The Nugget:
2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (KJV)
2Ti 1:7 For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline. (RV, 1885)
2Ti 1:7 God’s Spirit doesn’t make cowards out of us. The Spirit gives us power, love, and self-control. (CEV, the Contemporary English Version)
My Comment:
I have been focused, so far, on the final phrase of 2 Timothy 1:7. Now I will consider the first clause: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear.” I like to think that God helps us in our fears by taking them away when we put our trust more completely in Him.
The underlying Greek word translated “fear” in this verse only occurs here in the New Testament. Strong’s dictionary defines the word to mean “timidity.” So what Paul states is that God gives us boldness, not fearfulness, not timidity.
If you experience anxiety, God and His written word in the Bible are His medicine to cure you of it!
I have found some other verses in the Bible that reinforce this thought:
Psalms 34:4
4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
King James Version
God can and will deliver you from all your fears when you seek Him. The way you can seek God is to learn more about Him from the Bible.
Psalms 9:10
10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
King James Version
You will be delivered from anxiety and fearfulness when you learn to trust God more fully. The way to learn to trust God is to learn to know His name. The expression “know thy name” is an idiom which means to get to know God’s character. The way to learn about God’s character is by reading and studying the Bible to learn more about the attributes of God.
Proverbs 3:5
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
King James Version
Proverbs 3:6
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
King James Version
All of these themes–God’s attributes, how to trust God more–are worthy of your careful study from the Bible.