(22) В¶ Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (23) But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. (24) And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, (25) In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; (26) And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Paul is here again harping on his favorite string. His zeal for Christ's cause in the Church, is always uppermost in his heart. And therefore he can never say enough to Timothy to prompt him to watch over the flock. Oh! what anxiety he expresseth, that the youthful lusts of pride, and vain glory, which young men and young ministers too often feel in their preaching, should give way wholly to the preaching Christ. The fear of man, and the desire of praise in man, bring a snare. It is blessed, where grace abounds, to be kept low, and like Paul, to be content to be nothing, so that Christ be glorified.