from παρά and τίθημι; to place alongside, i.e. present (food, truth); by implication, to deposit (as a trust or for protection):--allege, commend, commit (the keeping of), put forth, set before.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb paratíthēmi (G3908) is a compound formed from the preposition παρά (para), meaning "alongside" or "beside," and the verb τίθημι (tithēmi) `{{G5087}}`, meaning "to place" or "to put." The core meaning, therefore, is "to place alongside" or "to set before." This foundational sense branches into several significant semantic ranges:
1. **Literal Placement/Presentation:** To set something, especially food, before someone, implying an act of hospitality or provision.
2. **Intellectual/Verbal Presentation:** To present, explain, or set forth a teaching, argument, or parable for consideration or instruction.
3. **Entrustment/Committal:** To deposit something for safekeeping, to commit a charge, a person, or even one's own soul to another's care, implying trust and reliance. This is a crucial aspect, often denoting a transfer of responsibility or protection.
The prefix παρά adds the nuance of "beside," "near," or "alongside," suggesting a deliberate placement *in relation to* someone or something, often for their benefit or at their disposal.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
paratíthēmi appears in the New Testament with various applications, reflecting its broad semantic range:
* **Physical Provision/Hospitality:**
* In the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus commands the disciples to "set before" the crowd the bread and fish for distribution ([[Luke 9:16]]).
* Similarly, when sending out the seventy-two, Jesus instructs them to eat whatever is "set before" them in the towns they enter, signifying acceptance of hospitality ([[Luke 10:8]]).
* The jailer at Philippi "set food before" Paul and Silas after their conversion, demonstrating practical care ([[Acts 16:34]]).
* **Presenting Truth/Teaching:**
* Paul "explained and proved" (literally "set before" and "proved") from the Scriptures that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead, demonstrating his method of evangelism and instruction ([[Acts 17:3]]).
* Jesus "set before" the crowds various parables, presenting divine truth in an accessible form ([[Mark 4:33]], [[Mark 6:41]]).
* **Spiritual Entrustment/Committal:** This is perhaps the most profound theological usage.
* Jesus' final words on the cross, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" ([[Luke 23:46]]), represent the ultimate act of trust and surrender to God's sovereign care.
* Paul and Barnabas "committed" the newly established churches to the Lord, in whom they had believed, after appointing elders ([[Acts 14:23]]). This highlights the divine protection and guidance necessary for the nascent church.
* Paul similarly "committed" the Ephesian elders to God and to the word of His grace, acknowledging God's power to build them up and give them an inheritance ([[Acts 20:32]]).
* Paul uses paratíthēmi to describe the "charge" or "trust" he "committed" to Timothy, emphasizing the responsibility of faithfully guarding and transmitting sound doctrine ([[1 Timothy 1:18]], also related to parakatathēkē `{{G3866}}`).
* In a similar vein, Paul instructs Timothy to "entrust" the teachings he has heard to faithful men who will be able to teach others, underscoring the vital chain of spiritual transmission ([[2 Timothy 2:2]]).
* Peter exhorts suffering believers to "entrust" their souls to a faithful Creator while continuing to do good, indicating a profound reliance on God's just and preserving character amidst adversity ([[1 Peter 4:19]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
Several words and concepts are closely related to paratíthēmi, enriching its meaning:
* **τίθημι (tithēmi) `{{G5087}}`**: The root verb, "to place, put." paratíthēmi specifies the manner or direction of placing ("alongside," "before").
* **παρακαταθήκη (parakatathēkē) `{{G3866}}`**: This is a noun directly derived from paratíthēmi, meaning "a deposit," "a trust," or "that which is committed." It appears in the Pastoral Epistles concerning the "good deposit" of truth entrusted to Timothy ([[1 Timothy 6:20]], [[2 Timothy 1:12]], [[2 Timothy 1:14]]), highlighting the preciousness and responsibility associated with divine revelation.
* **πιστεύω (pisteuō) `{{G4100}}`**: "To believe, to trust." The act of paratíthēmi (committing) inherently involves pisteuō (trusting), especially when referring to committing oneself or others to God.
* **δίδωμι (didōmi) `{{G1325}}`**: "To give, to grant." While more general, it can sometimes overlap with the sense of "presenting" or "giving over."
* **ἐντέλλομαι (entellomai) `{{G1781}}`**: "To command, to instruct." This relates to the "charge" or "mandate" that is "committed" to someone.
* **ἀνατίθημι (anatíthēmi) `{{G3940}}`**: "To set forth, lay before." Used in a similar vein to paratíthēmi when presenting matters for deliberation or discussion (e.g., Paul laying before the apostles the gospel he proclaimed to the Gentiles in [[Galatians 2:2]]).
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of paratíthēmi is profound and multifaceted:
* **Divine Trustworthiness and Sovereignty:** The repeated use of paratíthēmi in the context of committing individuals, churches, and even one's spirit to God underscores His absolute faithfulness and sovereign power. It is an affirmation that God is able to guard and preserve what is entrusted to Him, providing ultimate security and care. Jesus' commitment of His spirit to the Father is the supreme model of this trust, demonstrating perfect submission and confidence in the divine will.
* **Stewardship of the Gospel and Doctrine:** When paratíthēmi refers to entrusting or setting forth truth (e.g., [[Acts 17:3]], [[1 Timothy 1:18]], [[2 Timothy 2:2]]), it highlights the sacred responsibility of guarding, preserving, and faithfully transmitting the Gospel and sound doctrine. The truth is not merely information but a divine "deposit" (parakatathēkē) to be protected from corruption and passed on to future generations.
* **Pastoral Responsibility and Reliance:** Leaders like Paul "commit" believers to God and His word, acknowledging that true growth, protection, and inheritance come from God's grace, not human effort alone ([[Acts 14:23]], [[Acts 20:32]]). This emphasizes the pastoral reliance on divine power for the care and spiritual formation of the flock.
* **Faith in Suffering:** The exhortation in [[1 Peter 4:19]] to "commit their souls" to God amidst suffering reveals a deep theological truth: even in tribulation, believers can confidently surrender themselves to God, knowing He is a faithful Creator who will act justly and preserve them. This encourages perseverance and trust in God's ultimate vindication and care.
* **Practical Christian Service:** The literal sense of "setting food before" (e.g., [[Luke 9:16]], [[Luke 10:8]]) demonstrates the practical outworking of Christian love and hospitality, reflecting God's own abundant provision and care for His people.
### Summary
paratíthēmi (G3908) is a rich Greek verb that fundamentally means "to place alongside" or "to set before." Its semantic breadth encompasses the literal act of presenting food, the intellectual act of explaining or setting forth truth, and most profoundly, the spiritual act of entrusting or committing something—whether a person, a charge, or one's very soul—to another's care, particularly to God. Theologically, this word illuminates the absolute trustworthiness and sovereignty of God as the ultimate recipient and guardian of all that is committed to Him. It underscores the sacred stewardship of divine truth, the reliance of spiritual leaders on God's grace in pastoral care, and the profound faith required to surrender oneself to God, especially amidst suffering. paratíthēmi thus encapsulates acts of faith, service, and the crucial transmission of spiritual heritage, all rooted in a confident and reverent reliance upon the faithful Creator.
TRV