2: 12. Live soberly.

2: 6. Sober minded.

2: 4. Young women to be sober.

Sophron comes from two words, sos `sound' and allied to `salvation', and

phren `mind' and means of a sound mind as opposed to madness or even perhaps

`salvation-minded'. Sophronismos occurs in II Tim. 1: 7, "God hath not given us the

spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind". This surely is one of the

greatest of God's gifts to His redeemed children. Of what use can we be to Him or to our

fellow creatures, apart from a healthy balanced mind?  We walk with our minds

primarily, not our feet, and every conscious action is directed by the mind. Salvation

starts internally with the mind and the Greek sophron describes this mind and its effects

in action. It is difficult to find one word in English that will adequately carry its meaning

over. Perhaps `discreet' and `discretion' come nearest.

Dr. E. W. Bullinger says of sophroneo in his Lexicon `to be of sound mind; think and

act discreetly, to use sound judgment and moderation'. The rendering of the A.V. `sober'

is not good, as it is likely to be restricted in meaning to restraint in respect of wine, or to

going about with a long face, a feature which some Christians seem to think glorifies the

It was essential that one who was called to be an overseer or bishop should practically

exhibit this healthy, balanced and controlled outlook in word and action.  This is

attractive and would have a beneficial effect in every way on those who were in his

charge. It is none the less essential today. If Christian beliefs do not lead to a wholesome

sanity and balance, then they are of little use however high sounding they may appear.

A man truthfully so described would be a `lover of good, just, holy and temperate'

(Titus 1: 8). He is called upon to `hold fast the faithful word' and according to the

instruction (didachen) in order that he may be able both to encourage with healthy

teaching and to reprove (or convict) the gainsayers'. We give here a rendering that is

nearer the original. The instruction referred to, was that pattern of truth given to Paul by

the ascended Christ and now passed on to Timothy and Titus and all those who were

called of God to take the lead in witness. Anything else would not be `truth for the

times'. Such were reminded that they were `stewards of God' (verse 7). Oikonomos

translated steward, is allied to oikonomia, dispensation, which is not so much a period of

time, but a stewardship committed, that is, truth that had been entrusted by God to use

and proclaim faithfully and live out in practice. All members of the Body are in some

measure dispensers of a dispensation. They must do it in view of God's reckoning day

when all will be asked by Him to `give an account of their stewardship'. Only two

classes will exist at that time, good (just) stewards, and bad (unjust) stewards. How we

should covet to be in the former class! Of what use will be any material or worldly gains

then? Or the approval of men whether Christian or otherwise?