What does 1 Timothy 6:11 mean?

Prior verses focused on those who teach false doctrines or are consumed with greed. Here, Paul transitions into this letter's final commands towards Timothy. Paul's words are very personal and very direct. The phrase "man of God" was also used of Moses (Deuteronomy 33:1), Samuel (1 Samuel 9:6), and other prophets in the Old Testament (1 Kings 12:22). However, in the New Testament, only Timothy is referred to as a man of God. That's high praise, indeed! In addition to this verse, Paul uses the phrase regarding Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:17. The concept applies to all people who seek to follow God's will, but the phrase itself seems to be used by Paul with special significance to Timothy.

Timothy is not told to merely avoid the love of money and the actions of the false teachers, as explained in 1 Timothy 6:3–10. Rather, He is told to "flee" from them. A very literal application of this advice was used by Joseph, who literally ran away from a married woman who was attempting to seduce him (Genesis 39:7–12). Like Joseph, Timothy is to use whatever means necessary to avoid these pitfalls.

In contrast to the character flaws of false teachers, Paul commends six positive traits which Timothy is meant to pursue: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness (meaning endurance), and gentleness. Many of these traits resemble those characteristic of all believers as the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22–23.