2 Timothy 1:7
God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
What 2 Timothy 1:7 means
Paul writes to a younger colleague who appears to be intimidated — by opposition, and possibly by his own youth. The verse names what fear is not: it is not from God.
The three replacements are precise. Power for the task, love for the people, and self-control for oneself — which is the least glamorous and often the most needed. Memorised, it is a direct answer to the specific voice that says you are not up to this.
Related topics
Questions about 2 Timothy 1:7
What does 2 Timothy 1:7 mean?
It means the Spirit God gives produces power, love and self-control rather than timidity or fear — so fearfulness is not the disposition God has given his people.
Why did Paul write this to Timothy?
Timothy was leading under real opposition and appears to have been hesitant. Paul reminds him of the gift already in him and urges him to stir it up rather than shrink back.