Keep that Which is Committed to Your Trust 1 Timothy 6:20

Paul the apostle was thorough when he gave instructions to Timothy his “son in the faith” concerning the operations and people of the church in Ephesus where Timothy was the pastor. He wrote concerning doctrine, leaders, men, women, servants, masters, widows, elders, deacons, false teachers, personal discipline, church operations, prayer and those who are “rich in this world”. As he came to a close of his letter, Paul challenged Timothy to “keep that which is committed” to his “trust” where we read:

O Timothy, keep that which is committed to your trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:

The verse begins, “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to your trust,...” Paul began this verse with the words, “O Timothy” which is an interjection that puts an exclamation upon his name, “Timothy” or “Timotheus” which means “honoring God”. If we use our imaginations, we can almost hear the affection for this young protege' of Paul as his commissions him to “keep” or “watch, have his eye upon and protect” “that which is committed to your trust” which is one Greek word “parakatathēkē” which literally means “a deposit, trust or thing consigned to one's faithful keeping”. It is “used of the correct knowledge and pure doctrine of the gospel, to be held firmly and faithfully, and to be conscientiously delivered unto others”. As the pastor of the church in Ephesus, Timothy was to be “committed” to watch over, protect and keep his eye upon the ministry given to him by Almighty God.

The verse goes on to say, “...avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:” In addition to watching over that which was committed to him, Paul told Timothy to be “avoiding” which means “turn away from and shun meeting or associating with” “profane” or “unhallowed, common and ungodly public” “and vain babblings” which means “empty discussions and discussions of vain and useless matters”. Paul continued, “and oppositions” which is the Greek word “antithesis” and means “that which is opposed, in conflict with and against that which is true” “of science” or “knowledge signified in general intelligence, understanding and the general knowledge of Christian religion” “falsely so called” or “untruly named”. Timothy was not even to give time or place to such false, empty and profane discussions.

As we think through Paul's words, we see that Timothy was to turn away from any words and ideas which were promoting other than God Almighty as the Creator of the universe and the one and only true God who sent His Son Jesus into the world to save people from their sins, and through belief and trust in His provision, people will be able to live eternally with Him in heaven. Timothy was trusted with this glorious gospel or “good news”, and he was to shun any antithesis to it. Perhaps as we meditate upon this idea, we too will realize that the truth of the gospel has been entrusted to us as well, and may we, as Timothy, “keep that which is committed” to our “trust” until the time when God the Father calls us home to be with Him.

Next time Paul ends his letter with how “some professing have erred concerning the faith”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.