This section has 2 verses.
1 Timothy 6:20-21
20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy
trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and
oppositions of science falsely so called:
21 Which some professing have erred concerning the
faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
We will begin with the Barclay commentary:
A FAITH TO HAND ON
1 Timothy 6:20–21
First the paraphrase of the two verses
O Timothy, guard the trust that has been entrusted
to you. Avoid irreligious empty talking; and the
paradoxes of that knowledge which has no right to be
called knowledge, which some have professed, and by
so doing have missed the target of the faith. Grace
be with you.
IT may well be that the name Timothy is here used in
the fullness of its meaning. It comes from two
words, timan, to honour, and theos, God, and
literally means the one who honours God. It may well
be that this concluding passage begins by reminding
Timothy of his name and urging him to be true to it.
The passage talks of the trust that has been
entrusted to him. The Greek word for trust is
parathe¯ke¯, which literally means a deposit. It is
the word for money deposited with a banker or with a
friend. When such money was in time demanded back,
it was a sacred duty to hand it back in its
entirety. Sometimes children were called a
parathe¯ke¯, a sacred trust. If the gods gave a man
a child, it was his duty to present that child
trained and equipped to the gods.
The Christian faith is like that, something which we
received from our ancestors, and which we must pass
on to our children. E. F. Brown quotes a famous
passage from the fifth-century saint Vincent of
Lérins: ‘What is meant by the deposit ( parathe¯ke¯
)? That which is committed to thee, not that which
is invented by thee; that which thou hast received,
not that which thou hast devised; a thing not of
wit, but of learning; not of private assumption, but
of public tradition; a thing brought to thee, not
brought forth of thee; wherein thou must not be an
author, but a keeper; not a leader, but a follower.
Keep the deposit. Preserve the talent of the
Catholic* faith safe and undiminished; let that which
is committed to thee remain with thee, and that
deliver. Thou hast received gold, render gold.’
We do well to remember that our duty is not only to
ourselves but also to our children and our
children’s children. If in our time the Church were
to become weak; if the Christian ethic were to be
more and more submerged in the world; if the
Christian faith were to be twisted and distorted, we
would not be the only losers. Those of generations
still to come would be robbed of something
infinitely precious. We are not only the possessors
but also the trustees of the faith. That which we
have received, we must also hand on.
Finally, the Pastorals condemn those who, as the
Authorized Version has it, have given themselves to
‘the oppositions of science falsely so-called’.
First, we must note that here the word science is
used in its original sense; it simply means
knowledge (gno¯sis). What is being condemned is a
false intellectualism and a false emphasis on human
knowledge.
But what is meant by oppositions? The Greek word is
antitheseis. Very much later than Timothy, there was
a heretic called Marcion who produced a book called
The Antitheses, in which he quoted Old Testament
texts and set beside them New Testament texts which
contradicted them. This might very well mean: ‘Don’t
waste your time seeking out contradictions in
Scripture. Use the Scriptures to live by and not to
argue about.’ But there are two meanings which are
more probable than that.
(1) The word antithesis could mean a controversy,
and this might mean: ‘Avoid controversies; don’t get
yourself mixed up in useless and bitter arguments.’
This would be a very relevant bit of advice to a
Greek congregation in Ephesus. The Greeks had a
passion for going to law. They would even go to law
with their own brothers, just for the pleasure of
it. This may well mean: ‘Don’t make the Church a
battle ground of theological arguments and debates.
Christianity is not something to argue about, but
something to live by.’
(2) The word antithesis can mean a rival thesis.
This is the most likely meaning, because it suits
Jews and Gentiles alike. The Christian scholars in
later times used to argue about questions like: ‘How
many angels can stand on the point of a needle?’ The
Jewish Rabbis would argue about hair-splitting
points of the law for hours and days and even years.
