John Calvin Commentary 2 Timothy 1:7

"For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline." — 2 Timothy 1:7 (ASV)

For God hath not given to us a spirit of cowardice. This is a confirmation of what He had said immediately before; and in this way He continues to urge Timothy to display the power of the gifts which he had received. He uses this argument: that God governs His ministers by the Spirit of power, which is the opposite of cowardice. Therefore, it follows that they should not become inactive through laziness but, sustained by great confidence and cheerfulness, should exhibit and display, through visible effects, that power of the Spirit.

The following passage occurs in the Epistle to the Romans:

For we have not received a spirit of bondage, to be again in terror; but we have received the spirit of adoption, by which we cry, Abba, Father (Romans 8:15).

That passage is, at first sight, nearly similar to this; but the context shows that the meaning is different. There he discusses the confidence of adoption that all believers have; but here he speaks particularly about ministers, and exhorts them, in the person of Timothy, to rouse themselves to courageous actions, because God does not want them to perform their ministry in a cold and lifeless manner, but to press forward powerfully, relying on the efficacy of the Spirit.

But of power, and of love, and of soberness. From this we are taught, first, that not one of us possesses that firmness and unshaken constancy of the Spirit which is required for fulfilling our ministry, until we are endowed from heaven with new power. Indeed, the obstacles are so many and so great that no human courage will be able to overcome them. It is God, therefore, who endows us with the spirit of power; for those who, in other respects, show signs of great strength, fall in a moment when they are not sustained by the power of the Divine Spirit.

Secondly, we gather from this that those who show servile timidity and cowardice, so that they do not dare to do anything in defense of the truth when it is necessary, are not governed by that Spirit by whom Christ’s servants are guided. Therefore, it follows that very few of those who hold the title of ministers today have the mark of sincerity impressed upon them. For among a vast number, where do we find one who, relying on the power of the Spirit, boldly defies all arrogance that exalts itself against Christ? Do not almost all seek their own interests and their leisure? Do they not fall silent as soon as any disturbance occurs? The consequence is that no majesty of God is seen in their ministry. The word Spirit is used here figuratively, as in many other passages.

But why did He afterwards add love and soberness? In my opinion, it was to distinguish that power of the Spirit from the fury and rage of fanatics, who, while they rush forward with reckless impulse, fiercely boast of having the Spirit of God. For that reason, He explicitly states that this powerful energy is moderated by soberness and love—that is, by a calm desire to edify. Yet Paul does not deny that prophets and teachers were endowed with the same Spirit before the proclamation of the gospel; but he declares that this grace should now be especially powerful and conspicuous under the reign of Christ.