2 Timothy 1:7
What does 2 Timothy 1:7 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Timothy 1:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Timothy 1:7 means
Paul counters fear by reminding Timothy of what God actually gives: not a spirit of fearfulness or cowardice, but of power, love, and discipline. Power equips Timothy to face opposition; love shapes his motives and relationships; discipline (or sound mind/self-control) steadies his judgment and behavior. These qualities are the Spirit’s provision for ministry, not natural personality traits. When fear rises, Timothy is to remember God’s resources within him. Courage without love would be harsh; love without discipline would be naive; discipline without power would be futile. God supplies all three so Timothy can act boldly, care well, and persevere wisely in the face of suffering and pressure.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of self-control.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power and of love and of sobriety.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890ForGod has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power, and of love, and of wise discretion.
Context
Following the call to rekindle his gift (verse 6), verse 7 explains why Timothy can act courageously: God has equipped him by His Spirit. This prepares for the concrete command of verse 8 not to be ashamed of the gospel or of Paul’s chains and to share in suffering. The triad—power, love, discipline—frames how Timothy should carry out his task as he holds to sound doctrine (verses 13–14). It also counters the discouragement Paul notes later when many in Asia turned away (verse 15).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Colossians 1:8
who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
- Acts 9:22
But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
- Zechariah 4:6
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of Jehovah unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith Jehovah of hosts.
- Acts 20:24
But I hold not my life of any account as dear unto myself, so that I may accomplish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
- Luke 15:17
But when he came to himself he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish here with hunger!
- Luke 8:35
And they went out to see what had come to pass; and they came to Jesus, and found the man, from whom the demons were gone out, sitting, clothed and in his right mind, at the feet of Jesus: and they were afraid.
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