1 Timothy 6:20
New International Version
Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge,

New Living Translation
Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge.

English Standard Version
O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,”

Berean Standard Bible
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,”

Berean Literal Bible
O Timothy, guard the deposit committed to you, avoiding profane, empty babblings, and opposing arguments falsely called knowledge,

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

New King James Version
O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—

New American Standard Bible
Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”—

NASB 1995
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge “—

NASB 1977
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”—

Legacy Standard Bible
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, turning aside from godless and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called knowledge—

Amplified Bible
O Timothy, guard and keep safe the deposit [of godly truth] entrusted to you, turn away from worldly and godless chatter [with its profane, empty words], and the contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge”—

Christian Standard Bible
Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding irreverent and empty speech and contradictions from what is falsely called knowledge.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding irreverent, empty speech and contradictions from the “knowledge” that falsely bears that name.

American Standard Version
O Timothy, guard that which is committed unto thee, turning away from the profane babblings and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Oh, Timothy, guard that which is committed to you and escape from empty echoes and from the perversions of false knowledge.

Contemporary English Version
Timothy, guard what God has placed in your care! Don't pay any attention to godless and stupid talk that sounds smart but really isn't.

Douay-Rheims Bible
O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding the profane novelties of words, and oppositions of knowledge falsely so called.

English Revised Version
O Timothy, guard that which is committed unto thee, turning away from the profane babblings and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Timothy, guard the Good News which has been entrusted to you. Turn away from pointless discussions and the claims of false knowledge that people use to oppose [the Christian faith].

Good News Translation
Timothy, keep safe what has been entrusted to your care. Avoid the profane talk and foolish arguments of what some people wrongly call "Knowledge."

International Standard Version
Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the pointless discussions and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge.

Literal Standard Version
O Timotheus, guard the thing entrusted, avoiding the profane vain-words and opposition of the falsely-named knowledge,

Majority Standard Bible
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,”

New American Bible
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid profane babbling and the absurdities of so-called knowledge.

NET Bible
O Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and absurdities of so-called "knowledge."

New Revised Standard Version
Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge;

New Heart English Bible
Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called;

Webster's Bible Translation
O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called;

Weymouth New Testament
O Timothy, guard the truths entrusted to you, shunning irreligious and frivolous talk, and controversy with what is falsely called 'knowledge';

World English Bible
Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge,

Young's Literal Translation
O Timotheus, the thing entrusted guard thou, avoiding the profane vain-words and opposition of the falsely-named knowledge,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Final Guidance
19treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. 20O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,” 21which some have professed and thus swerved away from the faith. Grace be with you all.…

Cross References
Acts 16:1
Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father.

Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.

1 Timothy 1:2
To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Timothy 1:9
We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers,

2 Timothy 1:12
For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.

2 Timothy 1:14
Guard the treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

2 Timothy 2:16
But avoid irreverent, empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness,


Treasury of Scripture

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

O Timothy.

1 Timothy 6:11
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

2 Timothy 2:1
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

keep.

1 Timothy 6:14
That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

1 Timothy 1:11
According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

Romans 3:2
Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

avoiding.

1 Timothy 6:4,5
He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, …

1 Timothy 1:4,6
Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do

1 Timothy 4:7
But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

oppositions.

Acts 17:18,21
Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection…

Romans 1:22
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

1 Corinthians 1:19-23
For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent…

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Arguments Avoid Avoiding Babblings Care Chatter Committed Controversy Empty Entrusted Falsely Foolish Frivolous Godless Good Guard Irreligious Opposing Profane Science Talk Timotheus Timothy Trust Truths Turning Vain Worldly Wrong
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Arguments Avoid Avoiding Babblings Care Chatter Committed Controversy Empty Entrusted Falsely Foolish Frivolous Godless Good Guard Irreligious Opposing Profane Science Talk Timotheus Timothy Trust Truths Turning Vain Worldly Wrong
1 Timothy 6
1. Of the duty of servants.
3. Not to have fellowship with newfangled teachers.
6. Godliness is great gain;
10. and love of money the root of all evil.
11. What Timothy is to flee, and what to follow.
17. and whereof to admonish the rich.
20. To keep the purity of true doctrine, and to avoid godless ideas.














