Why did Paul tell Timothy to flee from the love of money?
1 Timothy 6:10 - 11
KJV - 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
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Asked May 27 2016
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Mike Bongani
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For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Michael Tinsley
Paul, in 1 Timothy 6:9-11, tells Timothy to flee from the pursuit of money and other foolish and harmful desires and in 1 Timothy 6:11, " But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness."
I checked 15 translations of that verse and couldn't find the words 'run for your life' so I'm guessing you were paraphrasing, Mike.
Those words exactly are in 1 Samuel 19:11."Saul sent men to David’s house to watch it and to kill him in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, warned him, “If you don’t run for your life tonight, tomorrow you’ll be killed.”
That translation of 'run for your life' is only in the NIV. All the others use different wording as you can see if you click on the verse above for the ESV translation.
Jennifer Rothnie
The Greek term phuego is very strong. Literally, it is to flee to safety, such as to escape the edge of the sword (Heb 11:34) or the coming wrath (Matt 3:7). Poetically, it's to vanish (Rev 16:20). Metaphorically it is to flee or shun something abhorrent (Such as I Cor 6:18).
The strength of the term in I Tim 6:10 highlights the danger of the love of money and how it has brought many to grief, but Timothy should pursue righteousness instead in the opposite direction. Like Moses, he should choose "to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin" Heb 11:25