But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. (12) Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (13) I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontus Pilate, (14) that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, (15) which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, (16) who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen
Well wow to verses 13 through 16.
The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to Timothy. Timothy was called by God, mentored by Paul, confirmed by the church elders and now it seems he was alone in Ephesus facing opposition there. Timothy was facing theological and philosophical error and needed courage, fortitude, and steadfastness and Paul is giving Timothy a charge to maintain integrity in his ministry.
Our verses today begin with Paul addressing Timothy as “O man of God” – a title reserved in the Old Testament for the prophets and used only here in all of the New Testament. Paul is talking about false teachers at Ephesus and advising Timothy to flee the characteristic of their teaching – to flee pride and conceit in knowledge; to flee combativeness and to flee a desire for material gain. Paul tells Timothy to follow after righteousness with God, not just as behavior but as a belief. We are, through Christ Jesus, no longer guilty and have been made right with God. This relationship now with God is the MOST important thing in our lives.
Proper theology and sound doctrine is not just practical but it is all – our expanding awareness of God and His constant presence is what will give us the integrity to remain true to our testimony, our faith in Jesus. This gives us security, joy in life and our only real happiness as this life we lead now is ephemeral and we are told to “lay hold on eternal life”.