In last week’s passage, Paul concluded his sentence with a brief and spontaneous break into a worshipful, creed-like statement. Basically, he gave a brief summary of the gospel for which he was suffering, and for which he encouraged Timothy to stand strong. It is to this gospel that he speaks in this week’s passage.

Check it out in 2 Timothy 1:11-12:

This is the gospel to which Paul was appointed as a messenger and an apostle. In fact, Paul refers to three different functions to which he was called by God.

• He was appointed to be a herald. This is someone who publicly proclaims messages of importance. Paul used this word in 1 Timothy 2:7.
• He was appointed to be an apostle. Paul’s mind was no doubt on his conversion experience on the road to Damascus, where he was called and commissioned by Christ himself. Paul stated this at the beginning of 1 Timothy, in his greeting, as well as 1 Timothy 2:7.
• He was appointed to be a teacher. Again, Paul used this term in 1 Timothy 2:7, understanding his role to be that of a bold messenger. He knew he was appointed by God to share the gospel with as many people as possible.

From this self-description, Paul turns to his present sufferings. Paul knows why he is suffering. It is because of this gospel that he is preaching to the world. But his next statement is targeted to strengthen Timothy, who, being younger, may have been wavering in his faith because of the difficulties he was facing in the Ephesian church.

Paul is not ashamed of the gospel. This phrase is reminiscent of Romans 1:16, where Paul makes a similar statement. Paul’s unashamed attitude may actually be more of case where Paul is proud of his sufferings, and proud of the gospel that he preaches. Paul is not ashamed because he knows that the God in whom he places his trust is powerful enough to guard something very special to Paul.

The question in this passage, then, is what is this “entrusted” thing? There are two possible translations of this passage.

The text literally states that Paul is convinced that God is able to guard his “deposit.” So has God entrusted this deposit to Paul? Or has Paul entrusted this deposit to God? Both have solid arguments.

In the first idea, the deposit might refer to the same thing it refers to in verse 14, which is the sound teaching of verse 13, which is the gospel of verse 11. God entrusted it to Paul, who then passed it on to Timothy and other qualified teachers. In this case, God will continue to grow and spread the gospel message, beyond the lives of Paul and Timothy, because it is a deposit that has been entrusted to Paul to pass on, and on. This is a consistent idea with the rest of the passage.

However, the reverse statement also makes sense, and is the stance that many of the traditional translations (NIV, NASB, and others) have taken. In this case, Paul has entrusted a deposit to God, his life and his soul, and his ministry and work for the kingdom. This position is similar to ideas presented elsewhere, such as Luke 23:46, and 1 Peter 1:4, and 4:19.

In this case, Paul has entrusted himself to God, and is calling Timothy to be ready to suffer for the sake of the gospel. But before Timothy can survive that, he has to do the same thing; he has to entrust his life and ministry into the hands of the God who is in control of it all anyway.

That is incredibly true in the twenty-first century, just as it was in the first century. We must entrust our lives and our work to the one who has the control already. This is true in every aspect of our lives.

I think of my kids. I want them to lead godly lives, standing strong for Christ and serving him with their lives. But I don’t know what my kids will decide to do with their lives. All I can do is raise them in a godly environment, teaching them God’s word, trusting God to do what I cannot do in their lives.

In 1883, Daniel Whittle wrote a hymn based upon this passage. In this hymn, the main topic addressed is God’s salvation working in our lives, even though there may be suffering. But I think it carries an undertone of trust, not just for our own salvation, but for all the things that we cannot accomplish on our own power. Here is the hymn, I Know Whom I Have Believed:

I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.

Refrain:
But “I know Whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.”

I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.

I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing men of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.

I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me,
Of weary ways or golden days,
Before His face I see.

I know not when my Lord may come,
At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I walk the vale with Him,
Or meet Him in the air.

May we all be able to place our trust in him who holds all things in his hands.

What is it that you need to entrust to God daily? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.