The Greeks were the same, only in a still more
serious way. There was a school of Greek
philosophers – and a very influential school it was
– called the Academics. The Academics held that, in
the case of everything in the realm of human
thought, you could by logical argument arrive at
precisely opposite conclusions. They therefore
concluded that there is no such thing as absolute
truth, that there were always two hypotheses of
equal weight. They went on to argue that, this being
so, the wise will never make up their minds about
anything but will hold themselves forever in a state
of suspended judgment. The effect was of course to
paralyze all action and to reduce people to a state
of complete uncertainty. So, Timothy is told: ‘Don’t
waste your time in subtle arguments; don’t waste
your time in trying to score points. Don’t be too
clever to be wise. Listen rather to the clear and
unquestionable voice of God than to the subtle
disputations of over-clever minds.’
So, the letter draws to a close with a warning which
our own generation needs. Clever argument can never
be a substitute for Christian action. The duty of
the Christian is not to sit in a study and weigh
arguments but to live the Christian life in the dust
and heat of the world. In the end, it is not
intellectual cleverness but conduct and character
which count.
Then comes the closing blessing – ‘Grace be with
you.' The letter ends with the beauty of the grace of
God. ~Barclay commentary
*Catholic: the word, "catholic" in this commentary
is speaking to the word and not the modern-day
religion led by the pope today. One of the
meanings is, "pertaining to the whole Christian body
or church."
Not to the rest of the commentaries.
Our verse again is verse 21
1 Timothy 6:21
Which some professing have erred concerning the
faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
This is clearly a continuation of verse 20 which
reads:
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:
So the entire thought reads: "O Timothy, keep that
which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane
and vain babblings, and oppositions of science
falsely so called: Which some professing have erred
concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
Verse 21 is generally in three parts
1] Which some professing
2] Have erred concerning the faith
3] Grace be with thee
1] Which some professing
Which some professing -
namely, professing these oppositions of science
falsely so called [verse 20].
~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown
Which some professing -
Once again we have the indefinite mention of those
who were known though unnamed. There were some who,
boasting of their knowledge, had as concerning the
faith missed their mark. ~
Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Which some professing -
Evidently some who professed to be true Christians.
They were attracted by false philosophy, and soon,
as a consequence, were led to deny the doctrines of
Christianity. This result has not been uncommon in
the world. ~Barnes Notes
Which some professing -
Which inspired knowledge some pretending to, have
set up Levitical rites in opposition to the great
Christian sacrifice, and consequently have erred
concerning the faith - have completely mistaken the
whole design of the Gospel.
~Adam Clarke
Which some professing -
Not only in word, but also in appearance and
gesture: to be short, while their behaviour was such
that even when they held their peace they would make
men believe, their heads were occupied about nothing
but high and lofty matters, and therefore they erred
concerning the faith.
~Geneva Bible Translation Notes
Which some professing -
Pretending to be masters of the above science [Verse
20], boasting and making great show of it, and
valuing themselves upon it:
~John Gill
2] Have erred concerning the faith
Have erred concerning the
faith - see notes on 1 Timothy 1:6-7; 1
Timothy 6:10. ~Barnes Notes
Quoted verses:
1 Timothy 1:6-7
6 From which some having swerved have turned aside
unto vain jangling; [See
Lesson]
7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding
neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. [See
Lesson]
1 Timothy 6:10 [See
Lesson]
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which
while some coveted after, they have erred from the
faith, and pierced themselves through with many
sorrows.
Have erred concerning the
faith - have wandered from the way of truth,
and gone into the path of error; have fallen from
the doctrine of faith, and made shipwreck of it, and
become entire apostates: from the danger attending
vain jangling, the use of new words, the profession
of a false science, and making objections from it
against the truth, does the apostle dissuade Timothy
from them, since they generally issue [or
result] in apostasy.
~John Gill
Have erred concerning the
faith - Those who advance reason above faith,
are in danger of leaving faith.
~Matthew Henry Concise
Have erred concerning the
faith - literally, “missed the mark” (2
Timothy 3:7-8). True sagacity (sə-găs'ĭ-tē)
is inseparable from faith.
