Understanding ἐγκράτεια (enkrateia) Strong’s G1466: The Divine Virtue of Self-Control that Transforms Believers into Christ’s Image

Pronunciation Guide: en-krah’-tei-ah (emphasis on ‘krah’)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1466: ἐγκράτεια (enkrateia) refers to the virtue of self-control or self-mastery – the God-empowered ability to govern one’s desires, emotions, and actions. It represents mastery over oneself rather than being mastered by one’s impulses and passions. This powerful fruit of the Spirit enables believers to restrain natural impulses and live according to the higher calling of God’s kingdom principles.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Feminine noun
• Root Word: From ἐγκρατής (enkratēs, “self-controlled,” “having power over”)
• Compound Structure: Formed from ἐν (en, “in”) + κράτος (kratos, “strength, power”)
• Language Origin: Classical Greek
• Primary Usage: Teaching sections, ethical instructions, virtue lists

ἐγκράτεια Morphology:

• ἐγκράτεια (nominative singular) – self-control
• ἐγκρατείας (genitive singular) – of self-control
• ἐγκρατείᾳ (dative singular) – in/with self-control
• ἐγκράτειαν (accusative singular) – self-control (as direct object)

Origin & History

The concept of ἐγκράτεια has deep roots in ancient Greek philosophical thought, appearing prominently in Socratic, Platonic, and especially Stoic writings. In Aristotle’s “Nicomachean Ethics,” ἐγκράτεια represents the restraint of the passions by reason, considered an essential virtue for the well-ordered soul. Plato presents it as mastery over pleasures and desires, a necessary component for attaining wisdom.

In Hellenistic Jewish literature, particularly in the writings of Philo of Alexandria, ἐγκράτεια took on additional spiritual dimensions. Philo viewed it as not merely philosophical restraint but divinely enabled self-mastery that allows one to live according to Torah principles. The term appears in the Septuagint in contexts emphasizing moral restraint and proper conduct, notably in the wisdom literature, showing the Jewish adaptation of this Greek concept into biblical thought before its New Testament usage.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Self-control – Divine enablement to master one’s impulses, desires, and passions
• Self-discipline – The practice of training oneself to develop godly habits and resist ungodly ones
• Temperance – Moderation in action, thought, and feeling; restraint from excess
• Self-mastery – Command over one’s own behavior, emotions, and responses
• Continence – Specifically referring to sexual restraint and purity

ἐγκράτεια Translation Options:

• Self-control – Best captures the active element of mastering oneself rather than being passive
• Temperance – Traditional translation that emphasizes moderation but can miss the power dynamic
• Self-restraint – Highlights the restrictive aspect but might underemphasize the positive power
• Self-discipline – Emphasizes the training aspect involved in developing this virtue
• Self-mastery – Captures the κράτος (power/strength) root element and the concept of ruling oneself

Biblical Usage

The term ἐγκράτεια appears only three times in the New Testament, yet its relatively rare occurrence belies its theological significance. In Acts 24:25, Paul speaks to Felix about “righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come,” placing ἐγκράτεια alongside righteousness as fundamental to preparing for divine judgment. This strategic placement suggests Paul viewed self-control as essential preparation for facing God’s assessment of our lives.

In Galatians 5:23, ἐγκράτεια appears as the culminating fruit of the Spirit in Paul’s famous list. Coming last in the sequence suggests it may function as the capstone virtue that helps secure all the others. In 2 Peter 1:6, it appears twice in Peter’s ladder of virtues, where believers are instructed to add ἐγκράτεια to knowledge, indicating that spiritual understanding must be accompanied by disciplined living to be effective.

• “As he was discussing righteousness, self-control [ἐγκράτεια] and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, ‘Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.'” Acts 24:25
• “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control [ἐγκράτεια]; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
• “In your knowledge, supply self-control [ἐγκράτειαν], and in your self-control [ἐγκρατείᾳ], perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness.” 2 Peter 1:6

Cultural Insights

In the Greco-Roman world of the first century, ἐγκράτεια was particularly associated with athletic training. Athletes practiced strict self-discipline and restraint in diet, physical regimen, and even sexual activity in preparation for the games. Paul draws on this cultural understanding when he writes, “Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things” (1 Corinthians 9:25), using the verbal form ἐγκρατεύεται. This athletic metaphor would have resonated powerfully with his audience, connecting spiritual discipline with the widely admired athletic discipline of the day.

The Jewish understanding of self-control differed somewhat from Greek philosophical views. While Greek thought emphasized rational mastery over passions as a path to virtue, Jewish thought connected self-control to covenant faithfulness and Torah observance. For Jewish believers, self-control wasn’t merely about personal achievement or philosophical excellence but about loyalty to God’s commands and resistance to idolatry. This helps explain why ἐγκράτεια appears in contexts related to resisting worldly influences and maintaining covenant faithfulness in the New Testament writings.

