No, I am not writing about a new style of pizza I have discovered this week, or a new offering on the menu at the local Greek restaurant. sóphronizó (σωφρονίζω) is an ancient New Testament Greek word that is notoriously difficult to translate into English with just one word – and that’s nothing new, of course. sóphronizó appears only once in the entire New Testament, in 2 Timothy 1:7 …
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline”
[self-discipline = σωφρονίζω, sóphronizó].
But sóphronizó doesn’t exactly mean “self-discipline” or “self-control”, or “discipline” as most English texts translate. It does kind of mean that but in terms of a result produced by another cause. What the apostle Paul was saying here in 2 Timothy is that the gift of the Holy Spirit God has given us produces such a soundness of mind that this, in turn, produces in us a self-discipline, or a self-control we did not have before. So, the word basically means a sound-minded, disciplined inner posture that resists panic, aligns thought with God’s truth, and orders behaviour toward holiness. So, this is not a mere human temperament. Scripture here presents sóphronizó as a particular grace imparted by God’s Spirit. This grace enables believers to live courageously and responsibly in the face of opposition – tough opposition. The indwelling Spirit of God imparts such a sense of poise and sound mindedness to us that our actions are therefore measured, sure, precise and disciplined – something not available to us beforehand in such supernatural measure. But now that we are born again this is how we live.
The old King James translation opts for the opposite side of the coin …
2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
The truth is we receive Holy Spirit as a gift and His indwelling produces a soul environment that results in certain behaviour. We receive a soundness of mind and this produces very different responses in us when confronted with the difficult challenges of life. There is no fear produced in us by Holy Spirit. This is one of the fruits of Holy Spirit that appears in us as we walk with God. The apostle Paul mentioned in his letter to the Galatian church …
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
The word for self-control here is ἐγκράτεια (enkrateia) and it is similar in meaning in the sense of sober-mindedness and so on. But while these two different Greek words appear in the New Testament and mean slightly different things, the overlapping idea is Spirit-enabled mastery over impulses and fears so that love and obedience prevail. But sóphronizó is a much stronger form of self-control, and it doesn’t rely on “white knuckling”, either.
Early Christian writers cited 2 Timothy 1:7 when addressing martyrdom and ascetic (tough, harsh) discipline. Ignatius urged believers to face lions with “fearless self-possession.” Later, Athanasius pointed to this verse when defending Trinitarian orthodoxy, arguing that only the indwelling Spirit could grant the calm certainty exhibited by confessors under duress. Monastic rules, such as that of Benedict, treated self-discipline as evidence of grace rather than human ascetic achievement, thus echoing Paul’s emphasis. All in all, we get all sorts of self-discipline and self-control from God as His Spirit continues to sanctify us.
The critical issue here that we need to appreciate is this: the indwelling Spirit is God, Himself, and this soundness of mind and self-control flows from Him. It is His divine initiative in His sanctifying of us that results in holy responses rather than kneejerk reactions. sóphronizó balances our personal power and prevents recklessness. It expresses love and grace instead of coldness. It is the antidote to fear which paralyses. This is sóphronizó.
And this is the kind of self-control and self-discipline Jesus demonstrated on the cross as He made atonement for the sins of the world. The Spirit of power, love and self-discipline had the measure, and the measure - blended with joy - gave its response …
Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
“... For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
This is the Spirit we, too, have been given. Not of fear, but of power, love and sóphronizó, which is way more than being sensible, well-behaved, polite or determined! No! sóphronizó is about a poise and composure in us regardless of circumstances and it is produced in us by Holy Spirit.
Isaiah 53:7 (NIV) “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”
This was not resignation and timidity. This was sóphronizó. And so we learn to remain composed amid trials, and full of grace. In this way the Christian is a living testimony that the gospel produces a qualitatively very different life.
Sóphronizó, it has a nice ring to it, I think.
Meditate on these things.
Ps Milton
[Sources: Greek New Testament; Bible Hub]