Survey of the Letters of Paul back to the top     back to main page for this verse 2 Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This section has three scriptures 2 Timothy 1:12-14 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. 13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. TRUST HUMAN AND DIVINE 2 Timothy 1:12–14 The verses paraphrased: And that is the reason why I am going through these things I am going through. But I am not ashamed, for I know him in whom my belief is fixed, and I am quite certain that he is able to keep safe what I have entrusted to him until the last day comes. Hold fast the pattern of health-giving words you have received from me, never slackening in that faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard the fine trust that has been given to you through the Holy Spirit who dwells in you. THIS passage uses a very vivid Greek word in a significant double way which is full of meaning. Paul talks of that which he has entrusted to God, and he urges Timothy to safeguard the trust God has placed in him. In both cases, the word is parathe¯ke¯, which means a deposit committed to someone’s trust. A man might deposit something with a friend to be kept for his children or his loved ones; or he might deposit his valuables in a temple for safe-keeping, for the temples were the banks of the ancient world. In each case, the thing deposited was a parathe¯ke¯. In the ancient world, there was no more sacred duty than the safe-guarding of such a deposit and the returning of it when in due time it was claimed. Paul says that he has made his deposit with God. He means that he has entrusted both his work and his life to him. It might seem that he had been cut off in mid-career; that he should end as a criminal in a Roman prison might seem the undoing of all his work. But he had sowed his seed and preached his gospel, and he left the result in the hands of God. Paul had entrusted his life to God; and he was sure that in life and in death he was safe. Why was he so sure? Because he knew in whom he had believed. We must always remember that Paul does not say that he knew what he had believed. His certainty did not come from the intellectual knowledge of a creed or a theology; it came from a personal knowledge of God. He knew God personally and intimately; he knew what he was like in love and in power; and to Paul it was inconceivable that he should fail him. If we have worked honestly and done the best that we can, we can leave the result to God, however meager that work may seem to us. With him in this or any other world, life is safe, for nothing can separate us from his love in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~Barclay commentary [on the concept of "doing the best you can" see sermon, "Transcendent"] Now to the other commentaries. First the Matthew Henry Main Commentary on verse 13. He exhorts him to hold fast the form of sound words, 2 Timothy 1:13. 1. “Have a form of sound words” (so it may be read), “a short form, a catechism, an abstract of the first principles of religion, according to the scriptures, a scheme of sound words, a brief summary of the Christian faith, in a proper method, drawn out by thyself from the holy scriptures for thy own use;” or, rather, by the form of sound words I understand the holy scriptures themselves. 2. “Having it, hold it fast, remember it, retain it, adhere to it. Adhere to it in opposition to all heresies and false doctrine, which corrupt the Christian faith. Hold that fast which thou hast heard of me.” Paul was divinely inspired. It is good to adhere to those forms of sound words which we have in the scriptures; for these, we are sure, were divinely inspired. That is sound speech, which cannot be condemned, Titus 2:8. Quoted verse: ...I will include verse 7 Titus 2:7-8 7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. But how must it be held fast? In faith and love; that is, we must assent to it as a faithful saying, and bid it welcome as worthy of all acceptation. Hold it fast in a good heart, this is the ark of the covenant, in which the tables both of law and gospel are most safely and profitably deposited, Psalm 119:11. Quoted verse: ...1 will include verses 9-10 Psalm 119:9-11 9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Faith and love must go together; it is not enough to believe the sound words, and to give an assent to them, but we must love them, believe their truth and love their goodness, and we must propagate the form of sound words in love; speaking the truth in love, Ephesians 4:15. Quoted verse: ...1 will read from verse 13 which is just after the statement by Paul that God has given us apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Ephesians 4:13-15 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: Faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; it must be Christian faith and love, faith and love fastening upon Jesus Christ, in and by whom God speaks to us and we to him. Timothy, as a minister, must hold fast the form of sound words, for the benefit of others. Of healing words, so it may read; there is healing virtue in the word of God; he sent his word, and