C. Guard the Deposit (1:12b-14)

Suffering for the Gospel does not cause fear or embarrassment for Paul because he has confidence in the keeping ability of the One in whom he has trusted (v.12). We can have the same confidence. Know, believed, convinced (v.12) emphatically show Paul’s confidence and faith in God. Entrusted indicates that Paul has given God something of worth. The phrase also may refer to what has been entrusted to Paul (see rsv, tev), in which case it refers to the Gospel and indicates that God will keep it safe. Guard is military imagery to show God’s strong keeping power. For that day refers to the Lord’s return and/or judgment. Sound teaching (Gk., “healthful words”) must be held with love and faith in Christ, otherwise it becomes merely good words (see 1Co 13:1). V.14 reaffirms Paul’s command in 1Ti 6:20. The good deposit refers either to the commands Paul gave Timothy when placing him at Ephesus, the sound teaching (v.13), the gift he received from God (v.6), or all three. Timothy can do this only through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the believer’s main empowering agent.