Entrust

Greek Word Pronunciation: para-TI-the-mi
Strong's Number: 3908
Goodrich/Kohlenberger Number: 4192
Key Verse: “... those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator.” -- 1 Peter 4:19

Paratithemi is a compound verb consisting of para (“beside”) and tithemi (“to put”), thus meaning “to place beside or set before.” It was a banking term meaning “to deposit for safekeeping.”

This verb has a variety of translations. It is often used in the literal sense of material things, usually food, as being set before or served. It is used as teaching being set before the disciples in Matthew 13:24 and 31 as “Jesus presented another parable …” In Acts 17:3, Paul sets information before the Jews, as “giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead.” Paul collected scriptures that spoke of the Messiah and applied them to Jesus Christ. In Luke 12:48, “to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more,” refers to the varying degrees of punishment in hell. In Luke 23:46, Jesus said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” In Acts 14:23, disciples were commended to the Lord. In Acts 20:32, elders were commended to God, in His hands and under His protection, to supply all their needs, to direct them in all their affairs, and to keep them from the corruptions of the times. In 1 Timothy 1:8, Paul said, “This command I entrust to you.” Paul was committing to Timothy an important trust that required great wisdom and fidelity. Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:2, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others.” Timothy was to see that those only were admitted to the ministry who were qualified to understand the truths of religion, and to communicate them to others.

1 PETER 4:19 says “those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.” Since there was so much danger, since there was no one else that could keep them, and since He is so faithful, they were to commit all their interests to Him. They were to place their lives confidently in His hand, Who, being their Creator, will also be their Preserver, and keep that safely which is committed to His trust. God is here represented as faithful, because He will always fulfill His promises, and withhold no good thing from them that walk uprightly.