The Meaning of 2 Timothy 1:7 Explained

2 Timothy 1:7

KJV: For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

YLT: for God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind;

Darby: For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power, and of love, and of wise discretion.

ASV: For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  God  hath  not  given  us  the spirit  of fear;  but  of power,  and  of love,  and  of a sound mind. 

What does 2 Timothy 1:7 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Timothy had apparently held back from some ministry because of timidity. Paul reminded him that such a spirit is not from God. God makes us spiritually powerful (i.e, having a forceful character that uses authority boldly, cf. 1 Corinthians 2:4), loving ( Galatians 5:22), and self-disciplined ( Galatians 5:23). Self-disciplined refers to a person who has a "wise head." [1]
"He [1] is obliquely chiding Timothy for his timidity, but softens the blow by lumping himself with him." [3]

Context Summary

2 Timothy 1:1-11 - "stir Up The Gift Which Is In Thee"
Lonely and facing death the Apostle fell back on the bedrock of the will of God. If it were the divine plan that he should finish his life-work in that miserable plight, he was content that it should be so. But he longs to see his beloved son in the faith once more. He desires to stir up the dead coal of his ardor, in which there was fire and heat, but not enough flame.
Apparently the young evangelist was becoming daunted by the gathering difficulties of the time and so Paul sets himself to encourage him. With this purpose in view he adduces his own example, 2 Timothy 1:3, his fervent affection, 2 Timothy 1:4, the memory of the sainted dead, 2 Timothy 1:5, the solemn vows by which Timothy had bound himself at his ordination, 2 Timothy 1:6, the divine donation of grace and power and love, 2 Timothy 1:8, the eternal purpose which had received its fruition in the advent of Jesus, 2 Timothy 1:9, the clear light which His resurrection had thrown on death and the hereafter, 2 Timothy 1:10. Surely such a chain of arguments must have proved irresistible! God's soldiers must be brave and unflinching in meeting the opposition of the world. When once we realize that the stores which reside in God are at the disposal of our faith, we, too, shall be invulnerable and irresistible. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Timothy 1

1  Paul's love to Timothy, and unfeigned confidence in Timothy himself, his mother, and grandmother
6  He is exhorted to stir up the gift of God which was in him;
8  to be steadfast and patient in persecution;
13  and to persist in the form and truth of that doctrine which he had learned of him
15  Phygellus and Hermogenes, and such like, are noted, and Onesiphorus is highly commended

Greek Commentary for 2 Timothy 1:7

A spirit of fearfulness [πνευμα δειλιας]
Here πνευμα — pneuma is the χαρισμα — charisma of 2 Timothy 1:6, the human spirit as endowed by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:15). Δειλια — Deilia is an old word (δειλοσ δειδω — deilosδυναμεως — deidō) and always in a bad sense of cowardice, only here in N.T. [source]
Of power [αγαπης]
One of Paul‘s characteristic words (Romans 1:16). Of love (σωπρονισμου — agapēs). One of the gifts of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). “Which drives out fear” (Lock) as in 1 John 4:18. Of discipline Late Koiné{[28928]}š word (from σωπροσυνη — sōphronizō to control), self-control, here only in N.T. See note on 1 Timothy 2:9 for sōphrosunē sa120 [source]
Of love [σωπρονισμου]
One of the gifts of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). “Which drives out fear” (Lock) as in 1 John 4:18. [source]
Of discipline [σωπρονιζω]
Late Koiné{[28928]}š word (from σωπροσυνη — sōphronizō to control), self-control, here only in N.T. See note on 1 Timothy 2:9 for sōphrosunē sa120 [source]
Spirit of fear [πνεῦμα δειλίας]
Better, of cowardice. N.T. Comp. Romans 8:15, and see on the Spirit, Romans 8:4, § 5. [source]
Of power [δυνάμεως]
Found in all the Pauline Epistles except Philemon. In Pastorals only here, 2 Timothy 1:8, and 2 Timothy 3:5. Not used by our writer in the sense of working miracles, which it sometimes has in Paul. Here, the power to overcome all obstacles and to face all dangers. It is closely linked with the sense of παρρησία boldnessOf love ( ἀγάπης )See on Galatians 5:22. [source]
Of a sound mind [σωφρονισμοῦ]
N.T.oolxx, oClass. Not self-control, but the faculty of generating it in others or in one's self, making them σώφρονες ofsound mind. Comp. Titus 2:4. Rend. discipline. See on σωφροσύνη 1 Timothy 2:9. [source]
Found in all the Pauline Epistles except Philemon. In Pastorals only here, 2 Timothy 1:8 , and 2 Timothy 3:5 . Not used by our writer in the sense of working miracles , which it sometimes has in Paul. Here, the power to overcome all obstacles and to face all dangers. It is closely linked with the sense of παρρησία boldness Of love [ἀγάπης]
See on Galatians 5:22. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Timothy 1:7

