παραθήκη

anything committed to one's charge

Definition

Parathēkē refers to something entrusted to another's care, specifically a deposit or trust committed to one's charge. In the New Testament, it carries the sense of a valuable spiritual responsibility or treasure placed into safekeeping. The term appears only in the Pastoral Epistles, where it is used metaphorically for the gospel message or sound doctrine entrusted to Christian leaders. In 2 Timothy 1:12, Paul expresses confidence that God will guard what has been entrusted to him—his faith and ministry—until the final day.

Biblical Usage

This word is used exclusively in the Pastoral Epistles (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy) to describe the Christian faith as a sacred trust. In 1 Timothy 6:20, Timothy is commanded to guard the good deposit (parathēkē) entrusted to him, referring to the apostolic teaching. Similarly, in 2 Timothy 1:12, Paul speaks of his own life and ministry as a deposit he has entrusted to God, and in 2 Timothy 1:14, Timothy is again urged to guard the good treasure entrusted to him through the Holy Spirit. The pattern emphasizes stewardship and protection of divine revelation.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition παρά (para, meaning 'beside' or 'alongside') and the noun θήκη (thēkē, meaning 'a receptacle' or 'a place to put something'). The compound thus literally means 'something placed beside' someone for safekeeping. It shares a root with words like ἀποθήκη (apothēkē, 'storehouse') and parallels the Latin depositum, conveying the idea of a consignment or trust.

Semantic Range

Parathēkē is theologically significant as it frames the gospel and Christian doctrine not merely as personal belief but as a sacred trust from God to be faithfully preserved and transmitted. This underscores the responsibility of church leaders (like Timothy) as stewards of divine truth (1 Corinthians 4:1-2). It also highlights God's own faithfulness in guarding what is entrusted to Him (2 Timothy 1:12), reinforcing the security of salvation. Understanding this term enriches reading by emphasizing the collective, custodial nature of the faith across generations.

In the Greco-Roman world, a parathēkē was a legal and financial term for a deposit of money or valuables placed with a trusted person or bank for safekeeping. The recipient had a serious fiduciary duty to protect and return it intact. Paul uses this well-understood cultural concept to illustrate the grave responsibility of preserving apostolic teaching. Unlike a modern 'deposit' which might feel impersonal, this entrustment carried strong ethical and relational weight, implying personal loyalty and accountability.

οἰκονομία (oikonomia, G3622) — emphasizes stewardship or administration of a trust. πίστις (pistis, G4102) — focuses on faith or belief as the content, whereas parathēkē emphasizes its entrusted nature. μυστήριον (mystērion, G3466) — refers to God's hidden plan now revealed, a related concept also entrusted to apostles.

Word Details

Scripture References