What was Paul telling Timothy to hold on to in 2 Timothy 1?
Paul instructed Timothy to hold fast the form of sound words he had heard from Paul, and to keep the good thing or deposit committed to him—the volume of truth called the mystery, the doctrine revealed to Paul by the Ascended Lord. Timothy was to guard this deposit by the Holy Spirit dwelling in him.
Les explains that in 2 Timothy chapter 1, Paul is writing to one of his young men who had labored with him in the ministry and was now a pastor. In verse 13 Paul says, “Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” Then in verse 14 he speaks of “that good thing which was committed unto thee.” Les points out that in the Greek that word “thing” was really the deposit, and the deposit was that volume of truth referred to in Paul’s letters as the mystery. So Paul is telling Timothy, “Hang on to this doctrine of the mysteries that were revealed to me by the Ascended Lord which I have left now with you.” That is the thing or deposit committed unto Timothy, and he is to keep it by the Holy Spirit who dwelleth in us.
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
More Questions
What does 'the good thing committed unto thee' mean in the Greek in 2 Timothy 1:14?
In the Greek, the word 'thing' in 'that good thing which was committed unto thee' is really 'the deposit,' and the deposit is that volume of truth Paul's letters call the mystery.
What did Paul mean when he told Timothy to keep the deposit?
The word 'deposit' carries both security and return, so Timothy was to keep the deposit and let it earn dividends and interest rather than just sit on it.
What does the word 'thing' mean in 2 Timothy 1:14?
In 2 Timothy 1:14, the word translated 'thing' in 'that good thing' is in the Greek 'the deposit,' and the deposit is the volume of truth that Paul calls the mystery.