Note 1 at 1 Tim. 6:11: Paul addressed Timothy with a familiar phrase (man of God) designated for prophets in the Old Testament (1 Sam. 9:6; 1 Ki. 12:22; 13:1).

Note 2 at 1 Tim. 6:11: Paul told Timothy to do three things in these verses; flee, follow (see note 4 at this v.), and fight (see notes 10-11 at v. 12, p. 1309). The word "flee" was translated from the Greek word "PHEUGO" which means "to run away; by implication, to shun; by analogy, to vanish" (Strong). Fleeing is more than just not seeking something. It is avoiding it at all costs. If temptation comes to you, you don't just ignore it, you run away from it. In our day, evil of thought and action is being thrust at us from every side. We must flee from these things.

Note 3 at 1 Tim. 6:11: The things that Paul is admonishing Timothy to flee are covetousness (v. 10), envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings (v. 4), and any teaching contrary to the doctrine of Christ (v. 3).

Note 4 at 1 Tim. 6:11: The word "follow" means "to pursue." Thayer defines the Greek word "DIOKO" that was translated "follow" as, "to pursue, to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavor to acquire." This is not a passive word. Pursuit takes effort. It cannot be done from a rocking chair.

Note 5 at 1 Tim. 6:11: This verse is nearly identical to Paul's statement to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:22 (see Parallel Scripture for this v.). There, Paul tells Timothy to flee and follow almost an identical list of virtues. Assuming these are the same instructions, just worded a little differently in two different letters, we could use the context of this verse in Paul's first letter to Timothy to further explain some of these "youthful lusts."

In context, Paul is telling Timothy to flee from the love of money and the selfishness he described earlier in this chapter (see notes 1-4 at 1 Tim. 6:1-2, p. 1304). In youth, many people make the mistake of loving money and self more than others. Although older people also make these mistakes, many mature people learn that money is not as important as their relationships with other people. Accordingly, aging tends to teach us that selfishness leads to misery and loneliness.

These are the things Paul is instructing Timothy to flee in both these references.

Note 6 at 1 Tim. 6:11: Righteousness is not something that is yet to be obtained. It is a gift of God (Rom. 5:17) that we receive in our new born again (see note 2 at Jn. 3:3, p. 92) spirits at salvation (see note 17 at Eph. 4:24, p. 1123). Our righteousness or right standing with God is an accomplished fact.

So why then, did Paul tell Timothy to follow righteousness?

There are two types of righteousness: self-righteousness and an imputed Godly righteousness (see note 2 at Rom. 10:3, p. 813). Self-righteousness is the good deeds we do and is totally inadequate to obtain relationship with God. Only the righteousness of God, which is given to us as a gift, can obtain right relationship with Him.

The Greek word from which our English word "righteousness" is translated is "DIKAIOSUNE" which means, "equity (of character or act); specifically (Christian) justification" (Strong). So this word refers to our actions toward others (equity of character or actions) as well as our relationship with God (justification). Our relationship (righteousness) with God is an accomplished fact, but our godly actions toward others have to be walked out daily.

For instance, God loves us even if we break the laws of men. Our righteousness or right standing with Him is not based on our performance, but rather on our faith in Jesus for salvation. We have a spiritual righteousness even when we don't have physical righteousness (see note 9 at 2 Cor. 5:17, p. 1005). Failing to act right will get us in trouble with men (see note 5 at Gal. 5:15, p. 1082). If we speed, God still loves us, but we run the risk of getting a ticket.

So Paul is not telling Timothy to keep trying to be right with God; that was accomplished through Jesus, and Timothy received it by putting faith in Christ's atonement. Paul was telling Timothy to let the right standing that he had with God be evident in his actions towards people. In other words, let what happened on the inside of you manifest itself on the outside.

Note 7 at 1 Tim. 6:11: In our day we apply being godly to only big issues. For instance, murder, adultery, and theft are ungodly, but there are multitudes of small things that we allow that are ungodly too.

The word "godliness" literally means "to be like God." While it is true that murderers and thieves are ungodly, it is also true that gossips, liars, selfish people, egotistical people, people who are always late, and a multitude of other characteristics are also ungodly.

To convey the true meaning of what Paul is saying, it would be correct to say, "Act like God." That's a tall order, but that is what Paul instructed Timothy to do. We should do the same.

Note 8 at 1 Tim. 6:11: Impatience is a trait of immaturity while patience is a sign of maturity. James 1:4 says, ". . .let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect (NIV-mature) and entire, wanting nothing."

Note 9 at 1 Tim. 6:11: The word "meekness" was translated from the Greek word "PRAOTES" which means, "gentleness, by implication, humility" (Strong).