1 Timothy 6:11

My Notes

What Does 1 Timothy 6:11 Mean?

Paul addresses Timothy with a personal charge: but thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

But thou — the contrast separates Timothy from those described in v.3-10 who are driven by the love of money and have pierced themselves with many sorrows. But thou — you are different. Your path is different. Your pursuit is different.

O man of God — the title carries Old Testament weight. Man of God was the designation for Moses (Deuteronomy 33:1), Samuel (1 Samuel 9:6), Elijah (1 Kings 17:18), and Elisha (2 Kings 4:9). Paul places Timothy in this lineage — not as a young pastor but as a man of God with prophetic heritage. The title is both honor and weight.

Flee these things — these things refers to the love of money and its consequences (v.9-10). The command is not resist. It is flee (pheugo) — run away. Some temptations are fought. This one is fled. The instruction acknowledges that the love of money is powerful enough that the safest response is distance, not engagement.

And follow after (dioko) — pursue, chase, run toward. The same energy used to flee is redirected toward pursuit. The Christian life has two directions simultaneously: away from and toward. Fleeing is not enough without pursuit. The vacuum left by fleeing must be filled by following.

Righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness — six virtues arranged in pairs. Righteousness and godliness (right conduct toward people and right relationship with God). Faith and love (trust toward God and care toward people). Patience and meekness (endurance under pressure and gentleness under provocation). The list is comprehensive — covering every dimension of character.

Reflection Questions

• 1.Why does Paul say 'flee' rather than 'resist' when it comes to the love of money?
• 2.How does the title 'man of God' (or woman of God) change the weight and direction of Timothy's calling — and yours?
• 3.Which of the six virtues (righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness) are you most actively pursuing — and which are you neglecting?
• 4.How do fleeing and following work together — and what happens when you do one without the other?

Devotional

But thou, O man of God. But thou. Two words that separate you from the crowd. Everyone else is chasing money, piercing themselves with sorrows, wandering from the faith. But thou — you are called to something different. You are a man of God. A woman of God. The title carries weight and direction.

Flee these things. Flee. Not negotiate with. Not manage carefully. Not gradually reduce. Run. The love of money is not a temptation you master through willpower. It is one you escape through distance. Some sins you fight face-to-face. This one you run from. The instruction is urgent because the danger is that seductive.

And follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. The fleeing creates a vacuum. The following fills it. You cannot just run from — you must run toward. Toward righteousness — doing what is right. Toward godliness — living in conscious awareness of God. Toward faith — trusting when you cannot see. Toward love — choosing others over self. Toward patience — enduring without quitting. Toward meekness — holding your strength gently.

Six virtues. Six pursuits that fill the space left by the things you fled. The Christian life is always two directions at once: away from what destroys and toward what builds. Fleeing without following leaves you empty. Following without fleeing leaves you compromised. You need both — the running from and the running toward.

What are you fleeing? What are you following? The man of God — the woman of God — has clear answers to both questions. And the energy is the same: the urgency with which you run from destruction is the urgency with which you chase righteousness.

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture