Friends, I am puzzled by the common rendering of this verse referring to a 'sound mind' when the Greek text refers to 'self control'.
I am guessing that some popular translation presented this inaccurate alternative and it stuck.
Comments appreciated.
People too often attempt to limit the application of God's Word to a very narrow degree. God's Word is alive and every working in our life. A great deal of the Scriptures falls under what is referred to as "The Law of Double Reference" which means the Scripture can apply to several different groups of people, at different times in history, and/or in different ways.
The words "sound mind" mean much more than just self-control. In our translations of the Bible, we often attempt to place one single word in the place of what is actually an entire concept in the Greek or Hebrew language. This often narrows our sense of understanding that the verse(s) can apply in several different ways. To be of sound mind means to be stable in many areas of life.
Reflect on the definitions below.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
“the spirit” =
4151. a
current of air, i.e.
breath (
blast) or a
breeze; by anal. or fig.
a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by impl.)
vital principle, ment.
disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an
angel, demon, or (divine)
God, Christ’s
spirit, the Holy
Spirit:— ghost,
life, spirit (-ual, -ually),
mind.
“of fear” =
1167. from
1169; timidity:—
fear.
1169. (
dread);
timid, i.e. (by impl.)
faithless:—
fearful.
tim·id [tímmid] = unassertive: demonstrating a lack of courage or self-assurance
nervousness, shyness, fearfulness, timorousness, diffidence[hesitancy], coyness[ wariness and introversion], bashfulness, reticence[uncommunicativeness], faint-heartedness, cowardice, tentativeness, apprehension, apprehensiveness, hesitancy
“of power” =
1411. from
1410; force (lit. or fig.); spec.
miraculous power (usually by impl. a
miracle itself):—
ability,
abundance,
meaning,
might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength,
violence,
mighty (wonderful) work.
1410.
to be able or possible:— be able,
can (do, + -not), could, may, might, be possible,
be of power.
“of love” =
26. from
25; love, i.e.
affection or
benevolence; spec. (plur.) a
love-feast:—
(feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love.
25. to love (in a social or moral sense):— (be-) love (-ed).
benevolence =
1. kind: showing kindness or goodwill
2. charitable: performing good or charitable acts and not seeking to make a profit
kind, caring, compassionate, generous, giving, kindly, benign[gentle], munificent, altruistic[unselfish]
“of a sound mind” =
4995. from
4994; discipline, i.e.
self-control:—
sound mind.
4994. from
4998; to make of sound mind, i.e. (fig.)
to discipline or correct:—
teach to be sober.
4998. from the base of
4982 and that of
5424; safe (sound) in mind, i.e.
self-controlled (
moderate as to opinion or passion):—
discreet,
sober,
temperate.
4982.
“safe”);
to save, i.e.
deliver or protect (lit. or fig.):—
heal,
preserve,
save (self),
do well,
be (make) whole.
5424. (
to rein in or curb; comp.
5420);
the midrif (as a partition of the body), i.e. (
fig. and by impl. of sympathy) the feelings (or sensitive nature; by extens. [also in the plur.]
the mind or cognitive faculties):—
understanding.
5420. apparently a strengthening form of the base of
5424; to fence or inclose, i.e.
(spec.) to block up (
fig. to silence):—
stop.
sober =
abstemious[self-denying], clear-headed, temperate[pleasant], teetotal, moderate, restrained, serious, somber, solemn, thoughtful, calm, grave, unexcited, unruffled, subdued, restrained, severe, sedate, staid[demure]
temperate =
restrained, self-controlled, controlled, moderate, reasonable, mild, measured, reserved, muted, clement[soft], pleasant, comfortable
