Guard the Good Deposit

Christ is able to guard the good deposit that has been entrusted to Paul until that day of his appearing. Paul knows that this Christ is the one in whom he has believed, and this is why he perseveres in suffering as he does. Because he knows that Christ will guard this deposit. But now Paul turns to Timothy and says, "Your turn." He wants to impress upon Timothy to stick to the plan - to hold to the same pattern of sound teaching that he has seen in and heard from Paul. Because Christ is able to guard the faith deposited in him - and because he has watched Paul guard the deposit entrusted to Paul - Timothy is to now hold fast to and guard the good deposit of the faith that has been handed down from the apostles, shared with him by his mother and grandmother, and now lived out in his own ministry.

The other reason that Paul must impress this on Timothy is because he has watched too many fumble the ball before the endzone. Men like Phygelus and Hermogenes have deserted. May we not be like these men who would not make it to the end. Let us instead look to the faithful example of Onesiphorus - who was not ashamed of the chains but remained faithful. So that on that day when Christ - who himself was faithful to the end - might allow us to share in the reward of Onesiphorus!