2 Timothy 1:13-14 13Hold to the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14Guard the good deposit through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

In each of these verses, Paul gives Timothy a command followed by how he can keep the command. First, he must live up to the words Paul gave him. Pattern (hypotypōsin) means a standard, prototype, or model. Paul taught Timothy the truth of the gospel and lived as an example to him of a godly and committed lifestyle. The two had traveled together for many years, and Timothy should have known Paul’s theology and ethics. This letter is a good example of the significance of a mentoring relationship. Sound (hygiainonōn) can mean healthy or free from defect (1 Timothy 1:10). In the context of doctrine, it refers to orthodoxy and truth. Timothy needed to know the truth of the gospel to deal with the false teachers and build up strong leaders in the Ephesian church.

The way Timothy can keep to the truth is by the eternal resources of faith and love in Christ Jesus. These are gifts of Christ through the Holy Spirit but also call for the needed response of human decision and commitment. These resources are similar to what Paul wrote in the first letter in 1 Timothy 1:5: “love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” Both faith and love are attitudes of the heart that should lead to action of the body.

Verse 14 echoes verse 12 and calls Timothy to guard the good deposit. The deposit is not identified directly but is parallel to the sound words of verse 13, therefore, it could be a reference to the truth of the gospel. The truth is a priceless treasure that must be protected and preserved. Paul passed on the message of the gospel to Timothy, and Timothy needed to pass it on to the leaders in Ephesus who could then train up the church in this truth (2:2). The chain must not be broken.
Timothy did not need to guard by his own power but had the help of the Holy Spirit. We are never alone if our faith and love are in Christ Jesus. The relationship of Christ and the Spirit is assumed in the parallel statements. The Spirit gives us assurance that we are correct and guides our consciences by reminding us of the teachings of Christ. By being filled with and obedient to the Holy Spirit, Timothy would be equipped to teach the truth and follow the call God had given him.

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