(20) O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust.--More literally and better rendered, O Timothy, keep the trust committed to thee. It is a beautiful thought which sees in these few earnest closing words the very handwriting of the worn and aged Apostle St. Paul. The Epistle, no doubt dictated by the old man, was in the handwriting of some friend of St. Paul and the Church, who acted as his scribe; but, as seems to have been sometimes his habit (see especially the closing words of the Galatian Letter), the last pleading reminder was added by the hand of the Apostle himself. "O Timothy"--he writes now no longer addressing church or pastor, but his own favourite friend and pupil, the loved heir of his God-inspired traditions and maxims, which so faithfully represented the doctrine and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth--"O Timothy, keep the sacred trust committed to thy charge."

This "sacred trust," so solemnly committed as the parting charge to Timothy, was "the doctrine delivered by St. Paul to him to preach," the central point of which, we know from the Apostle's other writings, was the teaching respecting the atonement and the precious blood of Christ. There is a beautiful, though somewhat lengthened, paraphrase of the "Trust" in the Commonitorium of Vincentius Lirinensis, composed about A.D. 430. "What is meant," he asks, "by 'keep the trust?' The disciple of St. Paul must keep the sound doctrine of his master safe from robbers and foes. . . . What is meant by 'the trust?' Something intrusted to you to keep--not a possession you have discovered for yourself; something you have received from another--not what you have thought out for yourself . . . of this 'trust,' remember, you are nothing but the guardian. . . . What, then, is the meaning of 'keep the trust?' It is surely nothing else than 'guard the treasure of the Catholic faith.' . . . Gold have you received; see that you hand gold on to others."

"Is there, then," asks this same wise writer "to be no progress, no development in religious teaching? Yes," he answers; "there should be a real progress, a marked development, but it must partake of the nature of a progress, not of a change. . . . Let religion in the soul follow the example of the growth of the various members which compose the body, and which, as years roll on, become ever stronger and more perfect, but which, notwithstanding their growth and developed beauty, always remain the same."

Avoiding profane and vain babblings.--The Apostle has before in this Epistle warned Timothy against these useless, profitless discussions. Anything like theological controversy and discussion seems to. have been distasteful to St. Paul, as tending to augment dissension and hatred, and to exalt into an undue prominence mere words and phrases.

Oppositions of science falsely so called.--Rather, of knowledge falsely so called. These "oppositions" have been supposed by some to be a special allusion to some of the Gnostic theories of the opposition between the Law and the Gospel, of which peculiar school, later, Marcion was the great teacher. It is hardly likely that any definite Gnostic teaching had as yet been heard in Ephesus, but there is little doubt that the seeds of much of the Gnosticism of the next century were--when St. Paul wrote to Timothy--being then sown in some of the Jewish schools of Ephesus and the neighbouring cities. (Comp. the allusions to these Jewish and cabalistic schools in St. Paul's letter to the Colossian Church.) The "oppositions" here may be understood as referring generally to the theories of the false teachers, who were undermining the doctrine of St. Paul as taught by Timothy.

