Lexical Summary antithesis: Opposition, contradiction Original Word: ἀντίθεσις Strong's Exhaustive Concordance opposition. From a compound of anti and tithemi; opposition, i.e. A conflict (of theories) -- opposition. see GREEK anti see GREEK tithemi NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom anti and tithémi Definition opposition NASB Translation opposing arguments (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 477: ἀντίθεσιςἀντίθεσις ((τίθημι, from Plato down), ἀντιθεσεως, ἡ; a. opposition. b. that which is opposed: 1 Timothy 6:20, (ἀντιθέσεις τῆς ψευδωνύμου γνώσεως, the inventions of false knowledge, either mutually oppugnant, or opposed to true Christian doctrine). Strong’s Greek 477, ἀντίθεσις, appears only once in the New Testament, in 1 Timothy 6:20. In that single occurrence Paul links the term to “what is falsely called knowledge,” contrasting speculative teaching with the “deposit” of apostolic truth. The rarity of the word heightens its force: Paul selects a technical term from classical rhetoric to underscore the danger of ideas that set themselves in deliberate opposition to the gospel. Rhetorical Background In the Greco-Roman rhetorical schools, ἀντίθεσις referred to a structured clash of statements or propositions. Orators employed it to sharpen arguments through deliberate contradiction. By borrowing this term, Paul acknowledges the intellectual climate of Ephesus, a city familiar with public debate and philosophical disputation, yet he redirects Timothy’s focus from stylish argumentation to faithful preservation of revealed truth. Paul’s Immediate Concern in 1 Timothy 6:20 “O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you, avoiding irreverent, empty chatter and the contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge.” (1 Timothy 6:20) Paul places ἀντίθεσις beside “irreverent, empty chatter,” linking clever but hollow controversy with spiritual danger. The “deposit” is the complete gospel message entrusted to the church. Any teaching that stands in antithesis to that deposit, no matter how sophisticated, must be avoided. Early Church Challenges: Proto-Gnosticism and Speculative “Knowledge” The Pastoral Epistles confront emerging streams of protognostic thought that mingled biblical ideas with esoteric speculations. These movements claimed secret insight while denying core truths such as the goodness of creation and the bodily incarnation of Christ. Paul’s term ἀντίθεσις captures their essence: they positioned their theories in direct opposition to apostolic proclamation. By warning Timothy, Paul equips the early church to recognize that error often presents itself not as outright denial of Scripture, but as a competing system claiming superior knowledge. Biblical Theology of Opposition to Truth While ἀντίθεσις itself occurs only once, Scripture frequently addresses the broader theme of ideas set against divine revelation: Together with 1 Timothy 6:20, these texts present a unified biblical call to resist intellectual currents that contradict the gospel. Historical Reception in the Church Church Fathers such as Irenaeus (Against Heresies) and Tertullian (Prescription Against Heretics) echoed Paul’s concern, identifying Gnostic speculations as contradictions to the rule of faith. Councils that defined orthodox Christology can also be viewed as guarding the deposit, formally rejecting antithetical claims about the person of Christ. Ministry Implications 1. Doctrinal Stewardship: Leaders must treat apostolic teaching as a sacred trust, not a subject for experimental revision. Comparative Passages for Study Acts 17:18; Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 3:19; 2 Corinthians 10:5; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Timothy 3:13. Each highlights a facet of resisting opposition to the faith. Summary ἀντίθεσις in 1 Timothy 6:20 serves as a strategic warning. Paul identifies any teaching that stands in principled contradiction to the gospel as dangerous, regardless of its intellectual appeal. The church safeguards the revealed deposit by recognizing and rejecting every antithesis that challenges the authority, sufficiency, and coherence of Scripture. |
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