Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Timothy 1:7

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear , but of power , and of love , and of a sound mind .

Fear in this place signifieth fearfulness, or cowardise, or poorness of spirit in opposition to that holy fortitude which becomes Ministers, this he saith is none of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and proceedeth not from God.

Love to God, and to the Souls of his people, love so strong as to constrain us to be willing to lay down our lives for Christ, and for his Church and People.

By power he means Christian courage and fortitude not declining duty because of danger threatning us in the performance, but inabling us to incounter the greatest dangers, and difficulties.

By power he means Christian courage and fortitude not declining duty because of danger threatning us in the performance, but inabling us to incounter the greatest dangers, and difficulties.

[non-Latin text not transcribed], we Translate it a sound mind, others sobriety, others a calm and quiet mind. A sound mind in the ordinary notion of it for a judgment sound in the faith, is requisite to a Minister of the Gospel. Sobriety is the gift of the Spirit, sobriety is a very general term, and signifies the moderation and Government of our passions, that which seems to be here meant is such a Government, and composure of Spirit, that nothing shall deter us from the discharge of our duty, and the term sound mind opposed to a weak and sickly mind staggering at every danger may well enough express the Apostles sense.

Marginal references: Rom. 8.15.