1 Timothy 6 20

1 Timothy 6:20 kjv

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

1 Timothy 6:20 nkjv

O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge?

1 Timothy 6:20 niv

Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge,

1 Timothy 6:20 esv

O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge,"

1 Timothy 6:20 nlt

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

1 Timothy 6 verses

1 Timothy 6 20 Meaning

This verse delivers a critical, concluding injunction from Paul to Timothy. It is an earnest command to vigilantly safeguard the divine truth—the "deposit" of sound doctrine and the pure gospel entrusted to him. This protective responsibility necessitates an active withdrawal from discourse that is unholy, unproductive, and ultimately empty. Specifically, Timothy is charged to shun "profane and vain babblings," which are godless and futile discussions, and also "oppositions of science falsely so called"—a clear reference to deceptive intellectual systems or "knowledge" claims that masquerade as truth but actively contradict the genuine Christian revelation and sound faith. The core message is a call to doctrinal integrity and a rejection of any worldly philosophy or empty rhetoric that threatens to corrupt the purity of the faith.

1 Timothy 6 20 Context

1 Timothy chapter 6 concludes Paul's first letter of pastoral instruction to Timothy. The epistle itself provides guidelines for church order, combating various forms of false teaching, and upholding sound doctrine and godly living within the early Christian community. Chapter 6 specifically addresses issues of Christian contentment versus the pitfalls of materialism and greed, encouraging believers to pursue godliness. Verse 20 serves as a powerful summary and a final, solemn charge, emphasizing the primary concern of the entire letter: protecting the purity of the gospel from dangerous errors. Historically, the early church faced threats from within—disputes, legalism, and speculative philosophies (like proto-Gnosticism)—and from outside, pressures to compromise faith with prevailing pagan or philosophical ideas. Paul's command here directly confronts the intellectual and spiritual challenges of the time, urging Timothy to maintain the integrity of the truth in a world prone to diverse and often deceptive claims of knowledge.

1 Timothy 6 20 Word analysis

• Word by word analysis

  • O Timothy (Ὦ Τιμόθεε, Ō Timothee): A vocative and tender address, highlighting the deeply personal nature of Paul’s final charge to his beloved spiritual son and protégé. It imbues the instruction with gravity and intimacy.
  • keep (φύλαξον, phylaxon): An imperative verb meaning "guard," "protect," "preserve." It signifies an urgent and diligent act of safeguarding, like defending a fortress or protecting a priceless treasure from loss or damage.
  • that which is committed to thy trust (τὴν παραθήκην, tēn parathēkēn): Literally, "the deposit." This refers to the sacred trust or stewardship of the Gospel truth, the body of sound doctrine, and the Christian faith handed down to Timothy. It implies a precious, vulnerable treasure given for careful management, not alteration or misuse.
  • avoiding (ἐκτρεπόμενος, ektrepomenos): A present participle meaning "turning away from," "shunning," "diverting oneself from." It calls for a continuous and active effort to steer clear of the designated dangers, emphasizing proactive spiritual discipline.
  • profane (βεβήλους, bebēlous): Means "unhallowed," "worldly," "godless," "irreverent," "unholy." It describes things that contaminate the sacred or that lack reverence for divine truth, thereby being unsuitable for holy discussion.
  • vain babblings (κενοφωνίας, kenophōnias): Literally "empty sounds" or "empty speech." Denotes discourse that is devoid of spiritual substance, trivial, idle, unproductive, and ultimately worthless in advancing godliness or understanding the truth.
  • and oppositions (καὶ ἀντιθέσεις, kai antithesēis): Refers to arguments, contradictions, disputes, or antitheses. These are teachings or statements put forward directly against established Christian doctrine, often leading to conflict and division.
  • of science falsely so called (τῆς ψευδωνύμου γνώσεως, tēs pseudōnymou gnōseōs): This phrase is highly significant.
    • γνώσεως (gnōseōs): Meaning "knowledge." In this context, it often refers to intellectual claims or systems of "special" understanding.
    • ψευδωνύμου (pseudōnymou): Meaning "falsely named," "bearing a false name."
    • This complete phrase targets claims of sophisticated "knowledge" that, despite their appellation, are deceptive and hostile to the true revelation of God in Christ. It’s a direct reference to early Gnostic tendencies where people claimed a superior, esoteric knowledge (gnosis) beyond common faith, but which undermined biblical authority and led to doctrinal error.

• Words-group by words-group analysis

  • "O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust": This solemn and personal mandate sets the tone. Timothy is not merely an administrator, but a custodian of a sacred deposit – the unchanging truth of the gospel. His primary duty is to preserve this doctrinal inheritance whole and undefiled against all threats.
  • "avoiding profane and vain babblings": This is a call to discernment regarding the quality and nature of speech and teaching. "Profane babblings" describes irreverent, godless talk, while "vain babblings" describes discourse that is empty, unsubstantial, and unproductive for spiritual growth. Timothy must actively disengage from or prevent such unproductive and potentially polluting conversations in the church.
  • "and oppositions of science falsely so called": This phrase isolates a specific type of intellectual threat. "Oppositions" suggests counter-arguments or doctrinal antitheses challenging biblical truth. The "science" or "knowledge" (gnosis) is identified as "falsely so called" because it purports to be deep insight or revelation but, in reality, is misleading, erroneous, and anti-Christian. This was a critical warning against the seductive claims of systems (like early Gnostic philosophies) that offered secret or superior knowledge as an alternative to faith, leading people astray from Christ.

1 Timothy 6 20 Bonus section

• The term "deposit" (parathēkēn) evokes the ancient practice of entrusting valuable items to a reliable friend or institution for safekeeping, to be returned on demand. This vividly illustrates the concept of biblical truth as something of immense value, temporarily entrusted to humanity, demanding ultimate fidelity for its eventual return to the Divine giver.
• Paul's emphasis on "avoiding" certain types of speech underscores the passive danger of merely listening to false doctrine. It's not just active participation that is harmful, but also prolonged exposure to godless or empty discussions, which can erode faith and foster ungodliness. This warning extends to sources of information and conversation that do not edify.
• The warning about "science falsely so called" implies that not all "knowledge" (gnosis) is equal or beneficial. True spiritual knowledge comes from God through His Word and is aligned with humility and godliness, while "false knowledge" often leads to arrogance, division, and error. This principle guides believers to prioritize biblical wisdom over the world's changing philosophies.

1 Timothy 6 20 Commentary

1 Timothy 6:20 stands as a foundational text for theological stewardship. Paul’s instruction to "keep the deposit" is not a call for rigid traditionalism but for faithful preservation of the unchanging gospel given by God. This "deposit" is the very essence of Christian revelation, needing active guarding against two primary threats: the internal decay of "profane and vain babblings"—empty, godless discussions that distract and dilute truth—and the external challenge of "oppositions of science falsely so called." This latter is a direct warning against human-devised "knowledge" or intellectual systems that present themselves as wisdom but fundamentally oppose God's revealed truth. It’s a caution against intellectual arrogance and human speculation that attempts to redefine or supersede divine revelation. For Timothy, and for all believers, it demands discernment: not all that claims to be "knowledge" or "wisdom" is from God or leads to godliness. The core emphasis is on protecting doctrinal purity and focusing on truth that edifies and transforms, rather than engaging in fruitless debates or embracing deceitful wisdom.