John 14:27 Let it be afraid [δειλιάτω]
Only here in the New Testament. Properly it signifies cowardly fear. Rev., fearful. The kindred adjective δειλός fearfulis used by Matthew of the disciples in the storm (Matthew 8:26), and in Revelation of those who deny the faith through fear of persecution (Revelation 21:8). The kindred noun, δειλία , occurs only in 2 Timothy 1:7, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear,” contrasted with the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. [source]
Romans 8:4 The Spirit [πνεῦμα]
From πνέω tobreathe or blow. The primary conception is wind or breath. Breath being the sign and condition of life in man, it comes to signify life. In this sense, physiologically considered, it is frequent in the classics. In the psychological sense, never. In the Old Testament it is ordinarily the translation of ruach It is also used to translate chai life, Isaiah 38:12; nbreath, 1 Kings 17:17. In the New Testament it occurs in the sense of wind or breath, John 3:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Hebrews 1:7. Closely related to the physiological sense are such passages as Luke 8:55; James 2:26; Revelation 13:15. Pauline Usage: 1. Breath, 2 Thessalonians 2:8. 2. The spirit or mind of man; the inward, self-conscious principle which feels and thinks and wills (1 Corinthians 2:11; 1 Corinthians 5:3; 1 Corinthians 7:34; Colossians 2:5). In this sense it is distinguished from σῶμα bodyor accompanied with a personal pronoun in the genitive, as my, our, his spirit (Romans 1:9; Romans 8:16; 1 Corinthians 5:4; 1 Corinthians 16:18, etc.). It is used as parallel with ψυχή souland καρδία heartSee 1 Corinthians 5:3; 1 Thessalonians 2:17; and compare John 13:21and John 12:27; Matthew 26:38and Luke 1:46, Luke 1:47. But while ψυχή soulis represented as the subject of life, πνεύμα spiritrepresents the principle of life, having independent activity in all circumstances of the perceptive and emotional life, and never as the subject. Generally, πνεύμα spiritmay be described as the principle, ψυχή soulas the subject, and καρδία heartas the organ of life. 3. The spiritual nature of Christ. Romans 1:4; 1 Corinthians 15:45; 1 Timothy 3:16. 4. The divine power or influence belonging to God, and communicated in Christ to men, in virtue of which they become πνευματικοί spiritual - recipientsand organs of the Spirit. This is Paul's most common use of the word. Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 2:13; Galatians 4:6; Galatians 6:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:8. In this sense it appears as: a. Spirit of God. Romans 8:9, Romans 8:11, Romans 8:14; 1 Corinthians 2:10, 1 Corinthians 2:11, 1 Corinthians 2:12, 1 Corinthians 2:14; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 Corinthians 7:40; 2 Corinthians 3:3; Ephesians 3:16. b. Spirit of Christ. Romans 8:9; 2 Corinthians 3:17, 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 4:6; Philemon 1:19. c. Holy Spirit. Romans 5:5; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Ephesians 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:5, 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 4:8, etc. d. Spirit. With or without the article, but with its reference to the Spirit of God or Holy Spirit indicated by the context. Romans 8:16, Romans 8:23, Romans 8:26, Romans 8:27; 1 Corinthians 2:4, 1 Corinthians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 12:4, 1 Corinthians 12:7, 1 Corinthians 12:8, 1 Corinthians 12:9; Ephesians 4:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:13, etc. 5. A power or influence, the character, manifestations, or results of which are more peculiarly defined by qualifying genitives. Thus spirit of meekness, faith, power, wisdom. Romans 8:2, Romans 8:15; 1 Corinthians 4:21; 2 Corinthians 4:13; Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 1:17; 2 Timothy 1:7, etc. These combinations with the genitives are not mere periphrases for a faculty or disposition of man. By the spirit of meekness or wisdom, for instance, is not meant merely a meek or wise spirit; but that meekness, wisdom, power, etc., are gifts of the Spirit of God. This usage is according to Old Testament analogy. Compare Exodus 28:3; Exodus 31:3; Exodus 35:31; Isaiah 11:2. 