Sound Mind
“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
This verse has been on my heart a lot lately. Particularly the gift of a sound mind. The Greek word for ‘sound mind’ is sōphronismou, used only in 2 Timothy 1:7, and means self-control, self-discipline, and prudence. HELPS word studies defines it as “safe-minded, issuing in prudent (“sensible”) behavior that “fits” a situation, i.e. aptly acting out God’s will by doing what He calls sound reasoning”. Barnes’ commentary says, “The state referred to here is that in which the mind is well balanced, and under right influences; in which it sees things in their just proportions and relations; in which it is not feverish and excited, but when everything is in its proper place.”
How powerful it is that Paul spoke these words from a Roman prison (his second stint) shortly before his martyrdom. Power and love and a sound mind don’t logically ‘fit’ the circumstances of Roman imprisonment and imminent death, yet Paul spoke light and life in a circumstance of darkness and death. How counter-cultural this is to a world pursuing circumstantial happiness. I wonder how this relates to the ‘depraved’ or ‘counterfeit’ mind mentioned by Paul in Romans 1? The ‘sound mind’ acknowledges God even when the evidence (imprisonment and death) logically conclude otherwise. He has non-circumstantial life and light, and he lives in light of eternity and acts accordingly. “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” 2 Corinthians 4:17. The ‘depraved’ mind mentioned in Romans 1 does not acknowledge God even though the evidence all around is clear, lives for the day in spite of eternity, and acts out what ought not to be done. One leads to life and one leads to death; there is no proverbial fence. There is no greater blessing for humanity living in a fallen world than that of a sound mind, and how shameful are the prosperity pastors that have reduced the blessings of God to anything but the gift of His presence and a sound mind to see clearly the reality of hope in all circumstances. Are we truly of sound mind being sanctified in the likeness of Christ? “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” 1 Cor 11:1.
“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11
How beautiful it is that in 2023 we can be moved in power and love by the Word of God spoken through Paul in the confines of Roman imprisonment and imminent death.