~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown
Note: The word,
sagacity (sə-găs'ĭ-tē)
is of one of my favorite words, "Sagacious" (sə-gā'shəs)
which describes the wise virgins in Matthew 25. To
be sagacious is to have the quality of being
discerning, sound in judgment and farsighted; having
wisdom.
Quoted verses:
2 Timothy 3:7-8
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the
knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do
these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds,
reprobate concerning the faith.
3] Grace be with thee
Grace be with thee -
see the notes, Romans 1:7.
~Barnes Notes
Quoted verse:
Romans 1:7
To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be
saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father,
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Notice the commentary:
Grace to you
- This word properly means “favor.” It is
very often used in the New Testament, and is
employed in the sense of benignity or
benevolence; felicity, or a prosperous state
of affairs; the Christian religion, as the
highest expression of the benevolence or
favor of God; the happiness which
Christianity confers on its friends in this
and the future life; the apostolic office;
charity, or alms; thanksgiving; joy, or
pleasure; and the benefits produced on the
Christian’s heart and life by religion - the
grace of meekness, patience, charity, etc.,
“Schleusner.” In this place, and in similar
places in the beginning of the apostolic
epistles, it seems to be a word including
all those blessings that are applicable to
Christians in common; denoting an ardent
wish that all the mercies and favors of God
for time and eternity, blended under the
general name grace, may be conferred on
them. It is to be understood as connected
with a word implying invocation. I pray, or
I desire, that grace, etc. may be conferred
on you. It is the customary form of
salutation in nearly all the apostolic
epistles.
And peace -
Peace is the state of freedom from war. As
war conveys the idea of discord and
numberless calamities and dangers, so peace
is the opposite, and conveys the idea of
concord, safety, and prosperity. Thus, to
wish one peace was the same as to wish him
all safety and prosperity. This form of
salutation was common among the Hebrews. But
the word “peace” is also used in contrast
with that state of agitation and conflict
which a sinner has with his conscience and
with God. The sinner is like the troubled
sea, which cannot rest, Isaiah 57:20.
Quoted verse:
Isaiah 57:20
But the wicked are like the troubled sea,
when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up
mire and dirt.
The Christian is at peace with God through
the Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 5:1.
Quoted verse:
Romans 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ:
By this word, denoting reconciliation with
God, the blessings of the Christian religion
are often described in the scriptures,
Romans 8:6; Romans 14:17; Romans 15:13;
Galatians 5:22; and Philippians 4:7.
Quoted verses:
Romans 8:6
For to be carnally minded is death; but to
be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not meat and
drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy
in the Holy Ghost [Spirit].
Romans 15:13
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing, that ye may abound
in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost
[Spirit].
Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith,
Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which passeth all
understanding, shall keep your hearts and
minds through Christ Jesus.
A prayer for peace, therefore, in the
epistles, is not a mere formal salutation,
but has a special reference to those
“spiritual” blessings which result from
reconciliation with God through the Lord
Jesus Christ.
~Barnes Notes
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More commentary on, Grace be with thee:
Grace be with thee -
May the favor and influence of God be with thee, and
preserve thee from these and all other errors!
~Adam Clarke
Grace be with thee. Amen.
- This the apostle wishes to him, that he might be
enabled to discharge every branch of his duty he had
pointed to him in this epistle, and to keep him from
all evil, and every false way, and preserve him safe
to the kingdom and glory of God. And which he
doubted not but would be his case, and therefore
puts his "Amen" to it. The Alexandrian copy and
Arabic version read, "grace be with you. Amen".
~John Gill
Grace be with thee -
Grace includes all that is good, and grace is an
earnest, a beginning of glory; wherever God gives
grace, he will give glory.
~Matthew Henry Concise
Grace be with thee -
Our apostle concludes with a solemn prayer and
benediction: Grace be with thee. Amen. Observe, this
is a short, yet comprehensive prayer for our
friends, for grace comprehends in it all that is
good, and grace is an earnest, yea, a beginning, of
glory; for, wherever God gives grace, he will give
glory, and will not withhold any good thing from him
who walketh uprightly. Grace be with you all. Amen.
~Matthew Henry Main |