6. In the plural, used of spiritual gifts or of those who profess to be under spiritual influence, 1 Corinthians 12:10; 1 Corinthians 14:12. 7. Powers or influences alien or averse from the divine Spirit, but with some qualifying word. Thus, the spirit of the world; another spirit; spirit of slumber. Romans 11:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 11:4; Ephesians 2:2; 2 Timothy 1:7. Where these expressions are in negative form they are framed after the analogy of the positive counterpart with which they are placed in contrast. Thus Romans 8:15: “Ye have not received the spirit of bondage, but of adoption. In other cases, as Ephesians 2:2, where the expression is positive, the conception is shaped according to Old-Testament usage, where spirits of evil are conceived as issuing from, and dependent upon, God, so far as He permits their operation and makes them subservient to His own ends. See Judges 9:23; 1 Samuel 16:14-16, 1 Samuel 16:23; 1 Samuel 18:10; 1 Kings 22:21sqq.; Isaiah 19:4. Spirit is found contrasted with letter, Romans 2:29; Romans 7:6; 2 Corinthians 3:6. With flesh, Romans 8:1-13; Galatians 5:16, Galatians 5:24. It is frequently associated with the idea of power (Romans 1:4; Romans 15:13, Romans 15:19; 1 Corinthians 2:4; Galatians 3:5; Ephesians 3:16; 2 Timothy 1:7); and the verb ἐνεργεῖν , denoting to work efficaciously, is used to mark its special operation (Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 3:20; Philemon 2:13; Colossians 1:29). It is also closely associated with life, Romans 8:2, Romans 8:6, Romans 8:11, Romans 8:13; 1 Corinthians 15:4, 1 Corinthians 15:5; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Galatians 5:25; Galatians 6:8. It is the common possession of the Church and its members; not an occasional gift, but an essential element and mark of the christian life; not appearing merely or mainly in exceptional, marvelous, ecstatic demonstrations, but as the motive and mainspring of all christian action and feeling. It reveals itself in confession (1 Corinthians 12:3); in the consciousness of sonship (Romans 8:16); in the knowledge of the love of God (Romans 5:5); in the peace and joy of faith (Romans 14:17; 1 Thessalonians 1:6); in hope (Romans 5:5; Romans 15:13). It leads believers (Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:18): they serve in newness of the Spirit (Romans 7:6) They walk after the Spirit (Romans 8:4, Romans 8:5; 1 Corinthians 12:11). Through the Spirit they are sanctified (2 Thessalonians 2:13). It manifests itself in the diversity of forms and operations, appearing under two main aspects: a difference of gifts, and a difference of functions. See Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 5:1, 1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 4:3, Ephesians 4:4, Ephesians 4:30; Philemon 2:1; [source]
1 Timothy 2:9 With shamefacedness and sobriety [μετὰ αἰδοῦς καὶ σωφροσύνης]
Ἁιδώς N.T. ( αἰδοῦς in Hebrews 12:28is an incorrect reading). In earlier Greek, as in Homer, it sometimes blends with the sense of αἰσχύνη shamethough used also of the feeling of respectful timidity in the presence of superiors, or of penitent respect toward one who has been wronged (see Homer, Il. i. 23). Hence it is connected in Homer with military discipline (Il. v. 531). It is the feeling of a suppliant or an unfortunate in the presence of those from whom he seeks aid; of a younger man toward an older and wiser one. It is a feeling based upon the sense of deficiency, inferiority, or unworthiness. On the other hand, it is the feeling of a superior in position or fortune which goes out to an unfortunate. See Homer, Il. xxiv. 208; Od. xiv. 388; Soph. Oed. Col. 247. In the Attic period, a distinction was recognised between αἰσχύνη and αἰδώς : αἰδώς representing a respectful and