in your knowledge self-control
ἐν δὲ τῇ γνώσει τὴν ἐγκράτειαν
Like a city that is broken into and without walls
Is a man who has no control over his spirit. (Proverbs 25:28)
He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city. (Proverbs 16:32)
The word that we have here for self-control is ἐγκράτεια, enkráteia (G1467; LN88.83) and means to exercise complete control over one’s desires and actions—‘to control oneself, to exercise self- control, self-control.[1] It is only used four times in the New Testament. (Acts 24:25; Galatians 5:23; 2nd Peter 1:6x2) While this term is used sparingly in the New Testament it was used extensively by Greek philosophers, the Stoics and the Essenes. The sparse use of this ethical term is due to three things: (1) for Christians life is directed by God’s command, so that there is no place for autonomous self-mastery; (2) belief in creation excludes dualism, for all things are good as they come from God; and (3) salvation in Christ leaves no place for meriting salvation by asceticism.[2]
ἐγκράτεια, as it relates to Christian teaching, is an act of submitting ones will to that of God’s will. It is not a list of do’s and don’ts. The areas that we may need to exercise self-control in are not necessarily areas of sin. For example I know that God wants me to study His Word. (His Will) There are times that I do not want to. (My will) Self-control is when I submit my will to His Will and study when I should, not when I want to.
Self-control depends on the others in this list, faith, knowledge etc. just as much as they depend on self-control. One who lacks self-control will not grow in faith, or knowledge. On the other hand as my faith and knowledge grows my self-control will increase.
[1] Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1: Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament : Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (750). New York: United Bible societies.
[2] Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1995). Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (196). Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans.
No comments:
Post a Comment