Verse 20. - Guard for keep, A.V.; unto thee for to thy trust, A.V.; turning away from for avoiding, A.V.; the profane for profane and vain, A.V.; the knowledge which is falsely for science, falsely, A.V. Guard that which is committed unto thee; τὴν παραθήκην (παρακαταθήκην, T.R.). Guard for keep is hardly an improvement. The meaning of "keep," like that of φυλάττω, is to guard, keep watch over, and, by so doing, to preserve safe and uninjured. This meaning is well brought out in the familiar words of Psalm 121, "He that keepeth thee will not slumber.... He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord himself is thy Keeper" (so too Psalm 127:1; Genesis 28:15, etc.). Παραθήκη or παρακαταθήκη, occurs elsewhere in the New Testament only in 2 Timothy 1:12, 14, where the apostle uses it (in ver. 12) of his own soul, which he has committed to the safe and faithful keeping of the Lord Jesus Christ; but in ver. 14 in the same sense as here. "That good thing which was committed unto thee guard ['keep,' A.V.]." There does not seem to be any difference between παραθήκη and παρακαταθήκη, which both mean "a deposit," and are used indifferently in classical Greek, though the latter is the more common. The precept to Timothy here is to keep diligent and watchful guard over the faith committed to his trust; to preserve it unaltered and uncorrupt, so as to hand it down to his successors exactly the same as he had received it. Oh that the successors of the apostles had always kept this precept (see Ordination of Priests)! Turning away from (ἐκτρεπόμενος); only here in the middle voice, "turning from," "avoiding," with a transitive sense. In the passive voice it means "to turn out of the path," as in 1 Timothy 1:6; 1 Timothy 5:15; 2 Timothy 4:4. The profane babblings (see 1 Timothy 4:7; 2 Timothy 2:16); κενοφωνία; only here and 2 Timothy 2:16, "the utterance of empty words," "words of the lips" (2 Kings 18:20). Oppositions (ἀντιθέσεις); here only in the New Testament. It is a term used in logic and in rhetoric by Plato, Aristotle, etc., for "oppositions" and "antitheses," laying one doctrine by the side of another for comparison, or contrast, or refutation. It seems to allude to the particular method used by the heretics to establish their tenets, in opposition to the statements of the Church on particular points - such as the Law, the Resurrection, etc. The knowledge which is falsely so called. There is a very similar intimation of the growth of an empty philosophy, whose teaching was antagonistic to the teaching of Christ in Colossians 2:8, and with which St. Paul contrasts the true γνώσις in ver. 3. This was clearly the germ (called by Bishop Lightfoot "Gnostic Judaism") of what was later more fully developed as the Gnostic heresy, which, of course, derived its name from γνῶσις, knowledge or science, to which they laid claim (see Bishop Lightfoot's able 'Introduction to the Epistle to Colossians,' specially p. 100; and his notes on 1 Timothy 2:8, sqq.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
O
(Ō)
Interjection
Strong's 5599: A primary interjection; as a sign of the vocative case, O; as a note of exclamation, oh.

Timothy,
Τιμόθεε (Timothee)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5095: Timothy, a Christian of Lystra, helper of Paul. From time and theos; dear to God; Timotheus, a Christian.

guard
φύλαξον (phylaxon)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 5442: Probably from phule through the idea of isolation; to watch, i.e. Be on guard; by implication, to preserve, obey, avoid.

the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

deposit entrusted [to you].
παραθήκην (parathēkēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3866: A deposit, anything committed to one's charge or trust. From paratithemi; a deposit, i.e. trust.

Avoid
ἐκτρεπόμενος (ektrepomenos)
Verb - Present Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1624: From ek and the base of trope; to deflect, i.e. Turn away.

irreverent
βεβήλους (bebēlous)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 952: Permitted to be trodden, accessible. From the base of basis and belos; accessible, i.e. heathenish, wicked.

chatter
κενοφωνίας (kenophōnias)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 2757: Empty disputing, worthless babble. From a presumed compound of kenos and phone; empty sounding, i.e. Fruitless discussion.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the opposing arguments
ἀντιθέσεις (antitheseis)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 477: From a compound of anti and tithemi; opposition, i.e. A conflict.

of so-called
ψευδωνύμου (pseudōnymou)
Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 5581: Falsely named, under a false name. From pseudes and onoma; untruly named.

“knowledge,”
γνώσεως (gnōseōs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1108: Knowledge, doctrine, wisdom. From ginosko; knowing, i.e. knowledge.


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NT Letters: 1 Timothy 6:20 Timothy guard that which is committed (1 Tim. 1Ti iTi 1tim i Tm)
1 Timothy 6:19
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