Power, Love, Sound Mind

The apostle Paul loved the disciple Timothy who had become his travelling companion on his second missionary trip through Derbe, located in the middle of what is now modern-day Turkey. Timothy had an exemplary upbringing, for his mother Eunice and Grandmother Lois were stalwarts of faith In Yahweh. These Jewish women transmitted this same desire to obey God to the young Timothy. His father was a Greek but evidently did not enforce a pagan religion on his son. Between Paul’s first and second journey through Derbe and the surrounding regions Timothy had accepted the message of salvation through Christ Jesus. It led him to confess with his mouth what was accepted in his heart, and he was well spoken of by the disciples of that region. So it is no wonder that Paul was attracted to the zeal of this new disciple and determined to take him along on a journey that would include Macedonia and Achaia, Roman provinces of now modern-day Macedonia and Greece. 2 Tim. 1:5; Acts 16:1

Since Paul was eager to convert Jews as well as Gentiles to Christian belief and action, he circumcised Timothy, taking away an impediment for a listening Jew from being overcome by his prejudice on circumcision. Paul often visited the synagogue on entering a city and preached as much as they would hear before turning more exclusively to the Gentiles. Timothy witnessed Paul in action and at rest. He observed how he worked with his own hands making tents so as not to be a burden on any brother for his support. Paul later wrote to the church in Thessalonica, a city in Macedonia, that he who did not work should not eat. This was a basic tenant of the gospel: work for your living; do not be lazy and live off the charity of others. Only those truly in need, such as the disciples in the severe famine in Jerusalem, were helped by the brotherhood. Others were expected to labor to feed themselves. Now Paul could have expected to receive necessities for his pastoral labors among them but he chose not to demand this right so that the message might not be hindered by false accusations that he was preaching for monetary gain. Sometimes brothers and sisters gave him financial support but never by request from him. Acts 16:3; 2 Thess. 3:10

The second letter to Timothy, written late in Paul’s life from a Roman prison where he awaited the sentence of Nero and not expecting a reprieve, gives encouragement to Timothy to be brave in the face of danger and the obstacles that come to walking the Christian way. It is Paul’s last written advice to a seasoned, but soon-to-be tested disciple. Paul was near the end of his faithful walk; Timothy would need to carry on without him. Parts of the advice are the words of the title: “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Since we too are disciples of the Way, we can learn from considering these words and making application of them to our walk.

We want the spirit of power. What is it? Power is good in the hands of those who are good, and evil in the hands of those who are evil. But this power is a good power for it comes from God who is good and who only gives it to those will use it for doing good. He has given it to us. This power is his holy spirit. This power enables us to overcome the sinful tendencies that mark all human life since Adam, Christ Jesus being the only exception. We were born in sin. So, when we become disciples of Christ through repentance, belief in the word, full acceptance of the salvation preached in Christ Jesus, and fullness of consecration to henceforth seek only the accomplishment of God’s will in our lives, God gives us of his holy spirit, which enables God to work in us to will and do his good pleasure. Nothing can withstand this power except our own stubborn will. God never works against our choice. We must submit our will to God to have his power work in us. Phil. 2:13

What will this power accomplish in us? Basically, it will work in us the fruits of the spirit. These fruits are love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control. They are moral excellence, godliness, and brotherly kindness. It is everything that is good and just and pure; it is2 emanating the character of God and of Christ Jesus. The will of God is that we be transformed into the image of his son. This is the power that he has given us; the power to accomplish what in our natural condition would be impossible to us. But we are a new creation. We no longer live after the flesh but after the spirit. If we walk in the spirit we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Gal. 5:22, 23; Rom 8:29

This spirit of power overcomes the spirit of fear. Fear has torment; and he that fears is not made perfect in love. So we must lay hold on this power to grow. Timothy lived as a leader in the early church and knew from his association with Paul that persecutions abounded for those actively preaching the new Christian faith. But greater is he [God] that works in us than he [Satan] that works in the world. By seeking to have on the whole armor of God, we are able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one, including fear. As the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts more and more by the holy spirit that is given unto us we lay aside the things of this world and add to our faith the graces of the spirit, the crowning grace being love [agape]. 1 John 4:18; 1 John 4:4

