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Paratheke. This word means something entrusted or deposited with another, generally
for safekeeping. The verb form paratithemi is found in II Tim. 2: 2 "The things which
thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who
shall be able to teach others also". A reference to the R.V. of II Tim. 1: 12 will reveal
the fact that the translation "I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have
committed unto Him" is not the only possible rendering. The R.V. margin reads "Or that
which He hath committed unto me", and adds "Gr. my deposit". There is therefore, no
actual word that can be translated either `unto Him' or `unto me' in this verse, neither is
there a verb that can be translated "He hath committed" or "I have committed". Let us
set out a word for word translation of this passage.
Dunatos estin ten paratheken mou
phulaxai
Able He is the
deposit of me
to guard
Further light can be gathered from verse 14 "That good thing which was committed
unto thee keep" Ten kalen paratheken phulaxon. Here again "Thing which was
committed unto thee" is the rendering of both the A.V. and the R.V. for the two words
"kalen paratheken", "good deposit".
In the light of the second reference where something had been most definitely
`entrusted' to Timothy by the Lord, and which he was enjoined `to keep or guard', we
can return to Paul's initial statement in verse 12.
Arising out of the Gospel of which Paul was the appointed preacher, are his words
recorded in verse 12:
"For the which cause I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I
know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to guard the deposit
entrusted, unto that day."
To Paul (II Tim. 1: 12) to Timothy (II Tim. 1: 14) and to faithful men, able to teach
others also has this sacred trust been committed. This entrusted deposit of truth they are
to guard, to watch over, to keep. Now this can be done in a variety of ways, but one
special safeguard is brought before us in the exhortation that is placed between verses 12
and 14 namely, the advisability to possess a form of sound words, which Timothy had
heard from the Apostle.
The word `form' is singular, the relative pronoun `which' is plural, therefore Paul in
not reminding Timothy that he had received a `form' from Paul, he had heard "sound
words" from him which it would be well to bring together as a unit of reference.
NOTE: At this point in this series of 5 articles, the late Mr. Welch intended to insert a
brief account of the `deposit' or `form of sound words' that the articles exhort us to hold,
keep, stand (fast for), watch (for apostasy), and teach. For some reason Mr. Welch did
not do this. The reader is referred to that author's full exposition appearing under the title
The Form of Sound Words obtainable from the usual distribution agents. In the meantime
the rest of this article gives the gist of what is included in the `deposit'.