1 Timothy 6:11
in 1 Timothy 6But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
KJV
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
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This verse in 1 Timothy 6
Commentary
15 notes on this verseBut thou, O man of God,.... Not only by creation, as every man is; nor merely by special grace, as everyone is, that is chosen of God, redeemed by Christ, and regenerated and sanctified by the Spirit; but by his peculiar office, as an evangelist and minister of the word, being qualified for, and devoted to, and employed in the service of God.
This site's exposition
O man of God
on 1 Timothy 6:11-12
O man of God is the Old Testament's title for prophets, laid on Timothy with two verbs, flee from these things and pursue righteousness. Fight the good fight of the faith is the arena's word, agonizou. His good confession before many witnesses is read of his baptism or ordination.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
But you, O man of God, flee these things; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. But you, O man of God. Great is the dignity. For all men are servants of God, especially the righteous, not only according to the reason of creation, but …
"As for you, man of God, flee from these things." You see, he didn't just say, "Leave and forsake," but "Flee from," as from an enemy. You were trying to flee with gold; flee from gold instead. Let your heart flee from it, and your use of it need have no worries. Do without greed; don't do without concern for others. There's something you can do with gold, if you're its master, not its slave. If you're the master of gold, you can do good with it; if you're its slave, it can do evil with you.
...as also he who hath after the example of Timothy ordered his life, obeying him who says, "Follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a …
He in whomsoever the Spirit of God is, is in accord with the will of the Spirit of God; and, because he is in accord with the Spirit of God, therefore does he mortify the deeds of the body and live unto God, "treading down …
"But thou, O man of God." This is a title of great dignity. For we are all men of God, but the righteous peculiarly so, not by right of creation only, but by that of appropriation. If then thou art a "man of God," seek not superfluous things, which lead thee not to God, but "Flee these things, and follow after righteousness." Both expressions are emphatic; he does not say turn from one, and approach the other, but "flee these things, pursue righteousness," so as not to be covetous. "Godliness," that is, soundness in doctrines. "Faith," which is opposed to questionings. "Love," patience, meekness.
8 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers1 voice
A commentator
Lucius Caecilius Firmianus LactantiusThe Divine Institutes, Book 7, Chapter V · Written before 325.
proposed
Immortality, then, is not the consequence of nature, but the reward and recompense of virtue. Lastly, man does not immediately upon his birth walk upright, but at first on all fours, because the nature of his body and of this present life is common to us with the dumb animals; afterwards, when his strength is confirmed, he raises himself, and his tongue is loosened so that he speaks plainly, and he ceases to be a dumb animal.
The Medieval Church3 voices
Strive to discover stirrings that are good during the time of prayer, as the wise do. These consist in reflection on the Spirit's insights and sagacious thought, and consideration during the time of prayer of how to please the will of the Maker of all. …
Then when he says, but you, O man of God, he warns him to follow sound doctrine and to flee from evil: first, he describes the road he should follow; second, he binds him to it with a command, at I charge you. In regard …
Great is this dignity! True, all people are God's, but especially the righteous — not only because they are God's creatures, but also because of their closeness to God. If you are a man of God, then do not seek that which turns you away …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Follow after righteousness - The whole image of God; though sometimes this word is used, not in the general, but in the particular, acceptation, meaning only that single branch of it which is termed justice. Faith - Which is also taken here in the general and full sense; namely, a divine, supernatural sight of God, chiefly in respect of his mercy in Christ.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
But thou, O man of God, flee these things - These allurements of wealth, and these sad consequences which the love of gold produces. And follow after righteousness, ... - Make these the grand object of your pursuit. On the virtues here enumerated, see the notes on Gal 5:22-23.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Applying primarily to Timothy as a minister (compare 2Pe 1:21), just as the term was used of Moses (De 33:1), Samuel (1Sa 9:6), Elijah, and Elisha; but, as the exhortation is as to duties incumbent also on all Christians, the term applies secondarily to him (so 2Ti 3:17) as a Christian man born of God (Jas 1:18;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
But thou, O man of God - Thou, who hast taken God for thy portion, and art seeking a city that hath foundations, whose builder is the living God, flee these things. Escape for thy life. Even thou art not out of the reach of the love of money. How many of the ministers of religion have been ruined by this! And how much has religion itself suffered by their love of money! Follow after righteousness - Justice and uprightness in all thy dealings with men. Godliness - a thorough conformity to the image of God and mind of Christ. Faith in Jesus, and in all that he has spoken; and fidelity to the talents thou hast received, and the office with which thou art intrusted. Love - To God and all mankind. Patience in all trials and afflictions. Meekness - Bearing up with an even mind under all adversities and contradictions.
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Σὺ | su | You yourself | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| δέ, | de | however, | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ὦ | o | O | G5599 → | |
| ἄνθρωπε | anthrope | man | G444 → | 549 times |
| θεοῦ, | theou | of God, | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| ταῦτα | tauta | these things | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| φεῦγε, | pheuge | do flee, | G5343 → | |
| δίωκε | dioke | do pursue | G1377 → | |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| δικαιοσύνην, | dikaiosunen | righteousness, | G1343 → | |
| εὐσέβειαν, | eusebeian | godliness, | G2150 → | 15 times |
| πίστιν, | pistin | faith, | G4102 → | 242 times |
| ἀγάπην, | agapen | love, | G26 → | 114 times |
| ὑπομονήν, | hupomonen | endurance, | G5281 → | |
| πραϋπαθίαν· | praupathian | [and] gentleness; |
ΣὺYou yourself
suG4771 →2973 times
δέ,however,
deG1161 →2765 times
ὦO
ἄνθρωπεman
anthropeG444 →549 times
θεοῦ,of God,
theouG2316 →1312 times
ταῦταthese things
tautaG3778 →1381 times
φεῦγε,do flee,
pheugeG5343 →
δίωκεdo pursue
diokeG1377 →
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
δικαιοσύνην,righteousness,
dikaiosunenG1343 →
εὐσέβειαν,godliness,
eusebeianG2150 →15 times
πίστιν,faith,
pistinG4102 →242 times
ἀγάπην,love,
agapenG26 →114 times
ὑπομονήν,endurance,
hupomonenG5281 →
πραϋπαθίαν·[and] gentleness;
praupathian
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Timothy 4:12Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
it leads to
- Titus 2:7
In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
- 2 Timothy 2:22
Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
- 2 Timothy 2:15
Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.
- 1 Peter 5:3
not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
- 2 Peter 1:5–8
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;
- Titus 2:7
Through
2 Timothy 2:22Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 3:11
He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Peter 3:11
Through
Hebrews 12:14Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
- 1 Peter 1:15–16
But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,
- 2 Corinthians 7:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies9
About 1 Timothy
This page draws on 16 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, SERMONS 177.3; Isaac of Nineveh, INSTRUCTIONS FOR MONKS, SECOND PART; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Timothy 17; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius, The Divine Institutes, Book 7, Chapter V; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, COMMENTARY ON 1 TIMOTHY; Peter of Alexandria, Peter of Alexandria Canonical Epistle; Pseudo-Clement, Two Epistles on Virginity; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Timothy and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Timothy.