This spirit of love works no ill to his neighbor. It will not slander him, steal from him, lie to him, or lord it over him. It gives respect, encouragement, justice, and honesty even as one wants to receive himself. The Golden Rule is an excellent standard to apply in our dealings with others: “As you would have men do unto you, so do unto them.” This is love in action, doing for others. Note that the Rule is not “Do unto others as they do unto you.” This latter is quite negative and leads to hatred of one’s enemy. Rather, we must love our enemies; do good to those who persecute us; pray for them that despitefully use us; seek to help them out of darkness into the marvelous light of the gospel. Remember, that while we were still enemies Christ died for us. God sent his son on a mission of reconciliation, and that is to be our attitude and practice. We want to have God’s spirit which was also Christ’s spirit.

A reading of the letter to the Corinthians indicates this young church was having many problems and needed counsel. Paul was not slack to teach them the right way, and his letter to them commands our attention with counsel that exemplifies his later admonition to Timothy: “God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.” Timothy was vitally involved in its start-up and continued to be involved as Paul’s associate (Acts 18:1-17) Therefore, we can see why Paul, later in life, would write to Timothy that God had not given us the spirit of fear.

The Corinthian church was a young organization when Paul wrote his letter called 1 Corinthians. He started this church on his second missionary journey, spending about one and one-half years living, preaching, and working (tent-making with Aquila and Priscilla) among them. Timothy was there with him. There was then open opposition by the unbelieving Jews against Paul; he was brought before the Roman proconsul Gallio, but this ruler wanted no part of judging cases of Jewish law and dismissed the charge. We are told that Paul remained there a good while. Next, we find Paul moving toward Jerusalem, making relatively brief stops in Ephesus and Caesarea, and ending at his home church of Antioch in Syria. He spends some time here and then starts his third missionary journey, going overland through cities in Turkey until he arrives at Ephesus. It was in Ephesus that he penned his letter, probably during the two years he continued there. So all told, it may have been about four to six years since the founding of the Corinthian church that Paul found a need to write them about the many issues that had arisen in his absence. This would be in the neighborhood of 55-57 AD. There was a lot he had to correct. Let’s take a look at the issues in that church and see what we can learn about the spirit of power and love and a sound mind, all of which Paul possessed and exercised in his letter to the Corinthians.

The leadership had made disciples after themselves, some of Apollos, some of Paul, some of Cephas, and some of Christ. It was good to have disciples of Christ but not the party spirit that accompanied each of these divisions. Paul informs them that Christ is not divided, nor should his disciples be. None should think of themselves more highly than they ought; God had chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith; God’s 3 calling was of the nothings of this world; of Him were they in Christ Jesus; by His spirit did they understand spiritual things. If they were to come out of their carnality, they had to overcome envy, strife, and divisions among them. All were built on the same foundation of Jesus Christ and his ransom sacrifice. Paul and others were merely fellow workers seeking to edify the body of Christ; such should be considered stewards of the mysteries of God; such were required to be faithful. While some were reigning like kings, the apostles were suffering. Then Paul shows his paternal care in what he has written with the statement, “I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.” Paul was exercising the spirit of power in his strong admonitions to the brethren, speaking with authority and yet in the spirit of love, presenting logical reasons for his rebukes and assuring them of his tender care. Such are Paul’s admonitions in chapters 1-4. The divisions in the church had to be removed or progress of the whole would be stalled. We note that Paul sent Timothy out of concern for them, one who could help, reminding them of his ways in Christ (4:17).

In chapter 5 Paul exercises his power in removing an immoral Christian from the congregation, one who married his father’s wife. He reasons that a little leaven will leaven the whole lump, i.e. the sin retained will grow to corrupt the whole congregation. It must be removed for healing to occur, both for the recovery of the immoral brother and for the cleansing of the church. This was also a loving act for nothing was to be gained by keeping the status quo. Action was required and Paul was quick to demand it.

