The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Timothy — Section 139

turn11 from hi.II warning to those deairing to be rich to the practical ellhortation to atrive for the true riches. L THE TITLE BY WBIOB TIMOTHY 18 ADDRESSED, "0 man of God." 1. IC wa., the familiar title of the Old Testament prophets, and might appropriately apply to a New Testament evangelist like Timothy, 2. But in the New Testament ii has a more general, reference, applying as it does to all the faithful in Christ Jesus (2 Tim. iii. 17). 'fhe name is very expressive. It signifies (1) a man who belongs to God; (2) who i■ dedicated to God; (3) who finds in God, ra.tber than in ricl,es, his true portion; (4) who lives for God's glory (1 Cor. x. 31). 11. THE WABNINO ADDRESSED TO TIMOTHY. "Flee these things." It might seem unnecessary to warn so devoted a Christian against the love of riches, with its destruc- tive results; but Timothy was now in an important position in a wealthy city, which contained "rich " men (ver. 17), and may have been tempted by gold and ea.se and popularity to make trivial sacrifices to truth. The holiest heart is not wi tbout its inward subtleties of deceit. DL THE POSITIVE EXHORTATION ADDRESSED TO TIMOTHY. .. And follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meek-spiritedness." These virtues group themselves into pa.irs. 1. Righteousness and godliness; referring to a general conformity to the Law of God in rela.tion to the duties owing respectively t-o God a.nd man, like the similar expressions-" live righteously a.nd godly "-of Titus ii. 12. (1) Righteousness is (a) not the "righteousness of God," for tha.t had been already attained by Timothy; but (b) the doing of justice between man and man, which would be for the honour of religion among men. Any undue regard for riches would ea.use a swerve from righteousness. (2) Godliness includes (a) holiness of heart, (b) holiness of life, in which lies the true gain for two worlds. 2. Faith and love. The■e are the two foundation-principles of the gospel. (1) Faith is at once (a) the instrument of our justification, (b) the root-princi,ele of Christian life, and (e) the continuously susta.ining principle of that life. (2) Love is (a) the immediate effect of faith, for " faith worketh by love" (Gal. v. 6); (b) it is the touchstone of true religion and the bond of perfectness ; (c) it is the spring of evangelical obedience, for it is "the fulfilling of the Law" (Rom. xiii. 8); (d) it is our protection in the battle of life, for it is "the breastplate of love" (1 Tbess. v. 8). 3. Patience, meek-spiritedness. These represent two principles which ought to operate in power in presence of gainsayers and enemies. -T.O. Ver. 12.-T/ie good fighl and it, result,. Instead of the struggle of the covetous for wealth, there ought to be the struggle of the faithful to lay bold on the prize of eternal life. I. THE OHBIBTIAN BTBUOOLE. "Fight the good fight of faith." 1. The enemiu in this warfare. The world, the flesh, and the devil; the. principalities and poweIB; the fa.I~ teachers, with their arts of seduction. 2. The waifare itself. 1t is •• a good fighi.'' (1) The term suggests that Christian life is not a mystic quietism, but an active effort against evil (2) It is a good fight, because (a) it is in a good ca.use- for God and truth and salvation; (b) it is under a good Captain-Jesus Christ, the Captain of our salvation; (e) it has a good result---" eternal life." 3. The weapons in this warfare. "Faith.'' It is " the shield of faith" (Epb. vi. 16). This is not a carnal, but a spiritual weapon. Faith represents, indeed, "the whole armour of God," which is mighty for victory. It is faith that secure,; "the victory that overcometh the world" (1 John iv. 4, 6). II. THE END OF THE CHRISTIAN STRUGOLE, "Lay hold on eternal life." 1. Ekrnal life i, the prize, the crown, to be laid hold of by those who are faithful to death. 2. it i, the object of our effectual calling. "'l'o which thou wast called" by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit. 3. le is the subject of our public profession. "And didst confess the good confession before many witnes8es.'' Evidently either at his baptism, or at his ordination to the ministry, when many witnesses would be present. 4. This eternal life is lo be laid hold of. (1) It is held forth as the prize of the high ea.Hing of God, as the recompe11se of reward. (2) But the believer is to lay hold of it even now by faith, having a believing interest in it as a posseuion yet to be acquired in 11,ll ita glorious fulness.-T. C.  THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY. [oa. n. 1-21.