Continuing with yesterday’s discussion, I tend to agree with Rex, that the term enkrateia carried such connotations in that culture that it was hardly useful.

I think that “self-control” and “self-discipline” carry some of the same connotations. Principally, I think they convey an idea of reliance on self that goes beyond what the New Testament writers wanted to convey. Just as Plato was uneasy with the idea of achieving “temperance” through the self mastering the self, we should be equally wary of any teaching that places the responsibility for man’s sanctification squarely on man.

“Pull yourself up by your bootstraps” may be a popular concept in our culture, as is the idea of the “self-made man,” but that’s not the image of holiness that the New Testament presents. Christians become more like Christ as the Spirit works in our lives (2 Corinthians 3:18). We are able to do what the Law requires not by leaning on ourselves (our flesh) but by following the Spirit’s lead (Romans 8:4). We live by the Spirit and walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16, 25) thereby producing the fruit of the Spirit.

And part of that fruit, according to Paul, is self-control. It’s not about control of the self by the self, but rather man submitting his self to God’s control.

Does that relieve man of all responsibility? By no means, for we see that man must choose to follow the Spirit’s lead, that he must learn to not resist nor quench the Spirit. And this is a lifelong process. We grow in sanctification; it isn’t thrust upon us. We become more like Christ, day by day, if we follow the Spirit’s lead. When we follow our flesh, this sanctification process is stymied.

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.” (2 Peter 1:5-7)