But As For You, O Man of God
Much of what is shared in this article is derived from John Stott’s commentary on 1 Timothy.
In 1 Timothy 6:11-12, Paul writes,
“But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
These verses start with the words “but as for you” which signifies a distinction Paul is making. Paul has just finished describing various kinds of false teachers and now he wants to contrast them with the type of person he desires Timothy to be: a man of God. According to Paul, what distinguishes these two types of people is that which they pursue. The false teachers pursue self-exaltation, status, controversy, and riches (6:3-5). The person of God distinguishes himself by pursuing godliness, truth, and eternal life. The false teachers’ pursuit leads to delusion and ruin (6:4-5, 8). In contrast, the person of God’s pursuit leads to “great gain” (6:6).
Paul gives Timothy three exhortations: to pursue righteousness, stand for truth, and take hold of eternal life. He longs for Timothy to heed his words and so persevere as a faithful man of God. As men and women of God today, we too must heed Paul’s words, so that we too may remain faithful and experience the “great gain” of godliness.
Exhortation 1: Pursue Righteousness
“Flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.”
Paul’s first exhortation has both a negative and positive component, a moving away from and a moving towards something. First, the man or woman of God must “flee” evil, that is, run immediately, fast, and far from sin and temptation. The word flee gives the image of escaping without hesitation from danger. It is an instinctual seeking after safety. Second, the man or woman of God must “pursue” holiness, that is, seek after obedience with diligence and joy.
Paul names six things that the man or woman of God should pursue: righteousness (right and just living), godliness (reverence towards God), faith (conviction of God’s truth), love (sacrificial commitment to others), steadfastness (endurance despite circumstances), and gentleness (humility and patience towards others). Each of these is to be sought after as if they are precious and lead to great gain. As Stott puts it, “We are simply to run from evil as we run from danger, and to run after goodness as we run after success. We have to give our mind, time, and energy to both flight and pursuit” (p155).
Exhortation 2: Stand for the Truth
“Fight the good fight of the faith.”
In addition to fleeing when faced with opposition, Paul also calls the man or woman of God to at times stand and fight. What we are to fight for is that which Paul has referred to throughout his letter as the singular gospel (2:3-6), the confession of the church (3:15), good doctrine worth imparting to others (4:6), teaching that represents the name of God (6:1), and the deposit entrusted to us under the authority of God (6:20). The fight that the person of God is to engage in is to defend the truth of God found in His gospel against falsehood and distortion (as Paul himself does throughout his Epistles). This fight isn’t something that we are to seek out, as Paul’s instructions to Timothy regarding false teachers make clear. But, we are to be willing to combat false teaching when it arises and to ensure that the gospel of Jesus Christ is clear and kept pure. Though Paul refers explicitly to false teachers when writing to Timothy, this fight also applies more broadly to the lies told by the world, the devil, and our own flesh. Each of these in their own way assail our faith and must be fought.
Implied in Paul’s second exhortation is the necessity of training. In order for the person of God to be prepared to fight for the truth, he or she must train, that is, to be skilled with the weapon of the fight. This weapon is none other than the Word of God. Without knowledge of God’s Word and the ability to apply it, we will scarcely be able to identify deception, let alone to combat it. In all battles for truth, we, as Timothy, must turn to Scripture as our only sword and shield.
Exhortation 3: Take Hold of Eternal Life
“Take hold of the eternal life which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
If the first two exhortations are concerned with the responsibility of the person of God, then the third exhortation is one of joyful experience. Paul tells the man or woman of God to “take hold of” eternal life. At first reading, this may sound like a command that is redundant with one’s initial profession of faith, making it unclear why it is being given to Timothy, a mature man of God. But, Paul’s expression suggests an ongoing taking hold of the eternal life that one possesses from when he or she initially believes in Christ.
The act of taking hold of something means to take it into one’s possession, to make it one’s own. This is the expectation Paul has, that the person of God will regard the eternal life found in Jesus as his or her own personal treasure. As eternal life is representative of one’s relationship with Christ (Jn 17:3), then taking hold of it is to regularly invest in knowing and enjoying Christ. It is to pursue Paul’s first two exhortations not as dispassionate duties, but as privileges to take part in. Not only that, it is to savor Christ’s Word, to commune with Him in prayer, to seek His grace and provision, and to reflect on His finished work on our behalf. All of this is mere preparation for knowing and enjoying life with Christ forever.
These three exhortations give us the formula, so to speak, for living a godly life and thus to be set apart as the people of God. We are to flee sin and chase after righteousness. We are to hold fast to the truth of God in preparation for combating falsehood, both internal and external. And, we are to cherish the life of knowing Christ that we get to enjoy now in anticipation of enjoying it forever in the age to come. Paul follows his exhortation to Timothy by saying that his charge carries the full weight of the authority of God, the giver of life, and of Jesus Christ, who was faithful to the truth, even when faced with death (6:13). Paul’s exhortations aren’t good advice, but are commands from God Himself to live above approach and to represent Christ faithfully as we live in hope of His return (6:14-15). We are to follow these commands because we now represent God and Christ, our King, who is worthy of all honor and dominion (6:16). Would we see what is at stake in our heeding of Paul’s words. Not only is it our good, but it is God’s glory. With that in mind, and by His help, may we live faithfully as men and women of God.
Cover image: “St. Paul in Prison” by Gustave Doré