Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Several of the translations above seem to be considering the "treasure" entrusted to Timothy to be the gospel message. However, in my opinion, Paul is referring to Timothy's soul. Considering the human soul as a treasure to be guarded would be consistent with Jesus' observation that gaining the whole world would mean nothing if one were to lose one's own soul in the process (Mark 8:36). (Paul used the same Greek word in 2 Timothy 1:12 (just two verses earlier) in speaking about Jesus being able to guard what Paul had entrusted to Him (or, alternatively, what He had entrusted to Paul), which would seem to be a clear reference to Paul's soul.)

The gospel message, on the other hand, is something to be shared and disseminated once a person has received it, rather than being hoarded or kept to oneself.

August 09 2018 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

Mr. Maas has a good case there, but I think "the treasure" is the gospel message as you said might be a view, i.e. "the precious deposit of Christian truth" which we are to guard and to pass it along to others (2 Timothy 2:2) as Warren Wiersbe advocates. He continues, "GOD had given the deposit of spiritual truth to Paul (1 Timothy 1:11), and Paul had given it to Timothy (1 Timothy 6:20). It was now Timothy's solemn responsibility to "hold fast/keep" (2 Timothy 1:13) and "guard" (2 Timothy 1:14 NIV) the precious deposit of Christian truth, and to pass it along to others (2 Tim. 2:2)."

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers shows us this from another angle:

(14) That good thing which was committed unto thee.--"The good thing committed unto thee," or the deposit, differs from the "deposit" of 2 Timothy 1:12, inasmuch as the "deposit" of 2 Timothy 1:12 was something committed by St. Paul to God; while, on the other hand, in 2 Timothy 1:14 a trust committed by God to Timothy is spoken of. But the Apostle, remembering the solemn meaning of the word in the first instance, uses it with special emphasis on this second occasion. Yes, he seems to say, God will keep the most precious deposit you or I shall entrust to Him--our soul--safe against that day; do thou, in thy turn, keep safe, unharmed, the deposit He, through me, has entrusted to thee. In what God's deposit with men like Timothy and St. Paul consisted has been discussed in the Note to 1 Timothy 6:20. "The treasure of the Catholic faith"--that was to be kept unchanged, unalloyed. The epithet "good," which is here applied to this most sacred trust, we find joined to "the doctrine" ("the good doctrine," 1 Timothy 4:6), and to "the fight" ("the good fight," 1 Timothy 6:12).

December 07 2018 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Grant Abbott Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

When we consider this verse in the context of everything Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:1 - 14, I think this good deposit could be any or all of the following:

Eternal Life (2 Timothy 1:1)
This precious gift of eternal life is to be guarded at all costs. If Timothy, in his timidity, allows the false teachers in his church to stir up trouble, he is not living in the abundant, powerful and eternal life that Jesus made possible when he gave us the Holy Spirit.

Sincere Faith (2 Timothy 1:5)
Paul was convinced that Timothy's faith was sincere, genuine and real. His two letters to Timothy were intended to "bolster or guard" Timothy's faith from the attacks of unbelieving false teachers. It is essential that every Christian guard the "good deposit" of faith that God has given each one of us. Paul himself said that he was convinced that Jesus was able to guard what Paul had entrusted to him until that day (2 Timothy 1:12). Paul had a sincere faith that God would accomplish everything that God had planned through Paul's ministry.

Spiritual Gift of Evangelism
Paul reminds Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God [which I believe was the spiritual gift of evangelism] that was ignited in Timothy when Paul laid hands on him. Paul is exhorting Timothy to guard the good deposit of this spiritual gift and do the work of an evangelist. Paul reminded Timothy not to be timid in the midst of these false teachers and not to be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of Paul, his prisoner (2 Timothy 1:6-8).

Truth (Purity) of the Gospel Message
Paul reminds Timothy of the truth of the gospel message in 2 Timothy 1:9-10. Paul reminds Timothy that Paul is a herald, apostle and teacher of this gospel message. Paul is not ashamed that he is suffering, because he too had entrusted his life and ministry for Jesus to guard and protect. Paul is exhorting Timothy that he too, is a herald and teacher of this gospel message. With the spiritual battles that Timothy is facing against the false teachers, he needs to guard and protect and champion the truth of the gospel message that he had received from Paul. What you heard from me [Paul], keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 1:13).

In my view, the good deposit that Paul was referring to - for both Timothy and himself - was these 4 things:
1. Eternal Life
2. Faith
3. Spiritual gifts
4. Gospel Message

This same exhortation applies to each and every Christian. We are to guard and protect all 4 of these things.
1. Live in the eternal life we have been given, not in the life of this world
2. Walk by faith and not by sight
3. Use the gifts we have been given, so the power of the Holy Spirit is transforming people's lives through our ministries
4. Study the bible every day so the truth of the gospel is clear in our minds and we are not swayed by any false teachings from the world or the enemy of our souls.

Guard this good deposit, my friends, and entrust it to Jesus until that day.

December 08 2018 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report