παραθήκη (parathēkē)
parathēkē
deposit
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun parathēkē refers to a deposit or something entrusted to someone’s faithful keeping. In the New Testament, it appears only three times, all within the Pastoral Epistles, where Paul uses it to describe the gospel truth committed to his care. It is not merely information stored away, but a sacred trust requiring loyalty and protection.
Its root combines para ("beside") and tithēmi ("to place"), suggesting something set aside for safekeeping. Thayer notes that this usage shifts the focus from the object itself to the responsibility of the keeper. Paul applies it to "correct knowledge" and pure doctrine, emphasizing that the apostle’s duty was to guard this teaching against distortion and pass it on intact.
This word carries significant weight in understanding early Christian leadership. It implies that the gospel is a legacy to be preserved, not altered for convenience or popularity. The term underscores the seriousness of theological stewardship, where fidelity to the original message is paramount.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word parathēkē describes a deposit or sacred trust placed in your care. In the Pastoral Epistles, Paul uses it to remind Timothy that the gospel is not his own invention but a legacy entrusted to him for safekeeping. This shifts the focus from personal opinion to faithful stewardship of what was originally given.
For you, this means your faith is part of a larger story. You are not alone in holding these truths; they have been passed down through generations and are now held by the Holy Spirit within you. When challenges arise, remember that the One who entrusted the message also provides the strength to keep it intact.
This assurance brings peace. You do not need to manufacture truth or defend your own ideas with anxiety. Instead, you can rest in the knowledge that God Himself guards what He has placed in your heart, allowing you to share it with confidence and clarity.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- entrusted deposit2×
- deposit committed [to you]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- παραθήκην3×
Key Verses
-
II Timothy 1:12
For this cause I also suffer these things. Yet I am not ashamed, for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed to him against that day.
This verse highlights that God Himself is the ultimate guardian of the believer's trust, providing comfort even in suffering.
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II Timothy 1:14
That good thing which was committed to you, guard through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
Here the role of the Holy Spirit is specified as the active power enabling believers to preserve the truth within them.
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I Timothy 6:20
Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge,
Paul uses this term to urge Timothy to actively protect the deposit from false teachings, showing that stewardship requires vigilance.