healed them. ~Matthew Henry Main Now to the Matthew Henry Concise and commentary covering verses 13 and 14. Paul exhorts Timothy to hold fast the Holy Scriptures, the substance of solid gospel truth in them. It is not enough to assent to the sound words, but we must love them. The Christian doctrine is a trust committed to us; it is of unspeakable value in itself, and will be of unspeakable advantage to us. It is committed to us, to be preserved pure and entire, yet we must not think to keep it by our own strength, but by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us; and it will not be gained by those who trust in their own hearts, and lean to their own understandings. ~Matthew Henry Concise Now to the specific commentaries. The verse is broken out in three parts: 1] Hold fast the form of sound words. 2] Which thou hast heard of me. 3] In faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 1] Hold fast the form of sound words. The pattern of sound words - The model of pure, wholesome doctrine. ~John Wesley Explanatory Notes Hold fast the form of sound words. - The word rendered ‘form’ (ὑποτύπωσις) is the same as that rightly translated ‘pattern’ in 1 Timothy 1:16. It is therefore probable that a word so rarely used by St. Paul is used here also in the same sense. Its position shows that it is emphatic, and though without the article in the Greek, the absence is supplied by the emphasis thus given. The full interpretation of the words turns on the meaning of the verb, which may be simply ‘have’ in the sense of ‘take,’ or ‘have’ in the sense of ‘hold fast and keep.’ The former gives as the meaning, ‘Take what I have just said as an example of the wholesome words;’ the latter, which seems, on the whole, to give the truer meaning, ‘Hold fast, keep before thee that pattern.’ ~Popular commentary Wholesome words. As in 1 Timothy 1:10; 1 Timothy 6:3, and elsewhere, words that are characterized by a spiritual healthiness. ~Popular commentary Quoted verses: 1 Timothy 1:10 [See Lesson] For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; 1 Timothy 6:3 [See Lesson] If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; Hold fast the form — rather as Greek, “Have (that is, keep) a pattern of sound (Greek, ‘healthy’) words which thou hast heard from me, in faith and love.” “Keep” suits the reference to a deposit in the context. The secondary position of the verb in the Greek forbids our taking it so strongly as English Version, “Hold fast.” The Greek for “form” is translated “pattern” in 1 Timothy 1:16, the only other passage where it occurs. Have such a pattern drawn from my sound words, in opposition to the unsound doctrines so current at Ephesus, vividly impressed (Wahl translates it “delineation”; the verb implies “to make a lively and lasting impress”) on thy mind. ~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown Quoted verse: 1 Timothy 1:16 [See Lesson] Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. What does Paul mean by a ‘form of sound words’? I begin the answer by saying that he does not mean a doctrinal formula. The word here rendered ‘form’ is the same which he employs in the first of the letters to Timothy, when he speaks of himself and his own conversion as being ‘a pattern to them that should hereafter believe.’ The notion intended here is not a cut-and-dried creed, but a body of teaching winch will not be compressed within the limits of an iron form, but will be a pattern for the lives of the men to whom it is given. The Revised Version has ‘the pattern; and not ‘the form.’ ~Alexander MacLaren Hold fast the form of sound words. - Hold and teach sound doctrine, the pure faith, the gospel as Paul taught it to him, preaching it in faith and love. ~People's New Testament Hold fast the form of sound words. - He shows in what he ought to be most constant, that is, both in the doctrine itself, the essential parts of which are faith and charity, and next in the manner of teaching it, a living pattern and shape of which Timothy knew in the apostle. ~Geneva Bible Translation Notes Hold fast the form of sound words - The word ὑποτυπωσις signifies the sketch, plan, or outline of a building, picture, etc.; and here refers to the plan of salvation which the apostle had taught Timothy. No man was left to invent a religion for his own use, and after his own mind. God alone knows that with which God can be pleased. If God did not give a revelation of himself, the inventions of man, in religious things, would be endless error, involving itself in contortions of unlimited confusion. God gives, in his mercy to man, a form of sound words or doctrines; a perfect plan and sketch of the original building; fair and well defined outlines of every thing which concerns the present and eternal welfare of man, and his own glory. ~Adam Clarke Hold fast the form of sound words - On the Greek word here rendered “form,” see the notes at 1 Timothy 1:16 (quoted above), where it is rendered pattern. The word means a form, sketch, or imperfect delineation - an outline. Grotius says that it here means “an exemplar, but an exemplar fixed in the mind - an idea.” Calvin says that the command is that he