2 Tim 1:7; “For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. “
Each day through July, I am praying scripture for America. So far, most days, I have been reasonably familiar with the verse as I was today: 2 Tim 1:7. I feel like our culture has a spirit of fear right now, unlike anything I have ever seen. We are afraid to talk to the person in front or behind us in line at the grocery or post office. We are afraid to get too close to anyone. We are afraid to go out of our houses. We are just afraid.
I have recited this verse in this translation and a few others over the years. This translation says A spirit. As I am studying scripture, I try to get a picture of the context by reading verses before and after the verse I am studying. Paul is writing this to Timothy, and he begins with a prayer of thanksgiving, next remembering the faith of Timothy’s mother and grandmother. Then in verse 6, he is reminding him of the Spirit of God that was given to him by Paul laying hands on him!
Therefore, I remind you to keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.
Did you just get goosebumps? Oh, how I love that The Lord reminds us of His love through so many different parts of the Bible. Just wait! So, I have always read this verse as a spirit (lower case), not how it is really – THE Spirit (uppercase). Look at the NIV translation:
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
The Holy Spirit is not fearful, It is Bold! The Holy Spirit that is living in us does not operate fearfully, but with boldness, power, love and self-discipline.
The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (2 Ti 1:7). (2 Ti 1:6).Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
The New International Version. (2011). (2 Ti 1:7). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
