6:5, 1 Corinthians 6:18, 1 Corinthians 10:14, 1 Timothy 6:11

youthful: Psalms 119:9, Ecclesiastes 11:9, Ecclesiastes 11:10, 1 Peter 2:11

follow: 1 Timothy 4:12, 1 Timothy 6:11, Hebrews 12:14, 3 John 1:11

charity: 1 Corinthians 14:1

peace: Romans 14:17, Romans 14:19, Romans 15:5, Romans 15:6, 1 Corinthians 1:10, Hebrews 12:14, 1 Peter 3:11

call: 1 Chronicles 29:17, 1 Chronicles 29:18, Psalms 17:1, Psalms 66:18, Psalms 66:19, Proverbs 15:8, Acts 9:14, 1 Corinthians 1:2, 1 Timothy 2:8

out: 1 Timothy 1:5, 1 Timothy 4:12

Reciprocal: Genesis 39:10 - or to be Genesis 39:12 - and he left Leviticus 15:18 - the woman Proverbs 1:4 - to the Proverbs 7:8 - General Proverbs 15:9 - he loveth Proverbs 21:21 - that Isaiah 51:1 - ye that follow Matthew 5:9 - are Mark 9:50 - have peace Romans 6:12 - in the lusts Romans 12:18 - General 1 Corinthians 9:27 - I keep 2 Corinthians 13:11 - live 1 Thessalonians 5:13 - and be 1 Timothy 1:4 - questions 1 Timothy 5:2 - with 2 Timothy 3:10 - faith Titus 1:8 - sober

Cross-References

Genesis 2:8
Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.

Genesis 2:8
Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.

Genesis 2:8
And Yahweh God planted a garden in Eden, toward the east; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.

Genesis 2:8
The LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.

Genesis 2:8
And the Lord God planted a garden eastwarde in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had shapen.

Genesis 2:8
Then the Lord God planted a garden in the East, in a place named Eden. He put the man he made in that garden.

Genesis 2:8
And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Genesis 2:8
Forsothe the Lord God plauntide at the bigynnyng paradis of likyng, wherynne he settide man whom he hadde formed.

Genesis 2:8
And the LORD God planted a garden Eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Genesis 2:8
And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Flee also youthful lusts,.... Meaning not lusts of uncleanness, lasciviousness, and filthiness; nor any of those follies and vanities which the youthful age usually lusts and desires after, to which Timothy was not inclined; but such lusts as are apt to prevail with young ministers of the Gospel, such as vain glory, popular applause, seeking to have the pre-eminence, contentions with, and contempt of others, and the like.

But follow righteousness; the righteousness of Christ; or doing that which is just between man and man, and as one man would choose another should do to him; or rather integrity and faithfulness, in the ministry of the word, without seeking honour from men:

faith; both as a doctrine and grace; or veracity and truth in preaching the Gospel, striving for that, and not through ambition, and for the pre-eminence:

charity; or love, to God and Christ, and to his people; without which all gifts and works are of no avail; and which will engage a man to bear much, and to hope and believe all things:

peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart; peace is to be pursued and followed after with all men, as much as possible, but especially with the saints, the true worshippers of God; who draw nigh to him with true hearts, and call upon him in the sincerity of their souls: great care should be taken that peace be maintained with them; for they have great interest at the throne of grace; and God is nigh unto them, and hears their prayers. The Alexandrian copy reads, "with all that love the Lord".

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Flee also youthful lusts - Such passions as youth are subject to. On the word “flee,” and the pertinency of its use in such a connection, see the notes at 1 Corinthians 6:18. Paul felt that Timothy, then a young man, was subject to the same passions as other young men; and hence, his repeated cautions to him to avoid all those things, arising from his youth, which might be the occasion of scandal; compare the notes at 1 Timothy 4:12; 1 Timothy 5:2. It is to be remembered that this Epistle is applicable to other ministers, as well as to Timothy; and, to a young man in the ministry, no counsel could be more appropriate than to “flee from youthful lusts;” not to indulge for a moment in those corrupt passions to which youth are subject, but to cultivate the pure and sober virtues which become the ministerial office.

But follow righteousness, ... - compare the notes at Hebrews 12:14. The general meaning here is, that he was to practice all that is good and virtuous. He was to practice righteousness, or justice and equity, in all his dealings with men; faith, or fidelity in his duties; charity, or love to all men (see the notes at 1 Corinthians 13:0); peace, or harmony and concord with all others. What virtues could be more appropriate for a minister of the gospel?

With them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart - That is, with all Christians, who are often characterized as those who call on the Lord; 1 Corinthians 1:2; compare Acts 9:11. In all his social contact with them, Timothy was to manifest the virtues above recommended. But not with them alone. It would be incumbent on him to exhibit the same virtues in his intercourse with all.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 22. Flee also youthful lusts — 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, c. 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.

Follow righteousness — 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.