The concept of self-control was a popular one in Greek philosophy. The Greek word enkrateia comes from a root that means power or control. Enkrateia refers to mastery of one’s appetites and passions, power over oneself in the sense of persistence or restraint.

Socrates listed enkrateia as one of the chief virtues. Schools of thought like stoicism and cynicism highly valued self-control. Philosophers like Plato and Aristotle lauded the man who could suppress his desires and impulses. However, Plato did wonder a bit about how a man could master himself, since the one mastering and the one being mastered are one and the same.

Interestingly enough, this concept which seems to mesh so well with Christianity makes few appearances in the New Testament. Here are the three occurrences of this word:

“After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”” (Acts 24:24-25)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.” (2 Peter 1:5-7)

Is there any significance to the fact that this word appears so few times? Is it just that the concept is present, merely expressed in other words? Or is there something about the concept of self-mastery that doesn’t fit with the teachings of the rest of the New Testament?