I Timothy 6:20

Recapitulatory conclusion: the main aim of the whole Epistle being here summarily stated. O Timothy--a personal appeal, marking at once his affection for Timothy, and his prescience of the coming heresies. keep--from spiritual thieves, and from enemies who will, while men sleep, sow tares amidst the good seed sown by the Son of man. that which is committed to thy trust--Greek, "the deposit" (Ti1 1:18; Ti2 1:12, Ti2 1:14; Ti2 2:2). "The true" or "sound doctrine" to be taught, as opposed to "the science falsely so called," which leads to "error concerning the faith" (Ti1 6:21). "It is not thine: it is another's property with which thou hast been entrusted: Diminish it not at all" [CHRYSOSTOM]. "That which was entrusted to thee, not found by thee; which thou hast received, not invented; a matter not of genius, but of teaching; not of private usurpation, but of public tradition; a matter brought to thee, not put forth by thee, in which thou oughtest to be not an enlarger, but a guardian; not an originator, but a disciple; not leading, but following. 'Keep,' saith he, 'the deposit,'; preserve intact and inviolate the talent of the catholic faith. What has been entrusted to thee, let that same remain with thee; let that same be handed down by thee. Gold thou hast received, gold return. I should be sorry thou shouldest substitute aught else. I should be sorry that for gold thou shouldest substitute lead impudently, or brass fraudulently. I do not want the mere appearance of gold, but its actual reality. Not that there is to be no progress in religion in Christ's Church. Let there be so by all means, and the greatest progress; but then let it be real progress, not a change of the faith. Let the intelligence of the whole Church and its individual members increase exceedingly, pr…

I. He treats of the duty of servants (Ti1 6:1, Ti1 6:2). II. Of false teachers (Ti1 6:3-5). III. Of godliness and covetousness (Ti1 6:6-10). IV. What Timothy was to flee, and what to follow (Ti1 6:11, Ti1 6:12). V. A solemn charge (Ti1 6:13-16). VI. A charge for the rich (Ti1 6:17-19). And lastly, a charge to Timothy (Ti1 6:20, Ti1 6:21).

6:20-21 This brief but pointed exhortation summarizes and shows the importance of Timothy’s task in Ephesus (cp. 1:18-20; 2 Tim 1:13-14). 6:20 what God has entrusted to you (literally the deposit): The Good News is a deposit entrusted to the church and its leaders for safekeeping (1:15; 2:5-6; 3:16). It encompasses the whole pattern of conduct that follows from it (2 Tim 1:13-14; 3:10-11). It stabilizes and purifies the church when it is buffeted by counterfeits in the polluted environment of difficult times (2 Tim 3:1). The deposit belongs to the “tradition” of the church (see 2 Tim 2:2; 1 Cor 11:23-25; 15:1-8; 2 Thes 2:15; 3:6). It requires creative and faithful interpretation to meet changing circumstances and problems (see 2 Tim 1:12-14).