Sound Thinking by David Jeremiah

Sound Thinking  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 It’s helpful to have several good translations of the Bible to compare with each other. Doing so adds insight, for the same Hebrew and Greek words can have varying shades of definition. For example, in the New King James Version, 2 Timothy 1:7 says God has given us a spirit “of power and of love and of a sound mind.” But the New International Version says, “power, love and self-discipline.”

Recommended Reading: Romans 8:1-5

Both ideas are true. The original Greek word conveys the idea of having a mind that is wise and capable of sound thinking because it is disciplined and sober.  The same theme is conveyed in Romans 8:5: “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is the caretaker of the believer’s mind. He longs to develop within us the mind of Christ. Is your mind sound and self-disciplined? Is it under the Spirit’s management?  An old hymn says, “May the mind of Christ, my Savior live in me from day to day.”[1]May that be our prayer!