Verse 7
For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline.
Spirit ... Gealy's comment on this is pertinent, thus:
Although "spirit" is here properly printed with a lower case letter as referring to the inner and abiding quality and character of Christian men, yet this spirit is not native to man, nor is it his achievement. It is God's gift. The spirit of the Christian man is really God's Spirit.[13]
Fearfulness ... Timidity and cowardice are also implied by this word. "Christians do not need to have such feelings, for God wishes them to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might (Ephesians 6:10)."[14]
Power and love and discipline ... At least two of these are named as "fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22). They are standard earmarks of Christian character.
[13] Fred D. Gealy, op. cit., p. 464.
[14] E. M. Zerr, Bible Commentary, 2Timothy (Marion, Indiana: Cogdill Foundation, 1954), p. 187.
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