Verse Lens · Expanded explanation
2 Timothy 1:7 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 7. 7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
This verse grounds courage in God's Spirit of power, love, and disciplined judgment rather than cowardice.
Read It With
- 2 Timothy 1:3–7
Read 2 Timothy 1:7 with 1:3–7. This verse grounds courage in God's Spirit of power, love, and disciplined judgment rather than cowardice. The complete unit establishes this movement: The writer remembers Timothy continually, recalls sincere faith associated with Lois and Eunice, and urges him to rekindle God's gift because the Spirit forms power, love, and sound judgment rather than cowardice.
Why This Verse Appears Here
Memory of relationship and inherited formation supplies encouragement before the letter asks Timothy to accept costly witness. Within that movement, this verse grounds courage in God's Spirit of power, love, and disciplined judgment rather than cowardice.
Read 2 Timothy 1:5–7 together
Why these verses belong together: Remembered formation leads through active stewardship to power governed by love and sound judgment.
Verse 5. 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.
Verse 6. 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.
Verse 7. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Follow the Context
- The writer thanks God and remembers Timothy in prayer.
- Remembered tears awaken longing and expected joy.
- Sincere faith is recalled first in Lois and Eunice and then in Timothy.
- Timothy is urged to rekindle the gift associated with laying on of hands.
- God's Spirit is characterized by power, love, and sound judgment rather than cowardice.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“power, and of love, and of a sound mind”
In plain language: Power is coordinated with love and sound judgment.
grounds courage in God's Spirit of power, love, and disciplined judgment rather than cowardice. Spirit-given courage is loving and clear-headed, not domineering.
Why it matters: The wording carries interpretive or ethical risk that requires the full unit and its stated limits.
How certain? strongWhat This Verse Is Not Saying
The verse does not stigmatize fear, anxiety, trauma, disability, or treatment, and power does not authorize aggression.
What Remains True
Spirit-given courage is loving and clear-headed, not domineering.
How It Can Shape Life
- Pair bold action with compassion, planning, and mental-health care.
Teach It Back
Explain 2 Timothy 1:7's contribution to 2 Timothy 1:3–7: grounds courage in God's Spirit of power, love, and disciplined judgment rather than cowardice. Include what the surrounding verses add, the stated uncertainty, and what this verse does not authorize.
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Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read 2 Timothy 1:3–7 — Remembered Faith Leads to Rekindled GiftSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing KJV wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: 2 Timothy 1:3–7, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, morphology targets, and base text for original-language discussion.
Exact location: Faithlife SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/2Tim.txt, 1:3–7
Open the 2 Timothy Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — 2 Timothy with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005–2026 online edition
Supports: Verse-level syntax, KJV-era wording, textual alternatives, and interpretive notes.
Exact location: NET Bible official 2 Timothy PDF, 1:3–7 translation and attached translator, study, and textual notes
Open the official NET 2 Timothy PDF ↗