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. FLEE. There are many lusts from which our safety is in flight (). Avoid occasions of sin. The abstemious character of Timothy () shows that not animal indulgences, but the impetuosity, self-confidence, hastiness, and vain-glory of young men (1 John 2:14), are what he is warned against: the Spirit probably intended the warning to include both in its application to the Church in general. ALSO - Greek, 'but:' in contrast to "every good work" (). Youthful....

22_Flee youthful desires. _This is an inference from what goes before; for, after mentioning useless questions, and having been led by this circumstance to censure Hymenaeus and Philetus, whose ambition and vain curiosity had led them away from the right faith, he again exhorts Timothy to keep at a distance from so dangerous a plague, and for this purpose he advises him to avoid “youthful desires.” By this term he does not mean either a propensity to uncleanness, or any of those licentious courses or sinful lusts in which young men frequently indulge, but any impetuous passions to which the excessive warmth of that age is prone. If some debate has arisen, young men more quickly grow warm, are more easily irritated, more frequently blunder through want of experience, and rush forward with greater confidence and rashness, than men of riper age. With good reason, therefore, does Paul advise...

22-26 The more we follow that which is good, the faster and the further we shall flee from that which is evil. The keeping up the communion of saints, will take us from fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness. See how often the apostle cautions against disputes in religion; which surely shows that religion consists more in believing and practising what God requires, than in subtle disputes. Those are unapt to teach, who are apt to strive, and are fierce and froward. Teaching, not persecution, is the Scripture method of dealing with those in error. The same God who gives the discovery of the truth, by his grace brings us to acknowledge it, otherwise our hearts would continue to rebel against it. There is no "peradventure," in respect of God's pardoning those who do repent; but we cannot tell that he will give repentance to those who oppose his will. Sinners are taken in a snare, and...

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 fai

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

EXPOSITION 2 TIMOTHY 2:1 _Child _for _son_, A.V.; _strengthened _for _strong, _A.V. BE STRENGTHENED (ἐνδυναμοῦ)_; _more exactly (as Huther), _become strong, _or, which is the same thing, _strengthen thyself; _implying, perhaps, though gently expressed, some previous weakness, as m Hebrews 11:34, "From weakness were made strong;" where the image seems to be that of recovery from sickness. In Ephesians 6:10, however (ἐνδυναμοῦσθε ἐν Κυρίῳ), there is no evidence of preceding weakness, but only a call to use the strength they had; and it may be so here too. The strength, Timothy is reminded, by which he was to f

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; wi...

2 Timothy 2:15. _Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth._ This is a metaphor taken from the action of the priest at the sacrifice. The priest cut up the bullock, and then laid it in its different pieces according to order. Or, as some think, it is taken from the part of the father at the table, when he carves the meat and gives to every child its portion. Old Master Trapp says that «there are some ministers who are only fit to be Gibeonites and certainly not to be Levites, for they hardly understand the cutting of wood, much less the art of cutting up the sacrifice of God.» Brethren, it is well so to handle the word as to be able to give rebuke when rebuke is wanted, exhortation when it is needed, and comfort when consolation is required, for otherwise we do mischief. As it is said in the old fable

RIGHTEOUSNESS (_ See Scofield) - (1 John 3:7). _...

II. FAITH'S CONFLICT AND THE BELIEVER'S PATH CHAPTER 2 _ 1. The apostle's charge (2 Timothy 2:1)_ 2. As soldier and husbandman (2 Timothy 2:3) 3. Identification with Christ (2 Timothy 2:8) 4. Exhortation and warning (2 Timothy 2:14) 5. The great House (2 Timothy 2:19) 6. The believer's path (2 Timothy 2:23) 2 T