Specially
The Word in Biblical Context
The English word "specially" appears in older Bible translations to convey emphasis and priority. In the Old Testament, it translates the Hebrew word "me'od," meaning "exceedingly" or "very much." In the New Testament, it renders the Greek word "malista," meaning "most of all," "particularly," or "chiefly." Modern translations typically replace "specially" with "especially" or similar terms, but the underlying concept remains important for understanding how Scripture establishes priorities within duties.
Providing for One's Household
One of the most significant uses of "specially" occurs in Paul's first letter to Timothy. Paul writes, "If anyone does not provide for his own, and specially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Timothy 5:8). Here, the word creates a hierarchy of responsibility: believers have a general duty to care for their own people, but the most immediate and non-negotiable obligation is to their own household. Paul's strong language — comparing negligent believers to unbelievers — underscores the seriousness of this responsibility.
Doing Good to All, Especially Believers
Galatians 6:10 presents another key use of this prioritizing language: "As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and specially to those who belong to the family of faith." Paul does not limit good works to fellow Christians, but he does identify the community of believers as a particular focus. The word "specially" here establishes that while generosity should extend to everyone, there is a special bond of responsibility among those who share faith in Christ.
God as Savior of All, Specially Believers
In 1 Timothy 4:10, Paul writes that "we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and specially of those who believe." This passage uses "specially" to make a theological distinction. God's saving work extends to all humanity in a general sense — through common grace, preservation, and the offer of salvation. But His saving work applies in a particular and complete way to those who believe. The word creates a distinction within God's universal care.
The Principle of Priority
The biblical use of "specially" reveals an important pattern in Scripture: obligations are not all equal, and love must be exercised with wisdom and order. A person cannot claim to love humanity in general while neglecting the specific people God has placed in their life. Jesus taught a similar principle when He criticized the Pharisees for using religious commitments as an excuse to neglect their parents (Mark 7:10-13). True faithfulness begins with the closest relationships and extends outward.
Application for Believers
The concept behind "specially" challenges believers to examine their priorities. It teaches that spiritual maturity involves not just broad good intentions but focused, faithful action toward those nearest to us. Providing for family, caring for fellow believers, and fulfilling immediate responsibilities are the foundation upon which broader ministry and service are built.
Biblical Context
The word 'specially' appears in key Pauline passages including 1 Timothy 5:8 (providing for household), Galatians 6:10 (doing good to all, especially believers), and 1 Timothy 4:10 (God as Savior of all, especially believers). In the Old Testament, the underlying Hebrew word appears in Psalm 31:11 in the KJV. The concept of prioritized responsibility runs throughout Paul's practical teaching.
Theological Significance
The biblical use of 'specially' teaches that while God's love and the believer's obligations extend broadly, there are divinely ordered priorities. Caring for one's own household, supporting fellow believers, and fulfilling immediate responsibilities are presented as the most urgent expressions of faith. Failure in these areas is treated as a serious spiritual deficiency, even a denial of the faith itself.
Historical Background
In the Greco-Roman world, household management and provision were considered fundamental social obligations. Roman law and custom placed significant emphasis on the paterfamilias' duty to provide for dependents. Paul's teaching would have resonated with this cultural expectation while grounding it in theological rather than merely social reasoning. The early church's emphasis on mutual care among believers was one of its most distinctive and attractive features in the ancient world.