20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.” (1 Timothy 6:20–21 (ESV)
The Apostle Paul gave his young protégé Timothy one final charge or command to obey as a man of God. It was to guard. The Scriptures contain many Old and New Testament words translated “guard.” In the context of today’s text, the word guard (φύλαξον; phylaxon) is an aorist, active, imperative verb. It means to decisively, actively and obediently watch, keep in close custody, to observe and to preserve.
What Timothy was to guard was the deposit entrusted to you (παραθήκην; paratheken). Timothy had the responsibility to protect and to be responsible for something precious. Paul was referring to the biblical and sound doctrine of the gospel (I Timothy 1:8-11).
“Timothy is a trustee of God’s invaluable treasure, charged to maintain it undamaged and to entrust it unmodified into the custody of future generations of faithful stewards (2 Tim. 1:14; 2:1-2),” states Dr. R. C. Sproul.
Paul also commanded Timothy to “avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge.” The word avoid (ἐκτρεπόμενος; ektrepomenos) is a present, middle participle. It means to presently and personally not become involved and stray after an object. The item or object Paul had in mind to avoid was two-fold.
First, Timothy was to avoid irreverent babble (βεβήλους κενοφωνίας; bebelous kenophonias). This is godless and foolish talk.
Second, Timothy was also to avoid contradictions (ἀντιθέσεις; antithesis) which are logically, inconsistent statements. Such statements are falsely called knowledge or understanding.
Paul’s concern for Timothy was due in large measure to individuals who had swerved from the faith. Swerved (ἠστόχησαν; estochesan) means to decisively, actively and realistically abandon the truth and to lose one’s way. Some professing disciples of Jesus Christ had done so. Paul did not want this to happen to his beloved son in the faith. This warning Paul gave to Timothy in this letter’s conclusion parallels the apostle’s introduction.
3 “As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.” (1 Timothy 1:3–7 (ESV)
“One final time Paul exhorted Timothy to guard (cf. phylaxon, “keep,” in 5:21) the “deposit” or “trust” Paul had passed on to him (parathēkēn, used elsewhere only in 2 Tim. 1:12, 14), a reference to the body of Christian truth which in some way was under attack in Ephesus. Paul was concerned that Timothy give himself wholly to the truth and reject even the subtle inroads of error. Thus Timothy must turn away from godless chatter (lit., “profane empty utterances”; cf. 2 Tim. 2:16), and from opposing ideas (antitheseis, “counter-assertions”) of what is falsely called knowledge. Such knowledge was the supposed key to the mystery religions which were already aborning and which would mature into a full-fledged Gnosticism during the next century. Their influence was already being felt in Ephesus, so much so that Paul could say that some had gotten so caught up in professing their esoteric gnōsis that they wandered from the faith (lit., “concerning the faith missed the aim”; cf. 1 Tim. 1:6; 2 Tim. 2:18). This does not suggest that true believers lose their salvation but that some believers turn to false doctrines, from the content of their faith. With these exhortations Paul seemed to have come full circle, back to his concerns in 1 Timothy 1:3–6.”[1]
Paul concluded his letter as he began it with a simple, but sincere, statement; “Grace be with you.” However, the personal pronoun “you” is in the plural form. Paul desired God’s grace to not only be with Timothy but to all believers in Christ.
“Nowhere in Paul’s letters is there a shorter benediction: Grace (be) with you. But though brief, it is rich in meaning, for grace is the greatest blessing of all. It is God’s favor in Christ toward the undeserving, transforming their hearts and lives and leading them to glory. The apostle, who in his opening salutation had spoken of grace, as the first element in the series “grace, mercy, peace,” now closes the letter by pronouncing this grace (note the article; hence really “the grace”) upon … well, upon whom? The reader who is unacquainted with the original is almost sure to reason that the words “Grace be with you,” of the A.R.V., mean, “Grace be with you, Timothy.” The R.S.V. has not improved matters any. And the A.V. is based upon an inferior reading; hence has “with thee.” This shows how necessary it is in our translation to distinguish carefully between “you” (singular) and “you” (spaced letters, plural), for surprisingly, it is the plural that is used here! Though the epistle is addressed to just one person, Timothy, the latter would certainly see to it that its contents reached others. God’s grace, accordingly, is pronounced upon the entire Christian community.”[2]
A letter written to one man was to be read the entire church. As it was then, so may it be done today. May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.
Soli deo Gloria!
.
[1] A. Duane Litfin, “1 Timothy,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 748.
[2] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 213.
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