ἐγκρατεύομαι

I exercise self-control

Definition

The verb ἐγκρατεύομαι means to exercise self-control or mastery over oneself, particularly in restraining desires and impulses. In the New Testament, it specifically refers to controlling sexual desire in 1 Corinthians 7:9, where Paul advises those who cannot remain single to marry rather than 'burn with passion.' In 1 Corinthians 9:25, the meaning broadens to the disciplined self-control of an athlete striving for a prize, applied metaphorically to the Christian life. Thus, the word encompasses both a specific sense of sexual continence and a general virtue of personal discipline.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used only twice in the New Testament, both times by Paul in 1 Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians 7:9, it is used in the context of marriage and sexual desire. In 1 Corinthians 9:25, Paul uses it in an athletic metaphor, comparing the Christian's spiritual discipline to an athlete's rigorous training for a perishable crown. Both usages emphasize voluntary restraint for a higher purpose.

Etymology

Derived from the adjective ἐγκρατής (enkratēs, G1468), meaning 'self-controlled' or 'strong.' This adjective is itself composed of ἐν (en, 'in') and κράτος (kratos, 'strength, power'), literally meaning 'having power within oneself.' The verb form means to exercise that inner power or mastery.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it describes a key virtue of the Christian life, a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23 lists 'self-control,' ἐγκράτεια). It highlights that moral and spiritual discipline is not merely about external rule-keeping but an internal mastery empowered by God's Spirit. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by connecting Paul's practical advice in 1 Corinthians to the broader biblical theme of Spirit-empowered transformation and the disciplined pursuit of holiness.

In the Greco-Roman world, self-control (ἐγκράτεια) was a celebrated virtue among philosophers, particularly Stoics, who prized mastery over passions. Paul's use of an athletic metaphor in 1 Corinthians 9:25 would have resonated in a culture familiar with the intense training and abstinence required of competitors in games like the Isthmian Games held near Corinth. His application of this cultural ideal re-centers it on an eternal, rather than perishable, goal.

ἐγκράτεια (enkrateia, G1466) — the noun form, 'self-control,' denoting the quality or virtue itself. νήφω (nēphō, G3525) — to be sober-minded or temperate, often in a spiritual/mental sense. σωφρονέω (sōphroneō, G4993) — to be of sound mind, to think sensibly, focusing on sober judgment.

Word Details

Scripture References