Sincere (505) (anupokritos from a = negative prefix meaning without + hupokrinomai [see below] = to pretend, this Greek verb being a combination of hupó = under, indicating secrecy + krino = to judge) is literally without play acting, without playing the part or without hypocrisy. Anupokritos describes that which is unhypocritical, genuine (faith, love and wisdom in Scripture) and without show or pretense (pretense = a claim made or implied and especially one not supported by fact). W E Vine has this note on the related root word explaining that a hypocrite (hupokrites) was... "a stage—actor; it was a custom for Greek and Roman actors to speak in large masks with mechanical devices for augmenting the force of the voice; hence the word became used metaphorically of a dissembler, a hypocrite." (Vine, W E: Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. 1996. Nelson) A hypocrite is therefore an actor. Timothy’s faith was not an act but was completely genuine, unhypocritical and without pretense or deceit. Marvin Vincent explains that the related word hypocrite (hupokrites) is... From hupokrino, to separate gradually; so of separating the truth from a mass of falsehood, and thence to subject to inquiry, and, as a result of this, to expound or interpret what is elicited. Then, to reply to inquiry, and so to answer on the stage, to speak in dialogue, to act. From this the transition is easy to assuming, feigning, playing a part. The hypocrite is, therefore, etymologically, an actor. (Greek Word Study) Anupokritos is used 6 times in the NT once in each of the following books (Rom. 12:9; 2 Co. 6:6; 1 Tim. 1:5; 2 Tim. 1:5; Jas. 3:17; 1 Pet. 1:22) and in the NAS is translated "genuine, 1; sincere, 3; without hypocrisy, 2" whereas the KJV translates it "unfeigned, 4; without dissimulation (= act of hiding under a false appearance; e.g., "she smiled to dissimulate her anxiety"), 1; without hypocrisy, 1". Timothy was aware that there were many who ostensibly were simply "playing the part" of a disciple ("You [Timothy] are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes" 2 Ti1:15). In this setting of defection by those who once stood beside Paul, it is not surprising that Timothy's "sincere faith" was a source of encouragement, joy and thanksgiving for Paul in prison. Timothy's faith was "not an act" like the Greek play actors who were called hupokrites, because they answered from under (hupo) a mask. D. Edmond Hiebert observes that Timothy's faith... is given a twofold description. It is "unfeigned," literally, "unhypocritical"; a faith arising out of an inner reality of conviction and knowing no sham or pretense. It is further described by the clause "which [lit., which is such as] dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice." Timothy is parallel to Paul in that he too has a line of godly ancestors, in whom this "unhypocritical faith" has effectively taken up its abode." (2 Timothy by D. Edmond Hiebert) (Bolding added) Timothy's faith was without "play acting" and this truth must have brought great joy to Paul's heart to know Timothy was "the real thing". In his third epistle John voices a similar exhortation to his readers... "I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth." (3John 1:4). Anupokritos is used in the NT to modify "love" three times! Clearly the implication that there can be an outward show of love which is really only a facade or mask! ><>><>><> THE OTHER 5 USES OF ANUPOKRITOS In Romans Paul says... "Let love be without hypocrisy (anupokritos). Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good." (see note Romans 12:9) Writing to the church at Corinth Paul describes himself and other "servants of God" as those who carry out there office "in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine (anupokritos) love" (2Cor 6:4-6) Peter exhorts the tested believers who reside as aliens that... "Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere (anupokritos) love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart" (see note 1 Peter 1:22) In Paul's first letter to Timothy, he explained to his young disciple that... "the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." (1Timothy 1:5) James contrasts worldly wisdom ("not that which comes down from above, but earthly, natural, demonic") with heavenly wisdom explaining that.... "the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy (anupokritos). And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." (James 3:17-18). Godly wisdom does not pose and does not deal in deception but is honest, never pretending to be what it is not; never acting a part to gain its own ends. ><>><>><> Lenski comments that... "how Paul esteems Timothy's faith (and) considers it a model, with which sincere acts of other men's faith are compared in Paul's mind" How would Paul characterize your faith? Sincere or an act? "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/2_timothy_15-7.htm#Sincere