Word Studies - Sober

One who serves as an overseer in the local church must be "sober" or "sober-minded." (1 Timothy 3:2.) We often use the word "sober" in contrast to a mental state produced by imbibing alcohol, but the Greek word "sophron," along with several words derived from it, refers to a proper mental state in general. The word itself is derived from two Greek words meaning "to save" and "the mind." It means "of sound mind," that one's mind is of such a state that he is in control of his actions and words. The Roman governor Festus, upon hearing Paul affirm the resurrection of Christ, cried, "You are beside yourself...mad!" Paul replied that he was speaking "words of truth and soberness." (Acts 26:24, 25). "Sober-minded" is the opposite of "mad."

Paul left Titus the evangelist in a tough spot--the island of Crete, where the natives had a well-deserved reputation as "liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." (Titus 1:12, 13). This indicates a culture which promoted an unsound state of mind. This produced defiled minds and consciences. (1:15). Titus's task was to overcome this cultural perversion, leading the Cretan believers to the right way of thinking. Paul charged that he "speak the things that are proper for sound doctrine." (2:1). Let us note the role of soberness in that charge, as the apostle expounds upon sound doctrine in Titus 2:1-15.

The older men must be taught to be sober (vs. 2). The elders whom Titus appointed in every city would come from among these men (1:5-8), but all of the older men must set the tone of sound thinking among the saints.

The older women were to "train the young women..." (2:4) This word "train" ("teach" or "admonish") is translated from a verb form of "sophron." The task of these older women was to give the younger the proper frame of mind through training. This implies an ongoing process of directing and correcting their young counterparts. Among the traits which they were to cultivate was that of being "discreet." (2:5). This is yet another appearance of "sophron," and a similar use is found in 1 Timothy 2:9, also directed toward women: "...that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefastness and sobriety..." Proper dress is a matter of sound judgment. In Mark 5:15 a man who had been demon-possessed and unable to control himself was seen to be "clothed and in his right mind ('sophron')." When he had control of himself and was "sober," he put on clothes! There is something unbalanced in the thinking of those, male or female, who dress themselves inadequately. They do not see the merits of moral purity as opposed to sensuality. Sobriety is lacking.

Titus was also to "exhort the young men to be sober-minded" (2:6), with himself being the pattern of good works for them. The contrast between the "integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech" of Titus (2:7, 8) with the generally low character of the Cretans (1:12) should have given the young saints a good perspective of the inherent superiority of sober thinking. Let all preachers of the gospel take this admonition to be an example seriously, for that same contrast between sobriety and unbalanced thinking must be observed by the young men who are forming patterns of thinking and behavior that may last a lifetime.