Taking brethren to a civil court is also unacceptable to Paul (chapter 6). To sue a brother is contrary to the spirit of love. Instead seek reconciliation with your brother, or at least appoint fellow brethren to judge between the two. Since Corinth was a pagan city with spiritual worship involving sexual immorality, Paul had strong words for correcting this former acceptable practice. They were to flee sexual immorality; their body was the temple of the holy spirit and they were not their own, having been bought with a price. The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of them and Paul had to set them straight.

Paul shows us the spirit of a sound mind in chapter 7, answering questions on marriage. He makes clear that there are certain sexual obligations in marriage that must be met. To the married, he counsels that they remain married. However, separation is possible, but not divorce. If an unbelieving mate walks out on his/her spouse, let them go; you are not required to restrain him/her. He would like the unmarried to remain unmarried for greater opportunities of Christian service but cannot command this because marriage is a good and holy institution and is an acceptable choice.

Chapter eight covers questions on eating food offered to idols. Idols were nothing, mere inanimate objects of worship that could not make foods better or worse. To Paul there was but one God, the father, of who are all things, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things. Therefore the idols meant nothing so far as having any power over the food. Some in Corinth had this knowledge and were flouting it before their weaker brethren. But these weak ones could be stumbled by the actions of their more knowledgeable brethren into eating food offered to idols since their conscience condemned them for so doing. Eating in an idol’s temple therefore was contrary to the spirit of love; these weak ones needed an example that their conscience could approve. So Paul admonishes the brethren to refrain from eating such meat. The spirit of love that God has given us demands consideration of a weaker brother.

Paul had certain liberties in being an apostle of the gospel; as we wrote earlier, he could have requested support by the brethren he served (chapter nine). However, he did not exercise this right in order that no question be raised that he was in the preaching business for the money. Paul felt the necessity of preaching the gospel and he did not want anything to detract from the power of the message. He would do any righteous act that he might save some to the privileges of this age, the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. His was a race to the finish, one in which he thoroughly disciplined his body less he should be disqualified from winning the prize. Here again we see the power of the spirit working in Paul, giving him a sound or disciplined mind.

On leaving Egypt, Israel had many interactions with God in the wilderness and many tests wherein they failed in obedience and were chastened. These are listed for us in chapter 10. They are examples to us of what not to do and we need to take heed to them. The chief sins were idolatry, sexual immorality, tempting God, and complaining. Paul admonished the Corinthians to flee idolatry, for they were now members in the fellowship of the blood and body of Christ and must no longer partake of the sacrifices offered on the altar of an idol. However, they could eat meat offered to idols for its food value if no one raised a concern and called the food into question. Otherwise, to refrain was wise less one offend the tender conscience of a new Christian who lacks such knowledge and confidence. Paul writes, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” This is good advice, the spirit of a sound mind, and following it will save us from over-stepping our freedoms in Christ.

In chapter eleven, Paul lets the Corinthians know what is expected of proper attire by the sisters in the church meetings. He is very much for them covering their heads when praying or prophesying, which in that day meant wearing a veil over the hair and face. The reason was to show subjection to the divine order where man is the head of the woman, Christ the head of God, and God the head of Christ. Since the man is said to be in the image and glory of God, an allusion to his creation in Genesis 1, he is not to cover his head. The woman was taken out of man to be a help-mate to him. The man shows respect by uncovering his head when praying or prophesying, whereas the woman shows submission by covering her head. This symbolic observance apparently was also looked upon favorably by the people of Corinth as a whole. It may be that the women who were courtesans, accompanying married men as intelligent companions, did not veil themselves in public. These companions were looked upon as dissolute women. Paul did not want the Christian women to be identified with these courtesans by not wearing head coverings and give a bad witness. Again, we see the spirit of a sound mind in action. The rest of the chapter argues for the proper keeping of the Lord’s Supper, that is the eating of the bread and drinking of the wine which Jesus instituted as a memorial of himself before dying on the cross. Paul does not want the brethren to make a feast of the occasion where one brings plenty to eat and another goes hungry. Rather, they are to reverently consider the meaning behind the partaking of the emblems and the fellowship each has in that sacrifice. The partaking was not to create divisions among them but to draw them together in the spirit of love.