reverent attitude toward another, while αἰσχύνη was the sense of shame on account of wrong doing. Thus, “one αἰδεῖται isrespectful to his father, but αἰσχύνεται isashamed because he has been drunk.” Trench (N.T. Synon. § xix.) remarks that “ αἰδώς is the nobler word and implies the nobler motive. In it is involved an innate moral repugnance to the doing of the dishonorable act, which moral repugnance scarcely or not at all exists in the αἰσχύνη . Let the man who is restrained by αἰσχύνη alone be insured against the outward disgrace which he fears his act will entail, and he will refrain from it no longer.” The A.V. shamefacedness is a corruption of the old English shamefastness. So Chaucer:“Schamefast chastite.”Knight's T. 2057.Shakespeare:“'Tis a blushing shamefast spirit that mutinies in a man's bosom.”Richard III. i. 4.It is one of a large class of words, as steadfast, soothfast, rootfast, masterfast, handfast, bedfast, etc. Shamefaced changes and destroys the original force of the word, which was bound or made fast by an honorable shame. Σωφροσύνη sobrietysoP. Once in Acts, Romans 12:3-577. The kindred verb σωφρονεῖν tobe of sound mind, 1714036779_8; 2 Corinthians 5:13; Titus 2:6. Several representatives of this family of words appear in the Pastorals, and with the exception of σωφροσύνη and σωφρονεῖν , nowhere else in N.T. Such are σωφρονίζειν tobe soberminded (Titus 2:4); σωφρονισμός discipline(2 Timothy 1:7); σωφρόνως soberly(Titus 2:12); σώφρων soberminded(1 Timothy 3:2). The word is compounded of σάος or σῶς safesound, and φρήν mindIt signifies entire command of the passions and desires; a self-control which holds the rein over these. So Aristotle (Rhet. i. 9): The virtue by which we hold ourselves toward the pleasures of the body as. the law enjoins.” Comp. 4Macc. 1:31. Euripides calls it “the fairest gift of the gods” (Med. 632). That it appears so rarely in N.T. is, as Trench remarks, “not because more value was attached to it in heathen ethics than in Christian morality, but because it is taken up and transformed into a condition yet higher still, in which a man does not command himself, which is well, but, which is better still, is commanded by God.” The words with shamefastness and sobriety may either be taken directly with adorn themselves, or better perhaps, as indicating moral qualities accompanying ( μετὰ with) the modest apparel. Let them adorn themselves in modest apparel, having along with this shamefastness and sobermindedness. [source]
1 Peter 5:9 Whom withstand [ωι αντιστητε]
Imperative second aorist active (intransitive) of αντιστημι — anthistēmi same form in James 4:7, which see. Dative case of relative For the imperative in a subordinate clause see 1 Peter 5:12; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; 2 Timothy 4:15; Hebrews 13:7. Cowardice never wins against the devil (2 Timothy 1:7), but only courage. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Timothy 1:7 mean?

Not for has given us - God a spirit of cowardice but of power and of love of self-control
οὐ γὰρ ἔδωκεν ἡμῖν Θεὸς πνεῦμα δειλίας ἀλλὰ δυνάμεως καὶ ἀγάπης σωφρονισμοῦ

ἔδωκεν  has  given 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: διδῶ 
Sense: to give.
ἡμῖν  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεὸς  God 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
πνεῦμα  a  spirit 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: πνεῦμα  
Sense: a movement of air (a gentle blast.
δειλίας  of  cowardice 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: δειλία  
Sense: timidity, fearfulness, cowardice.
δυνάμεως  of  power 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: δύναμις  
Sense: strength power, ability.
ἀγάπης  of  love 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: ἀγάπη  
Sense: brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence.
σωφρονισμοῦ  of  self-control 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: σωφρονισμός  
Sense: an admonishing or calling to soundness of mind, to moderation and self-control.