SUBJECT:  2 Timothy 1:7

QUESTION:  Please explain this verse.  Specifically what does “power” and “sound mind” mean?

ANSWER:

Let us look at the verse in context:

2 Timothy 1:1-10
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

This is our second letter from Paul to the new minister, Timothy.  Paul is giving him encouragement for the mission ahead.  This was probably the last communication between Paul and Timothy.  By extension, God is giving us the same encouragement.  This letter to Timothy is also for every member of the church.

All firstfruits are in the Salvation Process by virtue of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the calling of God and by the power of the Holy Spirit.  We can do nothing in the process and can face no trial without that power.  In verse six, Paul, therefore, admonishes Timothy to stir up that gift of God which he received at baptism and the laying on of hands.  Follow now in the commentary for verse 7…

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear - A timorous and servile spirit. This is said in order to encourage Timothy, who was not improbably modest and diffident [lacking confidence in his own ability].

But of power - Power to encounter foes and dangers; power to bear up under trials; power to triumph in persecutions. That is, it is the nature of the gospel to inspire the mind with holy courage; compare, however, Luke 24:49.

And of love - Love to God and to the souls of men. The tendency of This, also, is to “cast out fear” 1 John 4:18, and to make the mind bold and constant. Nothing will do more to inspire courage, to make a man fearless of danger, or ready to endure privation and persecution, than “love.” The love of country, and wife, and children, and home, makes the most timid bold when they are assailed; and the love of Christ and of a dying world nerves the soul to great enterprises, and sustains it in the deepest sorrows.

And of a sound mind - The Greek word denotes one of sober mind; a man of prudence and discretion. The state referred to here is that in which the mind is well balanced, and under right influences; in which it sees things in their just proportions and relations; in which it is not feverish and excited, but when everything is in its proper place. It was this state of mind which Timothy was exhorted to cultivate; this which Paul regarded as so necessary to the performance of the duties of his office. It is as needful now for the minister of religion as it was then. ~Barnes Notes

The Adam Clarke commentary says…

"Instead of 'fear', some versions have 'servitude' or 'bondage'; God hath not given unto us the spirit of Bondage - but of power, to work miracles, to confound enemies, to support us in trials, and enable us to do that which is lawful and right in his sight. And of love, which enables us to hear, believe, hope, and endure all things; and is the incentive to all obedience.

"Of a sound mind, of self-possession and government, according to some. But a sound mind implies much more; it means a clear understanding, a sound judgment, a rectified will, holy passions, heavenly tempers; in a word, the whole soul harmonized in all its powers and faculties; and completely regulated and influenced so as to think, speak, and act aright in all things. The apostle says, God hath given the spirit of these things; they are not factitious; they are not assumed for times and circumstances; they are radical powers and tempers; each produced by its proper principle."

Here is another commentary [with slight editing my myself]…

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear,.... A pusillanimous [fearful], cowardly spirit, so as to be afraid of men or devils, of what they will say or do; and so as to be discouraged in, sink under, or be deterred from the work of the Lord, the preaching of the Gospel, opposing the errors of false teachers, and reproving men for their sins, and doing other parts of the ministerial function; such a spirit is not from God, and such a fear brings a snare:

but of power, and such is the Spirit of God, which is called "power from high"; Luke 24:49 by which the minds of Christ's servants are fortified against reproaches and persecutions for His sake, and are strengthened to resist Satan's temptations, to endure hardness as good soldiers of Christ, in opposition to false teachers, and to do the will and work of God, to quit themselves [or cease being] like men:

and of love; to God, and Christ, and his church, and which is a fruit of the Holy Spirit; and such who have it seek not their own ease and credit, but the glory of God, the interest of Christ, and the good of souls; and having such a spirit, and fired with such love, they are not easily intimidated by the adversary;

and of a sound mind: in the principles and doctrines of the Gospel; and which shows itself in a prudent conduct and behavior; in sobriety, moderation, temperance, purity, and honesty; all which may be signified by the word here used: and these who have such dispositions and qualities from God, will not easily give way to the enemies of religion, or decline their duty for fear of them. ~John Gill

So the word “power” in verse seven is referring to the power of the Holy Spirit in us and the phrase, “sound mind” is speaking to the firstfruit living by every word of God and invoking, on a continual basis, the principles of God or what we call the fruits of the Spirit.

God is encouraging us to manifest, among many principles, those of fearlessness, boldness and faith.  Notice the sequence or the process of how this is done.  First, the enemy is identified; fear.  This must be displaced.  Fear must be eradicated.  This is done by allowing the power of God, the Holy Spirit to displace and destroy the fear.

The Holy Spirit best does its work when it is exercised or invoked.  This means manifesting the fruits of the Spirit by this power.  The fruits, represented by “love” in this scripture, push out the fear.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. -1 John 4:18

“Fear hath torment.”  Fear wars against love.  But, thank God, love is stronger and casts out the fear.  This is why you see love mentioned in this sequence of overcoming the fear.

The final element that keeps us from fear is a sound mind.  Notice how the commentary states that a sound mind is “in” the principles and doctrines of the Bible.  This is why I constantly preach, “full immersion in the Word of God.”  As the commentary explains the meaning, immersing ourselves in the principles and doctrines of the Bible “shows itself” or manifests itself in filling us with all the principles of God [the fruits of the Spirit].

Remember 2 Corinthians 3:18:

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

As we immerse ourselves into the Word of God via reading it, studying it, praying about it and through meditation, we are changed into the same image of Christ [who is the Word of God].  The more you are like Christ, the less fear has any power in your life.