2 Timothy 1:14

That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

That good thing {G2570} which was committed unto thee {G3872} keep {G5442} by {G1223} the Holy {G40} Ghost {G4151} which {G3588} dwelleth {G1774} in {G1722} us {G2254}.

Keep safe the great treasure that has been entrusted to you, with the help of the Ruach HaKodesh, who lives in us.

Guard the treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

That good thing which was committed unto thee guard through the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in us.

Context of 2 Timothy 1:14

This verse is found in Paul's second letter to Timothy, his spiritual son and a young pastor serving in Ephesus. Written from prison, likely Paul's final imprisonment before his execution, this epistle is deeply personal and urgent. Paul is encouraging Timothy to remain faithful in the face of suffering, false teachings, and potential shame for the gospel. He has just reminded Timothy of his own calling (2 Timothy 1:9) and urged him to hold fast to the pattern of sound words (2 Timothy 1:13). Verse 14 serves as a crucial command, empowering Timothy to fulfill this vital responsibility.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Stewardship of Truth: The phrase "That good thing which was committed unto thee" refers to the precious deposit of Christian truth, the gospel message, and sound doctrine that Paul had entrusted to Timothy. It emphasizes that believers, especially leaders, are not owners of truth but stewards responsible for its safekeeping and faithful proclamation.
  • Divine Preservation: The command to "keep" this good thing means to guard, preserve, and protect it from corruption, error, and neglect. This isn't a task to be accomplished by human strength alone.
  • Empowerment by the Holy Spirit: The crucial phrase "by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us" highlights the divine enablement. Believers can only truly guard and maintain the integrity of God's truth through the power and guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit. This acknowledges human weakness and divine sufficiency.
  • The Indwelling Spirit: The reference to the Holy Spirit "which dwelleth in us" underscores a foundational New Testament truth: the Spirit of God resides within every believer, providing comfort, conviction, guidance, and power for living out the Christian life and ministry (Romans 8:9).

Linguistic Insights

The King James Version's phrase "that good thing" translates the Greek word parathēkē (παραθήκη), which means a "deposit" or "trust." It was a common term in ancient banking and legal contexts for something entrusted to someone else for safekeeping, implying a high degree of responsibility and fidelity. This underscores the immense value and sacred nature of the gospel truth given to Timothy.

The word "keep" comes from the Greek phylassō (φυλάσσω), which means "to guard," "to watch over," or "to preserve." It conveys the idea of actively protecting something valuable from harm or loss, often used in a military context for guarding a post or a treasure.

The term "dwelleth" is from the Greek enoikeō (ἐνοικέω), meaning "to inhabit" or "to dwell in." It strongly emphasizes the permanent and intimate presence of the Holy Spirit within believers, not just a temporary visit.

Practical Application

For believers today, 2 Timothy 1:14 serves as a powerful reminder of our collective and individual responsibility to guard the unchanging truth of God's Word. Just as Timothy was entrusted with the gospel, so too are all Christians, especially those in leadership roles, called to uphold and defend sound doctrine against the changing tides of cultural opinion and false teaching. This verse teaches us that while the task is immense, we are not left to our own devices. The same Holy Spirit who empowered Timothy indwells every believer, providing the wisdom, strength, and discernment needed to preserve the purity of the faith and live out its principles. We are called to rely on the Spirit's power to live faithfully, share the gospel, and stand firm in truth (Ephesians 6:11).

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • John 14:17

    [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

  • Romans 8:13

    For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

  • 1 Timothy 6:20

    O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane [and] vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:

  • 2 Timothy 1:12

    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 keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

  • Romans 8:9

    But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:16

    ¶ Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

  • 1 Peter 1:22

    Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently:

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