1Ti 6:20-21 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Tim 6:20-21: 6:20-21 This brief but pointed exhortation summarizes and shows the importance of Timothy’s task in Ephesus (cp. 1:18-20 ; 2 Tim 1:13-14 ). 6:20 what God has entrusted to you (literally the deposit ): The Good News is a deposit entrusted to the church and its leaders for safekeeping (1:15 ; 2:5-6 ; 3:16 ). It encompasses the whole pattern of conduct that follows from it (2 Tim 1:13-14 ; 3:10-11 ). It stabilizes and purifies the church when it is buffeted by counterfeits in the polluted environment of difficult times (2 Tim 3:1 ). The deposit belongs to the “tradition” of the church (see 2 Tim 2:2 ; 1 Cor 11:23-25 ; 15:1-8 ; 2 Thes 2:15 ; 3:6 ). It requires creative and faithful interpretation to meet changing circumstances and problems (see 2 Tim 1:12-14 ).

Summary for 1Tim 6:20-21: 6:20-21 ^a This brief but pointed exhortation summarizes and shows the importance of Timothy’s task in Ephesus (cp. 1:18-20 ^b; 2 Tim 1:13-14 ^c). 6:20 ^d what God has entrusted to you (literally the deposit): The Good News is a deposit entrusted to the church and its leaders for safekeeping (1:15 ^e; 2:5-6 ^f; 3:16 ^g). It encompasses the whole pattern of conduct that follows from it (2 Tim 1:13-14 ^h; 3:10-11 ⁱ). It stabilizes and purifies the church when it is buffeted by counterfeits in the polluted environment of difficult times (2 Tim 3:1 ^j). The deposit belongs to the “tradition” of the church (see 2 Tim 2:2 ^k; 1 Cor 11:23-25 ^l; 15:1-8 ^m; 2 Thes 2:15 ⁿ; 3:6 ^o). It requires creative and faithful interpretation to meet changing circumstances and problems (see 2 Tim 1:12-14 ^p).
6:21 ^q The letter closes abruptly. Evidently there was no need of directions for the mission (cp. Titus 3:12-14 ^r) and greetings were unnecessary or unsuitable (cp. Titus 3:15 ^s; Rom 16:3-16 ^t).

• you all: The letter was sent to Timothy but was intended to be read to the whole church (see 1 Timothy Book Introduction, “Literary Genre”).