The Greek noun deilia refers to cowardice, timidity, or the spirit of fear that causes one to shrink back from duty or danger. It is the negative counterpart to boldness (tharsos) and courage. It appears in a crucial verse in 2 Timothy 1:7, where Paul contrasts the spirit of deilia with the spirit of power, love, and self-discipline that God gives.
Paul's declaration in 2 Timothy 1:7 is foundational: 'For God has not given us a spirit of timidity (deilia), but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.' Deilia is not just a personality trait but a spiritual condition — a spirit that must be identified and rejected. The fearful (deilos) are listed among the condemned in Revelation 21:8, showing how seriously God views the failure to persevere in faith. Courage for the Christian comes not from human resolve but from the indwelling Holy Spirit.