Incontinency
Understanding Incontinency
The word "incontinency" appears in older English translations of the Bible, particularly the King James Version, to describe a lack of self-restraint or self-control. The term comes from the Greek word akrasia, which literally means "without mastery" or "without power over oneself." In biblical usage, it refers primarily to the inability to control one's desires, especially in the context of sexual temptation.
Paul's Teaching on Marriage and Self-Control
The primary biblical context for incontinency is 1 Corinthians 7:5, where Paul addresses married couples in the Corinthian church. He writes, "Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control." Paul's pastoral wisdom here is remarkably practical: he recognizes that prolonged sexual abstinence within marriage can create vulnerability to temptation. His counsel balances the value of devoted prayer with an honest acknowledgment of human weakness.
Excess and Self-Indulgence in Matthew 23
The same Greek root appears in Matthew 23:25, where Jesus condemns the scribes and Pharisees: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence." Here the concept of incontinency expands beyond sexual matters to encompass all forms of unchecked desire and excess. Jesus' critique targets the fundamental hypocrisy of maintaining outward religious purity while harboring inward moral disorder.
The Virtue of Self-Control in Scripture
Incontinency stands as the opposite of the biblical virtue of self-control, which is listed among the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. The Greek word for self-control, enkrateia, is the direct counterpart to akrasia. Peter likewise includes self-control in his list of qualities that believers should cultivate with increasing earnestness (2 Peter 1:6). Proverbs 25:28 vividly illustrates the danger of lacking self-control: "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls."
The Greco-Roman Context
In the ancient Greek philosophical tradition, akrasia was a well-known concept debated by Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Aristotle in particular distinguished between the person who lacks self-control (the akratic person) and the person who is simply intemperate. The akratic individual knows what is right but fails to act accordingly, acting against their own better judgment. Paul's use of this concept in his letter to Corinth would have resonated with both Jewish and Greek-educated members of the congregation.
Practical Wisdom for Believers
The biblical treatment of incontinency offers honest, practical guidance. Rather than denying the reality of human desires, Scripture acknowledges them and provides wise counsel for managing them within God-honoring boundaries. Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 7 demonstrates that Christian ethics is not about pretending temptation does not exist but about establishing patterns of life that guard against it. The broader biblical call to self-control invites believers to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit rather than their own willpower alone (Galatians 5:16).
Biblical Context
Incontinency (akrasia) appears in 1 Corinthians 7:5 in Paul's discussion of marriage and mutual obligations between spouses, and in Matthew 23:25 in Jesus' condemnation of Pharisaic hypocrisy. The concept connects to the broader biblical theme of self-control found in Galatians 5:22-23, 2 Peter 1:6, and Proverbs 25:28. Paul's pastoral advice addresses the practical challenges of living faithfully in a world filled with temptation.
Theological Significance
Incontinency highlights the biblical understanding that human beings, even believers, struggle with controlling their desires. This honest assessment of human weakness underscores the need for divine grace, the Holy Spirit's empowerment, and wise practical arrangements such as the mutual obligations of marriage. It teaches that holiness is not achieved through denial of human nature but through Spirit-empowered self-mastery and honest acknowledgment of vulnerability.
Historical Background
The concept of akrasia was central to Greek moral philosophy. Socrates argued that no one acts against their knowledge of the good voluntarily, while Aristotle countered that weakness of will is a genuine phenomenon. Paul's Corinthian audience lived in a city notorious for sexual immorality, making his practical counsel especially relevant. The Corinthian church apparently included members who advocated extreme asceticism within marriage, which Paul corrects by affirming the legitimate role of marital intimacy.