2 Timothy 1:7

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, etc.] A pusillanimous, cowardly spirit, so as to be afraid of men or devils, of what they will say or do; and so as to be discouraged in, sink under, or be deterred from the work of the Lord, the preaching of the Gospel, opposing the errors of false teachers, and reproving men for their sins, and doing other parts of the ministerial function; such a spirit is not from God, and such a fear brings a snare: but of power, and such is the Spirit of God, who is called “power from high”; (<422449>Luke 24:49) by which the minds of Christ's servants are fortified against reproaches and persecutions for his sake, and are strengthened to resist Satan's…”

“For, &c.--implying that Timothy needed the exhortation "to stir up the gift of God in him," being constitutionally "timid": "For God did not give us (so the Greek, namely, at our ordination or consecration) the spirit of fear." The spirit which He gave us, was not the spirit of timidity (literally, "cowardice," which is weakness), but of "power" (exhibited in a fearless "testimony" for Christ, Ti2 1:8). "Power is the invariable accompaniment of the gift of the Holy Ghost. Luk 24:49; Act 1:8; compare Act 6:6, "full of faith and of the Holy Ghost," with Ti2 1:8, "full of faith and power." Fear is the result of "the spirit of bondage" (Rom 8:15). Fear within exaggerates the causes of fear…”

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear - A timorous and servile spirit. This is said in order to encourage Timothy, who was not improbably modest and diffident. But of power - Power to encounter foes and dangers; power to bear up under trials; power to triumph in persecutions. That is, it is the nature of the gospel to inspire the mind with holy courage; compare, however, Luke 24:49. And of love - Love to God and to the souls of men. The tendency of This, also, is to “cast out fear” 1 John 4:18, and to make the mind bold and constant. Nothing will do more to inspire courage, to make a man fearless of danger, or ready to endure privation and persecution, than “love.” The love of…”

“And let nothing discourage thee, for God hath not given us - That is, the spirit which God hath given us Christians, is not the spirit of fear - Or cowardice. But of power - Banishing fear. And love and sobriety - These animate us in our duties to God, our brethren, and ourselves. Power and sobriety are two good extremes. Love is between, the tie and temperament of both; preventing the two bad extremes of fearfulness and rashness. More is said concerning power, Ti1 1:8; concerning love, Ti2 2:14, &c.; concerning sobriety, Ti2 3:1, &c. 2 Timothy 1:8”

“the spirit: Act 20:24, Act 21:13; Rom 8:15; Heb 2:15; Jo1 4:18 but: Mic 3:8; Zac 4:6; Luk 10:19, Luk 24:49; Act 1:8, Act 6:8, Act 9:22, Act 10:38; Co1 2:4 of love: Rom 5:5; Gal 5:22; Col 1:8; Pe1 1:22 a sound: Psa 119:80; Pro 2:7, Pro 8:14; Luk 8:35, Luk 15:17; Act 26:11, Act 26:25; Co2 5:13, Co2 5:14 2 Timothy 1:8”