2 Timothy 2 · Verse 22

2 Timothy 2:22

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2:22, King James Version

2 Timothy 2:22 in other translations

BSBFlee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
WEBFlee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
ASVBut flee youthful lusts, and follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
YLTand the youthful lusts flee thou, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those calling upon the Lord out of a pure heart;
DARBYBut youthful lusts flee, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those that call upon the Lord out of a pure heart.
BBEBut keep yourself from those desires of the flesh which are strong when the body is young, and go after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those whose prayers go up to the Lord from a clean heart.
WebsterFlee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

What does 2 Timothy 2:22 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
22. Flee--There are many lusts from which our greatest safety is in flight (Ge 39:12). Avoid occasions of sin. From the abstemious character of Timothy (1Ti 5:23) it is likely that not animal indulgences, but the impetuosity, rash self-confidence, hastiness, strife, and vainglory of young men (1Jo 2:14-16), are what he is here warned against: though the Spirit probably intended the warning to include both in its application to the Church in general. also--Greek, "But"; in contrast to "every good work," 2Ti 2:21. youthful--Timothy was a youth (1Ti 4:12). righteousness--the opposite of "iniquity," that is, unrighteousness (2Ti 2:19; compare 1Ti 6:11). peace, with, &c.--rather, put no comma, "peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (1Ti 1:5; Ep 6:5; Col 3:22). We are to love all men, but it is not possible to be at peace with all men, for this needs community of purpose and opinion; they alone who call on the Lord sincerely (as contrasted with the false teachers who had only the form of godliness, 2Ti 3:5, 8; Tit 1:15, 16) have this community [Theodoret]. (Ro 12:18).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 22. Flee also youthful lusts. Such passions as youth are o. On subject to. the word flee, and the pertinency of its use in such a connection, 1Cor 6:18. Paul felt that Timothy, then a young man, was subject to the same passions as other young men; and hence his repeated cautions to him to avoid all those things arising from his youth, which might be the occasion of scandal. Comp. 1Timm 4:12 . 1Timm 5.2. It is to be remembered that this epistle is applicable to other ministers, as well as to Timothy; and, to a young man in the ministry no counsel could be more appropriate than to "Flee from youthful lusts;" not to indulge for a moment in those corrupt passions to which youth are subject, but to cultivate the pure and sober virtues which become the ministerial office.

But follow righteousness, etc. Comp. Heb 12:14. The general meaning here is, that he was to practise all that is good and virtuous. He was to practise righteousness, or justice and equity, in all his dealings with men; faith, or fidelity in his duties; charity, or love to all men, 1Cor 13:1, seq. peace, or harmony and concord with all others. What virtues could be more appropriate for a minister of the gospel?

With them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. That is, with all Christians, who are often characterized as those who call on the Lord, 1Cor 1:2. Comp. Acts 9:11. In all his intercourse with them, Timothy was to manifest the virtues above recommended. But not with them alone. It would be incumbent on him to exhibit the same virtues in his intercourse with all.

(d) "Flee" Eccl 11:9,10 (e) "follow" Heb 12:14 (f) "call on the Lord" 1Cor 1:2

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 22 Flee also youthful lusts - Not only all irregular and sensual desires, but pride, ambition, and, above all, the lust of power, to which most men will sacrifice all other propensities, their ease, pleasure, health, etc. This is the most bewitching passion in the human heart. Both in Church and state it is ruinous; but particularly so in the former. Timothy was now between thirty and forty years of age, the very age in which ambition and the love of power most generally prevail. Carnal pleasures are the sins of youth; ambition and the love of power the sins of middle age; covetousness and carking cares the crimes of old age. Follow righteousness - Flee from sin, pursue goodness. Righteousness - whatever is just, holy, and innocent. Faith - fidelity both to God and man, improving that grace by which thy soul may be saved, and faithfully discharging the duties of thy office, that thou mayest save the souls of others. Charity - love to God and man. Peace among all the members of the Church, and as far as possible with all men; but especially among those who invoke the Lord out of a pure desire to glorify his name.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Timothy 2:22-26
The more we follow that which is good, the faster and the further we shall flee from that which is evil. The keeping up the communion of saints, will take us from fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness. See how often the apostle cautions against disputes in religion; which surely shows that religion consists more in believing and practising what God requires, than in subtle disputes. Those are unapt to teach, who are apt to strive, and are fierce and froward. Teaching, not persecution, is the Scripture method of dealing with those in error. The same God who gives the discovery of the truth, by his grace brings us to acknowledge it, otherwise our hearts would continue to rebel against it. There is no "peradventure," in respect of God's pardoning those who do repent; but we cannot tell that he will give repentance to those who oppose his will. Sinners are taken in a snare, and in the worst snare, because it is the devil's; they are slaves to him. And if any long for deliverance, let them remember they never can escape, except by repentance, which is the gift of God; and we must ask it of him by earnest, persevering prayer.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 Timothy 2:22 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΤὰςTas<the>G3588
δὲdeAndG1161
νεωτερικὰςneōterikasyouthfulG3512
ἐπιθυμίαςepithumiaslustsG1939
φεῦγε,pheugedo flee,G5343
δίωκεdiōkedo pursueG1377
δὲdenowG1161
δικαιοσύνην,dikaiosunēnrighteousness,G1343
πίστιν,pistinfaith,G4102
ἀγάπην,agapēnlove,G26
εἰρήνηνeirēnēn[and] peaceG1515
μετὰmetaalong withG3326
τῶνtōnthoseG3588
ἐπικαλουμένωνepikaloumenōncalling onG1941
τὸνtontheG3588
κύριονkurionLordG2962
ἐκekout ofG1537
καθαρᾶςkatharaspureG2513
καρδίας.kardiasa heart.G2588

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Timothy 2:22

  • 1 Peter 2:11

    Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

  • 1 Peter 3:11

    Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:18

    Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

  • 1 Timothy 6:11

    But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

  • Psalms 119:9

    ב BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

  • Hebrews 12:14

    Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

  • 1 Timothy 4:12

    Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

  • Psalms 66:18-19

    If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:14

    Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

  • 1 Timothy 1:5

    Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

  • Ecclesiastes 11:9-10

    Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

  • 3 John 1:11

    Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Flee.
Pr 6:5; 1Co 6:18; 10:14; 1Ti 6:11
youthful.
Ps 119:9; Ec 11:9,10; 1Pe 2:11
follow.
1Ti 4:12; 6:11; Heb 12:14; 3Jo 1:11
charity.
1Co 14:1
peace.
Ro 14:17,19; 15:5,6; 1Co 1:10; Heb 12:14; 1Pe 3:11
call.
1Ch 29:17,18; Ps 17:1; 66:18,19; Pr 15:8; Ac 9:14; 1Co 1:2; 1Ti 2:8
out.
1Ti 1:5; 4:12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Timothy 2:21

    If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

  • 2 Timothy 2:22

    Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

  • 2 Timothy 2:23

    But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

Read all of 2 Timothy 2

2 Timothy 2:22 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Huye también los deseos juveniles; y sigue la justicia, la fe, la caridad, la paz, con los que invocan al Señor de puro corazón.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais fuis les convoitises de la jeunesse, et poursuis la justice, la foi, l’amour, la paix, avec ceux qui invoquent le Seigneur d’un cœur pur;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Die jugendlichen Lüste aber fliehe; strebe aber nach Gerechtigkeit, Glauben, Liebe, Frieden mit denen, die den Herrn anrufen aus reinem Herzen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Juvenilia autem desideria fuge, sectare vero justitiam, fidem, spem, caritatem, et pacem cum iis qui invocant Dominum de corde puro.