For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
After quoting 2 Tim 1:12, Steve asks,
- What is Paul’s ‘committed thing’ God is able to keep?
- What is meant by “against that day” (KJV)?
Commentators see two possible answers to each of Steve’s questions.
Regarding what was committed, or deposited, with God, some say it’s the gospel ministry that God committed to Paul. Others say it’s the gospel ministry that Paul committed to God.
Concerning that Day, some think it refers to the Great White Throne Judgment (e.g., Guthrie in the Tyndale series) and others to the Judgment Seat of Christ (e.g., Hiebert in his commentary on Second Timothy).
The Greek can be translated rather woodenly in this way: “For I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that He is able to guard my deposit to that Day.”
My deposit most naturally refers to what Paul deposited or entrusted with God. Paul would not likely put it this way if he were referring to what God deposited with him.
The Day in question cannot be the Great White Throne Judgment because believers will not be judged there (John 5:24). Believers will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:9–10). Guthrie appears to hold the view predominant in Christian circles that there is but one eschatological judgment, and that everyone’s eternal destiny will be announced at the Great White Throne Judgment after the books of deeds are examined.
The word translated as committed is parathēkē. It is used only two other times in the NT, both in the letters to Timothy. In both cases, Paul is talking about that which God committed to Timothy (1 Tim 6:20; 2 Tim 1:14).
However, there are many verses in the NT that use synonymous language to refer to what we commit to God for future reward. In Matt 6:19–21, the Lord said that we are to “lay up treasure in heaven.” That is, we are committing it to His care until the Bema. In 1 Pet 4:19, Paul said we are to commit our lives “to Him in doing” good so that we might rule with Him in the life to come (see Hodges, 1–2 Peter & Jude, pp. 19–20, 59).
Paul said in Phil 4:17, “Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.” All believers have an ERA–Eternal Retirement Account. Whatever we deposit there (assuming our motives are correct) will be highly rewarded.
See also Luke 8:11–15; 19:16–26; 1 Cor 3:10–15; 9:24–27; 2 Cor 5:9–10.
Many years ago, I received a gift with a note: “I can’t take this with me, so I’m sending it on ahead.”
Paul committed his entire life and ministry to Christ. He knew that He would be well paid at the Bema, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom 8:18).
