Disciple – Three Minute Bible

September 8, 2026September 7, 2026

2 Timothy 1:7a – Two Kinds of Fear

Awe and respect versus timidness and fear (Grok)

For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear…

Summary: Paul’s insight about fear is an important one for us to understand.

This passage is powerful. In it, Paul tells us that God does not give us a spirit of “deilia.”

“Deilia” is Greek meaning timidity, fearfulness, or cowardice.*

It is easy to see why Paul would point this out, especially to Timothy. Paul has laid a heavy spiritual responsibility on Timothy, and there is no room for hesitation or being timid. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul instructed him to “command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer” (1 Timothy 1:3). This is the exact opposite of being timid.

But to be clear, there is a fear that we should have.

Speaking to his disciples before a crowd of thousands of people, Jesus taught them this:

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” (Luke 12:4-5, NIV)

The fear of God is very different than the fear Paul mentioned to Timothy. In quoting Jesus, Luke used the word “phobeō,” which means “to be in awe of, revere, show reverence.”† Our fear of God is the respect due the Creator of all things.

In one sense, we could say that Paul is pointing us away from weakness, while at the same time pointing us to our strength.

God is that strength. The Spirit of God is many things, but it is not weakness in the face of physical threats.

As we go through life with Christ, the Spirit of God will prompt us to do things that might be uncomfortable. Perhaps it is spending more time in the Bible or being more patient with someone who irritates us. We might be prompted to reach out to someone in need, or encourage someone we do not know. We might be tasked with doing things we never thought we could do.

The opposite of this feeling is timidity…fear. Fear of doing what we know is right is not from God.

Application: The fear of God drives out all other fear.

Food for Thought: How do we get more of what God wants us to have?

*”G1167 – deilia – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (NIV).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 7 Sep, 2026. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1167/niv/mgnt/0-1/>.”

†”G5399 – phobeō – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (NIV).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 7 Sep, 2026. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5399/niv/mgnt/0-1/>.”

Please click ‘’Continue Reading” for comments. Quotes are from the World English Bible (Public Domain) unless otherwise noted.

July 11, 2026July 13, 2026

1 Timothy 6:2 – Top Dog

Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves.

Summary: Expectations are a cruel master if we set them too high. Being realistic about who we are and what we do makes life much better and pleases our God.

What if my boss is a believer? Does that mean I can expect special treatment?

Good question!

“Hey boss, I’m sorry I’m late (again). I’ll try harder next time. You’ll forgive me, won’t you?”

It would be nice if it worked that way.

March 9, 2026March 13, 2026

1 Timothy 1:19a – Trusting God (Part II)

… holding on to faith …

Summary: The story of Peter walking on water takes on a whole new meaning as we step back and take a look at the bigger narrative in the Gospel accounts.

Looking back on our last meditation, “Trusting God (Part I),” there are a few unanswered questions that it might be helpful to consider. For example:

December 20, 2025December 22, 2025

Philippians 4:18a – Word Detective

Sherlock Holmes is looking through a magnifying glass at a Bible (Grok)

I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent.

Summary: Once again, we find ourselves stepping into the role of Word Detective as we work to make sure we have a clear understanding of Paul’s meaning.

Maybe it is just me, but it seems weird that in the prior verse Paul says that he doesn’t desire gifts from the Philippians and then in this verse he starts talking about having received “full payment.”

June 10, 2025June 10, 2025

Philippians 1:20c – Doing What’s Right

[I eagerly expect and hope that…] that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body,

Summary: Paul continues to set an example for us with his life and words.

Paul certainly has a way with words!

If you were going to exalt someone or something, how would you do that? For example, if you are a Muslim and you want to exalt Allah, you prostrate yourself in the direction of Mecca during prayer. This demonstrates respect with your body.

January 28, 2019January 27, 2019

Whose Disciple Are You? – John 9: 28

Then they hurled insults at him and said, ”You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! ”

The Pharisees claimed to be disciples of Moses. This is interesting because the function of a disciple is to be like their teacher. According to the Old Testament (Numbers 12: 3), Moses was humble. In fact, the Bible says he was the most humble person on the planet. In addition, as I read the books of Moses in the Old Testament, what seems to leap off of the page is that Moses did whatever God instructed him to do. He only improvised one time, that that one mistake kept him from entering the Promised Land. Even so, Moses trusted God and was faithful to follow his instructions.

January 16, 2019January 16, 2019

Defects

Today we begin a new chapter in John’s gospel, and with the new chapter comes a new scene. When we left Jesus he was arguing with a crowd of indeterminate size. In this scene, he is walking with his disciples. In the last chapter, he may have been in the temple grounds. In this chapter we do not know where he is, but we know he is in a place with people and as the story unfolds we see that he is near the temple, so he is probably still in Jerusalem.

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

John 9: 1-2

I wanted to stop the story here because I find the question that the disciples asked very interesting. They see a man born blind and they immediately conclude that the reason for his blindness was that someone sinned, either the man’s parents or somehow the blind man himself sinned. This was not a question in their minds, but a fact. The only question was whose sin caused the blindness.