Kitty pointed me at this verse, full of good counsel about carrying out our mission in life:
ου γαρ εδωκεν ημιν ‘ο Θεος πνευμα δειλιας αλλα δυναμεως και αγαπης και σωφρονισμου
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline
There are three words here for the spirit God gives us:
Power (δυναμις or dynamis, from which we get "dynamic"), for with God all things are posible (Matthew 19:26). This looks forward to the task at hand.
Christian love (αγαπη or agape), as described in 1 Corinthians 13. This looks sideways to other people.
Self-discipline (σωφρονισμος or sophronismos). This word comes from the roots "sozo" (to save) and "phren" (mind). This looks inward. From what should we save our mind? From sin, from distractions, and from unnecessary self-doubts.
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5 comments:
This is a fantastic post. Great explanation of the three important words in 2 Tim 1:7. Thanks Radagast!
Great post!
Of course, "power" implies looking upward. It always comes from above.
This post was just the encouragement I needed. We have recently come thorough a darkish time with M. buffeted by a bout with the 'black dog'. You could say the sun had recently come out again.
Yesterday we came back from a very good day at the market to find the beautiful friendly cheeky lamb that M. had hand fed for several months alive, but badly torn and bloody, obviously from a dog. The vet put her down. The incident seemed immediately emblematic of the demoralising work of disheartening thoughts planted by circumstance, and perhaps by the devil himself, to waylay the high calling of Christ and 2 Timothy 1:7
BTW is it possible, (desirable?) to insert Greek letters in the explanation of texts such as you have done here?
Very sorry to hear of the troubles, but glad the post was encouraging.
I did put Greek letters in, but they won't work in Firefox.
... but they do now.
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