What Does 1 Timothy 6:14 Mean in the King James?

That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

1 Timothy 6:14 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The charge is to guard the commandment intact until the Lord’s appearing makes what is awaited visible.

THE MEANING

This charge is alive now: what is entrusted to you is to be kept unstained and beyond reproach. Its horizon is the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ, when what is awaited becomes visible.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The commandment can be bent to fit the moment without losing its integrity.

THE ROOT

τηρῆσαι

tērēsai

GROWS FROM

τηρ

tēr-

to keep watch over, guard, or preserve

“keep” in this verse is tērēsai. The Greek verb carries the sense of guarding something entrusted, as well as keeping or observing it. The commandment is held intact across time, rather than treated as a momentary instruction.

ALSO GROWS

tērēsis: keeping, custody, or observance

τήρησις

This related noun makes the keeping sound like sustained custody of what has been entrusted.

syntēreō: preserve or keep safe

συντηρέω

This related verb brings preservation into view: the charge is carried forward in an intact state.

ἄσπιλον

aspilon

GROWS FROM

σπιλ

spil-

spot or stain; with the prefix ⁨ἀ-⁩ (a-), “without”

“without spot” in this verse is aspilon. The Greek word pictures something unstained or unmarked. Here that quality describes the commandment being kept, so the image is of its integrity carried forward without contamination.

ALSO GROWS

spilos: a spot or stain

σπίλος

This is the concrete mark that the verse says the commandment is kept without.

spiloō: to stain or defile

σπιλόω

This verb shows the other side of the image: what is kept unstained is not marked or defiled.

ἐπιφανείας

epiphaneias

GROWS FROM

φαν

phan-

to appear or become visible

The word carries the sense of manifestation: something becomes plainly visible. The keeping of the charge reaches toward the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ, when what is awaited is made manifest.

ALSO GROWS

phainō: appear or become visible

φαίνω

This verb gives the basic image of something coming into view.

phaneroō: make visible or manifest

φανερόω

This related verb emphasizes what the verse’s “appearing” brings: visibility.

THE PATTERN

What is entrusted is carried forward through attentive keeping, with its integrity remaining visible.

Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.

Deuteronomy 6:17 · KJVThe charge is held through diligent keeping, as in 1 Timothy’s call to preserve the commandment.

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

1 John 2:3 · KJVThe same Greek verb ⁨τηρέω⁩ (tēreō), meaning “keep” or “guard,” links knowing the Lord with keeping the commandments.

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

2 Peter 3:14 · KJVThe language of being without spot and blameless echoes the integrity named in this verse.

THE THREAD

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1 Peter 1:19 · KJV

The Greek word ⁨ἄσπιλος⁩ (aspilos), meaning “unstained” or “without spot,” appears in both verses. Here it describes the commandment kept intact; in Peter, it gives the image of a lamb without spot.

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