Self-Control

2 Peter 1:5-8
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Original Word: ἐγκράτεια
Transliteration: egkrateia
Phonetic Spelling: (eng-krat'-i-ah)
Short Definition: temperance
Word Originfrom egkratés
Definition mastery, self-control


TEM'PERANCE, n. [L. temperantia, from tempero.]
1. Moderation; particularly, habitual moderation in regard to the indulgence of the natural appetites and passions; restrained or moderate indulgence; as temperance in eating and drinking; temperance in the indulgence of joy or mirth. Temperance in eating and drinking is opposed to gluttony and drunkenness, and in other indulgences, to excess.

2. Patience; calmness; sedateness; moderation of passion.

He calm'd his wrath with goodly temperance. [Unusual.]

My Notes: I'm pretty sure we all know what self-control is and for the most part we all lack it in some area of our lives. There are things in this word study that I found interesting. Especially the fact that not only did the Greek word mean self-control, but also mastery. I think we should all be praying about what areas we are lacking the most self-control in and we should be seeking to master self-control in that area. Also, self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. If we are allowing the Holy Spirit to live in and through us (which requires a dying to ourselves daily), then we should see this fruit growing in our lives.