{13} Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, {14} peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

(13) Returning to the matter from where he digressed in 2Ti 2:16, he warns him to exercise himself in serious matters, and such as pertain to godliness.

(14) The sixth admonition: we must above all things avoid all bitterness of mind, both in teaching all men, and also in calling those back who have gone out of the way.

People's New Testament

2:22 Flee also youthful lusts. Hence, let youthful passions be controlled. Flee these, and

follow righteousness, etc. See PNT 1Ti 4:12.

Wesley's Notes

2:22 Flee youthful desires - Those peculiarly incident to youth. Follow peace with them - Unity with all true believers. Out of a pure heart - Youthful desires, destroy this purity: righteousness, faith, love, peace, accompany it.

Scofield Reference Notes

Margin righteousness

See Scofield Note: "1Jn 3:7".

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

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; Eph 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).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

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.