should adhere to the doctrine which he had learned, not only in its substance, but in its form. Dr. Tillotson explains this as meaning the profession of faith which was made by Christians at baptism. There seems to be an allusion to some summary or outline of truth which Paul had given to Timothy, though there is no evidence that it was written. Indeed, there is every presumption that, if it refers to such a summary, it was not committed to writing. If it had been, it would have been regarded as inspired, and would have taken its place in the canon of Scripture. It may be presumed that almost none of the sacred writings would have been more sacredly preserved than such a condensed summary of Christian truth. But there is no improbability in supposing that Paul, either at his ordination, or on some other occasion, may have stated the outlines of the Christian religion to Timothy, that he might have a clear and connected view of the subject. The passage, therefore, may be used as an argument for the propriety of some brief summary of doctrine as a matter of convenience, though not as having binding authority on the consciences of others. ~Barnes Notes 2] Which thou hast heard of me. Which thou hast heard of me. - The Greek tense (‘which thou didst hear’) points to some definite occasion which Timothy would remember, and on which, in the temper of ‘the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus,’ Timothy had listened eagerly to the words which he was now in danger of forgetting. ~Popular commentary Which thou hast heard of me - both in private conversation, and in the public ministry of the word; and which the apostle had not from men, but by the revelation of Christ; and therefore was to be depended upon, and to be abode by, or held fast, in the manner next directed to: ~John Gill Which thou hast heard of me - This proves that he does not refer to a written creed, since what he refers to was something which he had heard. ~Barnes Notes 3] In faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. In faith and love - The teaching is to be held, preached, and practiced, not as a mere schedule of conduct, however excellent, but with the strong conviction of faith and the favor of love. ~Vincent's Word Studies In faith and love — the element IN which my sound words had place, and in which thou art to have the vivid impression of them as thy inwardly delineated pattern, molding conformably thy outward profession. ~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown That good thing which was committed unto thee. - The sound faith just alluded to. Don't let it be perverted. Keep it by the help of the Holy Spirit. This charge is given in view of the conduct of some from the province of Asia, where Timothy was then dwelling, referred to in 2 Timothy 1:15. ~People's New Testament Quoted verse: 2 Timothy 1:15 [See Lesson] This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. In faith and love - Faith credits the Divine doctrines. Love reduces them all to practice. Faith lays hold on Jesus Christ, and obtains that love by which every precept is cheerfully and effectually obeyed. ~Adam Clarke In faith and love which is in Christ Jesus - in the exercise of faith, and from a principle of love; which two graces always go together, and have Christ, as here, for their object: though this clause, may be connected with the word "heard", and the sense be, either that Timothy had heard Paul preach these sound doctrines with great faith and faithfulness, and with much fervency and affection to Christ, and the souls of men; or Timothy had heard them himself, and embraced and mixed them with faith, and received them in love: or it may be read in connection with "the form of sound words"; the sum of which is faith in Christ, and love to him; the Gospel is the doctrine of faith; and it puts men on discharging their duty from love to Christ. ~John Gill In faith and love which is in Christ Jesus - Hold these truths with sincere faith in the Lord Jesus, and with that love which is the best evidence of attachment to him. ~Barnes Notes Recap: 1] Know doctrine. Stay immersed in the Word of God. 2] Have it, hold it, remember it, retain it and adhere to it. 3] Hold doctrine in opposition to all heresies and false doctrines. 4] False doctrines and heresies corrupt faith. 5] Grow into Christ. 6] Belief in doctrine is not enough. We must love them. 7] Christian love and faith is different from our self-generated love and faith. 8] Doctrine is of unspeakabe advantage to us. 9] The words and doctrines of God are elements of healing. Indeed, the Salvation Process is a place of healing. 10] The phrase, "form of sound words" means a pattern of life expressed by and through those words. 11] Essential to our doctrine is faith and love. 12] The phrase, "Which thou hast heard of me" shows that God has specific ways by which doctrine and His Word is made known. 13] The teaching of God must be held, preached and practiced with the strong conviction of faith and the favor of love. 14] Faith credits God's doctrines. Love reduces them all to practice. Faith lays hold on Jesus Christ. back to the top     back to main page for this verse