Theological Significance

Theologically, ἐγκράτεια stands at the intersection of divine empowerment and human responsibility. As a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), it originates from God’s work within the believer, yet requires human cooperation and discipline. This paradoxical relationship illustrates the broader New Testament teaching on sanctification—God works in us, yet we are called to work out our salvation (Philippians 2:12-13).

The placement of ἐγκράτεια within virtue lists reveals its function as a protective virtue that safeguards other aspects of godly character. Without self-control, love can become undisciplined emotionalism, joy can become reckless pleasure-seeking, and peace can become mere avoidance of conflict. Self-control forms a spiritual boundary that allows other virtues to flourish in their proper expression. This reflects Yahweh’s character of perfect self-restraint—possessing all power yet exercising it with perfect wisdom and restraint, never acting impulsively or destructively out of momentary passion, unlike the capricious gods of paganism.

In the context of Messianic faith, ἐγκράτεια points to Yeshua’s perfect example of controlled power. The Messiah, who could have called legions of angels to His defense (Matthew 26:53), instead exercised divine self-restraint at the cross, submitting to the Father’s will rather than His own natural desires. Believers’ practice of self-control thus becomes a participation in Messiah’s character and a testimony to His lordship over every aspect of life.

Personal Application

In our modern culture of instant gratification and unrestrained self-expression, ἐγκράτεια stands as a radical counter-cultural virtue. Practicing this divine self-control isn’t about rigid rule-following but about freedom—freedom from being controlled by our impulses, digital distractions, consumer appetites, or cultural pressures. When we exercise Spirit-empowered self-control, we declare that we belong to the Messiah rather than to the passing patterns of this world.

Begin cultivating ἐγκράτεια by identifying areas where passions or impulses tend to control your actions rather than you controlling them. Surrender these specific areas to the Holy Spirit, asking for His empowerment while simultaneously implementing practical disciplines. Remember that true self-control grows gradually through consistent practice and divine enabling—not through willpower alone but through yielding to God’s transforming work within you. As you develop this virtue, you’ll experience greater freedom to fulfill your calling and reflect the character of Yeshua to those around you.

Related Words

• σωφροσύνη (sōphrosynē) [so-fro-su’-nay] – soundness of mind, moderation, self-control specifically related to rational thinking and good judgment. While similar to ἐγκράτεια, it emphasizes the mental aspects of restraint rather than mastery over desires. See G4997
• ἐγκρατής (enkratēs) [eng-krat-ace’] – the adjectival form meaning “self-controlled” or “disciplined,” describing a person who demonstrates mastery over their passions and desires. It’s the character trait that produces the action of ἐγκράτεια. See G1468
• νηφάλιος (nēphalios) [nay-fal’-ee-os] – sober, temperate, vigilant; originally referring to abstinence from wine but expanded to mean general sobriety and watchfulness in behavior. Complements ἐγκράτεια by emphasizing clear-mindedness. See G3524
• ἐγκρατεύομαι (enkrateuomai) [eng-krat-yoo’-om-ahee] – verbal form meaning “to exercise self-control,” particularly in contexts of athletic discipline and sexual restraint. Shows the active practice of what ἐγκράτεια represents as a virtue. See G1467
• ἀκρασία (akrasia) [ak-ras-ee’-ah] – the opposite of ἐγκράτεια, meaning lack of self-control or incontinence. This antonym helps define ἐγκράτεια by showing what happens in its absence—impulsivity and slavery to passions. See G192

Did you Know?

• Ancient Olympic athletes practiced extreme forms of ἐγκράτεια, following rigid dietary restrictions and even abstaining from sexual relations for up to ten months before competition. Their training regimen was called “askesis” (the root of our word “ascetic”), which focused on disciplining the body through self-denial. Paul’s metaphor of an athlete training for competition would have immediately connected with his audience’s understanding of the extreme self-control required for athletic excellence.
• The Stoic philosopher Epictetus, who lived during the early Christian era, considered ἐγκράτεια the cornerstone of all virtues, teaching that “No man is free who is not master of himself.” This philosophical backdrop helps explain why early Christians could effectively communicate their faith using this concept as a bridge between biblical teaching and Greek ethical thought.
• Modern neuroscience has confirmed what the biblical concept of ἐγκράτεια suggests—that self-control is like a muscle that strengthens with exercise. Studies show that practicing self-restraint in one area (such as posture or speech patterns) can improve self-discipline in seemingly unrelated areas. This scientific finding aligns perfectly with the biblical understanding that developing ἐγκράτεια is a progressive spiritual discipline that grows through practice, as seen in Peter’s ladder of virtues where self-control leads to perseverance (2 Peter 1:6).

Remember This

ἐγκράτεια is not merely restraining yourself from wrong, but empowering yourself through the Spirit to embrace what is right—it is freedom to become who God created you to be rather than remaining enslaved to what sin drives you to do.