2 Timothy 2:22

‘But flee youthful desires, and follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.’

To this end he has to flee from youthful desires and longings (a man was considered youthful up to forty, when he was considered to have matured), whether of the flesh or of the mind (compare Ephesians 2:3). We must not just think of sexual desires, but of all the desires that can possess men, such as angry passion, impatience, love of argument, ambition, desire for something new, longing for fame, party spirit. Compare also the lists in Romans 1:29-31; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21, some of which could apply to Christians as to all men.

Note the decisive action to be taken. It reminds us that when temptation comes that it is possible to flee from, that is what we should do. If we hang around under such temptation we will fall, and no one will be to blame but ourselves. And even when the temptations are in the mind we can flee to God (see James 4:7; 1 John 2:15-17).

But the action is not only negative. The mind and heart must be turned towards other things. Thus he must also follow after righteousness, faith, love, and peace (compare 1 Timothy 6:11) along with all others who call on the Lord out of a pure heart (compare 1 Timothy 1:5). The void caused by turning from the world and its temptations is to be filled by positive spiritual living.

‘Follow after righteousness.’ This is in fact the positive side of what is involved in those who call on the Name of the Lord ‘departing from unrighteousness’ (2 Timothy 2:19). The Christian must live a life of positive righteousness. ‘To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin’ (James 4:17). Note the repetition of the idea of calling on the Lord (compare 2 Timothy 2:19) and of the fact that it must be from a position of purity. So here righteousness is seen from the positive angle. In both cases, however, it involves full obedience to God’s requirements (compare Matthew 7:13-27). That is what departing from unrighteousness involves. So there is really little difference except in emphasis.

‘Faith, love, peace.’ At the commencement of the letter Paul wished for Timothy ‘grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord’ (2 Timothy 1:2). ‘Faith, love and peace’ can be seen as the human response to these benevolent attitudes of God. Faith is man’s response to God’s offered grace (unmerited favour), love is man’s response to God’s own compassion and mercy, peace results from a man obtaining peace with God and peace from God. Compare here also the list of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22.