1 Timothy 6:11

Ver. 11. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; different in character and aims, let your course be also different. The designation man of God was in ancient times in frequent use for prophet, because standing in a peculiarly close relation to God, acting as His representative and spokesman to the people; and it is but natural to suppose that, with some reference to that ancient usage, the designation is here applied to Timothy, reminding him by the very term, that in the special, semi-apostolic agency now entrusted to him, he in effect stood on the relatively elevated position of a prophet, and should take heed to conduct himself accordingly. It might, no doubt, with many commentators, be understood in a more general sense, with reference simply to Timothy's state and calling as a believer. But the whole passage evidently has respect to Timothy's destination as a public witness and servant of the Lord; and the distinctive epithet, both in itself and in its usage, best accords with that idea. It is again similarly used in 2 Timothy 3:17; and these are the only two passages where it occurs in New Testament Scripture. The things Timothy is exhorted to flee are plainly those mentioned in the immediately preceding context the love of money, and all the hurtful lusts, and corrupt as well as foolish and unbecoming practices to which it gives rise. But with this negative exhortation the apostle couples a positive: and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness of spirit (πραϋπαθίαν, the reading of א, A, F, somewhat stronger than the received πρᾳότητα). “As Christian virtues to which Timothy must apply himself, Paul names six, of which each pair stand in a close relation to one another: the two most general ideas go first righteousness and godliness; then follow faith and love as the fundamental principles of the Christian life; and finally, patience and meekness of spirit, which denote the conduct proper to a Christian amid the enmity and opposition of the world to Christ's gospel” (Huther).