2 Timothy 2:22

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.

a. NLT: Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. ASV: But flee youthful lusts, and follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. YLT: And the youthful lusts flee thou, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those calling upon the Lord out of a pure heart; [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

d. Classic Amplified: Shun youthful lusts and flee from them, and aim at and pursue righteousness (all that is virtuous and good, right living, conformity to the will of God in thought, word, and deed); [and aim at and pursue] faith, love, [and] peace (harmony and concord with others) in fellowship with all [Christians], who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

1. “Flee also youthful lusts…”

a. Flee [Strong: 5343. pheugo fyoo'-go apparently a primary verb; to run away (literally or figuratively); by implication, to shun; by analogy, to vanish:--escape, flee (away).]

b. [Strong: 3588. [Tas] ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [Tas] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.]

c. also [Strong: 1161. de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

d. youthful [Strong: 3512. neoterikos neh-o-ter'-ik-os from the comparative of 3501; appertaining to younger persons, i.e. juvenile:--youthful.]

e. lusts [Strong: 1939. epithumia ep-ee-thoo-mee'-ah from 1937; a longing (especially for what is forbidden):--concupiscence, desire, lust (after).

1). We must remember what Joseph did when faced with sexual temptation, he literally ran away.

a). Genesis 39:5-12 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

39:6 And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

39:7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

39:8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

39:9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

39:10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

39:11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.

39:12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

2). ICR 8/15/2012 The first part of this two-fold command is to run away from young (new, untested) desires. Sexual immorality is especially to be avoided because "every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body" (1 Corinthians 6:18). Two other dangerous desires are identified in the New Testament. We are warned to "flee from idolatry" (1 Corinthians 10:14) and to flee from the "love of money" (1 Timothy 6:10-11). Obviously, there are many "lusts" wrapped up in these categories. They are all dangerous because they are "untested" and deceitful. Such things will inhibit and injure the Christian. "The cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful" (Mark 4:19). "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 John 2:16). Such warnings are so common in Scripture that it is easy to become inured to them. But they are critical to a godly life. We are told to "make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof" (Romans 13:14), but to be "as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts" (1 Peter 1:14) in order to escape "the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2 Peter 1:4). In contrast, we must follow after righteousness. The "youthful lusts" can be conquered by the "pursuit" of a godly lifestyle. Even the devil will flee if he is resisted in the faith (James 4:7). HMM III

2. “...but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

a. but [Strong: 1161. de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. follow [Strong: 1377. dioko dee-o'-ko a prolonged (and causative) form of a primary verb dio (to flee; compare the base of 1169 and 1249); to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication, to persecute:--ensue, follow (after), given to, (suffer) persecute(-ion), press forward.]

1). ICR Daily Devotional 8/18/2013 The word "follow" is frequently translated "persecute" in other passages. Jesus used the word this way: "The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you" (John 15:20). The connotation of the Greek term includes a dogged and relentless effort.Anyone who wants to serve the Lord Jesus faithfully must be determined to pursue righteousness. Those who "hunger and thirst after righteousness" are promised both happiness and fulfillment (Matthew 5:6). Those who seek "first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness" have the promise that God will supply all their earthly needs (Matthew 6:33). Perhaps a quick review of some of the passages that require "pursuit" of a godly lifestyle would be helpful. "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another" (Romans 14:19). "Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy" (1 Corinthians 14:1). "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). "See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men" (1 Thessalonians 5:15). "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness" (1 Timothy 6:11). "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). Even this short list should keep all of us on our knees asking both for forgiveness and for strength to obey. HMM III

c. righteousness [Strong: 1343. dikaiosune dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay from 1342; equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification:--righteousness.]

d. faith [Strong: 4102. pistis pis'-tis from 3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:--assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.]

e. charity [Strong: 26. agape ag-ah'-pay from 25; love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast:--(feast of) charity(-ably), dear, love.]

f. peace [Strong: 1515. eirene i-ray'-nay probably from a primary verb eiro (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, prosperity:--one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again.]

g. with [Strong: 3326. meta met-ah' a primary preposition (often used adverbially); properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between 575 or 1537 and 1519 or 4314; less intimate than 1722 and less close than 4862):--after(-ward), X that he again, against, among, X and, + follow, hence, hereafter, in, of, (up-)on, + our, X and setting, since, (un-)to, + together, when, with (+ -out). Often used in composition, in substantially the same relations of participation or proximity, and transfer or sequence.]

h. them [Strong: 3588. [ton] ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [ton] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.]

i. [that] call [on] [Strong: 1941. epikaleomai ep-ee-kal-eh'-om-ahee middle voice from 1909 and 2564; to entitle; by implication, to invoke (for aid, worship, testimony, decision, etc.):--appeal (unto), call (on, upon), surname.]

j. the [Strong: 3588. [ton] ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [ton] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.]

k. Lord [Strong: 2962. kurios koo'-ree-os from kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):-- God, Lord, master, Sir.]

l. out of [Strong: 1537. ek ek or ex ex a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):--after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, ...ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.]

m. [a] pure [Strong: 2513. katharos kath-ar-os' of uncertain affinity; clean (literally or figuratively):--clean, clear, pure.]

n. heart [Strong: 2588. kardia kar-dee'-ah prolonged from a primary kar (Latin cor, "heart"); the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle:--(+ broken-)heart(-ed).]