Chapter twelve continues the theme of unity in the body of Christ. The illustration is of a human body where each part is necessary and functions to make a working whole. The least member is needed. Whatever gift one has received by the holy spirit is to be used for the uplift of others. Yet the gifts of the spirit, such as speaking in tongues, or interpreting tongues, or miracles, or healings, are far inferior to the fruit of the spirit in the next chapter. This is Paul’s famous treatise on love. He tells us what love is and what it is not. “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1Co 13:4-7) This love is the chief aim of the Christian and is a fruit that will abide throughout eternity. In writing to the Corinthians Paul defines love by contrasts, what it is and what it is not. For instance, he will say, “love suffers long and IS kind,” vs. “love is NOT puffed up.” This 13th chapter of the book is extremely helpful in getting our minds around the aspects of love [agape]. This love is the aim of the Christian life. Now abides faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love. As every lovely hue is light, so every grace is love. That is, every fruitage of the spirit is a manifestation of the love that is in us. Peter lets us know that if we add to our faith: moral excellence, and to moral excellence: knowledge, and to knowledge: self-control, and to self-control: godliness, and to godliness:5 brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness: love [agape], then an abundant entrance shall be administered unto us into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We must reach this standard of God-like love to be received into heaven itself as the Bride of Christ. Doesn’t this make perfect sense? Would Jesus want anything less from his Bride than full conformity to his standard of love? Therefore, let us not love in word [only], but in deeds and in truth.

Next, Paul outlines how an early church service can be most profitable to the brethren (chapter 14). Prophesying, or public speaking, was the chief gift in the church. This could be done for edification if the presentation was in the vernacular, but if in a tongue, then an interpreter needed to be present; otherwise, how would the congregation be edified, not knowing the language. Tongues were truly a manifestation of the spirit to give witness to the unbeliever that he was accepted to the heavenly calling. Paul goes on to explain that all those taking part in the service should do so in a reasonable and uplifting order. God is not the author of confusion or disorder, but of peace. A peaceful setting should prevail in the meetings of the saints. This too is the spirit of a sound or disciplined mind.

One of the truths essential to Christianity is the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. Without belief in this doctrine there is no hope of eternal life. Therefore Paul lists several accounts of brethren who have testified that he was raised from the dead (chapter 15). Also, from the gospel accounts we read that some saw him, some ate with him, and at least one was invited to touch him. Paul himself was blinded at seeing Jesus on the way to Damascus where he appeared not as a man but as a glorious spirit being. It seems very incongruous for some to say that there is no resurrection of the dead and yet believe the apostle’s words that Jesus had been raised from the dead. If the former were true, then Paul and the numerous others who claimed they had seen him were false witnesses of his resurrection. Not only so, but their hope was also in vain; they might as well live for today as death will bring eternal extinction. Paul argues against all this and goes on to state the order of the resurrection: Jesus, of course, first; the saints of the gospel age next at his return, both the dead and then the living; and finally, all those who awake in the earthly kingdom age, during the millennium of Christ’s reign over the earth. Finally, the end comes to this arrangement and Christ turns the kingdom officially back to God. By then, all evil and opposition to righteousness will have been eradicated from the hearts of men and man will be back in the original image of God as intended in the first man Adam. The apostle goes on to show that the saints who receive the spiritual resurrection will have a new body, a spiritual body designed to function well with their heavenly aspirations. Paul has no fear in addressing the errors in Corinth. He possesses the spirit of power, and of love, and of a disciplined mind.

The letter closes (chapter 16) with a personal plea for financial help for the brethren in the famine at Jerusalem, a planned itinerary in the hope of actually being with the Corinthians soon, and a request that they honor the coming of Timothy and not give him cause to fear for their spirituality. Then Paul gives an exhortation in verse 14 that characterizes his life: “Let all that you do be done with love.” Greetings follow and Paul closes with verse 24: “My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.”

Timothy no doubt took comfort in Paul’s reminder to him that God had given him power, love, and a sound or disciplined mind. There was no need for him to fear; God’s holy spirit would make him victorious against all of Satan’s attacks and bring him to a successful end of his race for the goal of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Paul himself could now say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith, . . . there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved his appearing.” Let us take heart from Paul’s example and encouragement to press on with the work God is doing in us. 2 Tim. 4:7, 8

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