Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Context:Mastery, in a biblical context, refers to the control, authority, or dominion one holds over oneself, others, or circumstances. It encompasses self-discipline, leadership, and the ability to govern one's actions and decisions in alignment with God's will. Mastery is often associated with wisdom, understanding, and the fruit of the Spirit, particularly self-control.
Biblical References:1.
Self-Control as Mastery: The concept of mastery is closely linked to self-control, a fruit of the Spirit. In
Galatians 5:22-23 , it is written, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Here, self-control is presented as a divine attribute that believers are encouraged to cultivate, reflecting mastery over one's desires and impulses.
2.
Mastery Over Sin: The Bible speaks of mastery in the context of overcoming sin. In
Genesis 4:7 , God warns Cain, "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it." This passage highlights the necessity of exercising mastery over sinful inclinations, emphasizing personal responsibility and the power of choice.
3.
Leadership and Authority: Mastery is also evident in the realm of leadership and authority. In
1 Timothy 3:4-5 , the qualifications for overseers include managing one's household well, "keeping his children under control with complete dignity. For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for the church of God?" This underscores the importance of mastery in leadership roles, where effective governance begins with self-discipline and extends to managing others.
4.
Wisdom and Understanding:Proverbs 16:32 states, "He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city." This proverb equates mastery with wisdom and understanding, suggesting that true strength lies in the ability to govern one's emotions and reactions.
5.
Spiritual Warfare: Mastery is also relevant in the context of spiritual warfare.
Ephesians 6:12 reminds believers, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world's darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Here, mastery involves spiritual discernment and the ability to stand firm against spiritual adversaries through the armor of God.
Theological Implications:Mastery, as depicted in the Bible, is not merely about personal achievement or control but is deeply rooted in spiritual maturity and alignment with God's purposes. It involves a surrender to God's authority, allowing His Spirit to cultivate self-control and wisdom within us. Mastery is both a gift and a responsibility, requiring believers to exercise dominion over their own lives while serving others with humility and grace.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Superior skill; dominion; command; supremacy; superiority.
2. (n.) Superiority in war or competition; victory; triumph; preeminence.
3. (n.) Contest for superiority.
4. (n.) A masterly operation; a feat.
5. (n.) Specifically, the philosopher's stone.
6. (n.) The act process of mastering; the state of having mastered.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
MASTERYmas'-ter-i, gebhurah, shelet, Aramaic; agonizomai, athleo): "Mastery" occurs twice in the Old Testament and twice in the King James Version of the New Testament: inExodus 32:18 (gebhurah, "might"), "the voice of them that shout for mastery"; inDaniel 6:24 (shelet, "to have power"), "The lions had the mastery of them"; in1 Corinthians 9:25, agonizomai, "to contend for a prize," to be a combatant in the public games, is translated "striveth for the mastery," the Revised Version (British and American) "striventh in the games"; and in2 Timothy 2:5, athelo, with the same meaning, is translated "strive for masteries," the Revised Version (British and American) "contend in the games." From the Greek we have the words "athlete," etc..
W. L. Walker
Greek
1466. egkrateia --mastery, self-control...mastery, self-control. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: egkrateia
Phonetic Spelling: (eng-krat'-i-ah) Short Definition: self-
mastery, self
...2932. ktaomai -- to acquire
... Spelling: (ktah'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I win, get, buy, possess Definition:
(a) I acquire, win, get, purchase, buy, (b) I possess, winmastery over....
831. authenteo -- to govern, exercise authority
... Speech: Verb Transliteration: authenteo Phonetic Spelling: (ow-then-teh'-o) Short
Definition: I domineer over Definition: I domineer, govern, havemastery over...
2901. krataioo -- to strengthen
... See 2904 (). For the believer, 2901 ("attainmastery, the upper-hand")
operates by the Lord inworking faith (His , 4102 ). Word...
2909. kreitton -- better
... 2909 (the comparative form of 2904 , "dominion") -- what is because more fully
developed, ie in (mastery, dominance); "" after exerting the needed to "plant...
2963. kuriotes -- lordship
... dominion, government. From kurios;mastery, ie (concretely and collectively) rulers --
dominion, government. see GREEK kurios. (kurioteta) -- 1 Occurrence....
2900. krataios -- strong
... Cognate: 2900 (from 2904 ) -- (manifested) power, referring to God's suprememastery
(unrivaled dominion). 2900 () is only used in 1 Pet 5:6. See 2904 ()....
1320. didaskalos -- an instructor
... Cognate: 1320 (a masculine noun derived from 1321 , "to teach") -- a teacher, an
instructor acknowledged for theirmastery in their field of learning; in...
1849. exousia -- power to act, authority
... From exesti (in the sense of ability); privilege, ie (subjectively) force, capacity,
competency, freedom, or (objectively)mastery (concretely, magistrate...
Strong's Hebrew
7990. shallit -- havingmastery, ruling... 7989, 7990. shallit. 7991 . having
mastery, ruling. Transliteration: shallit
Phonetic Spelling: (shal-leet') Short Definition: ruler.
...7989. shallit -- havingmastery, domineering
... 7988, 7989. shallit. 7990 . havingmastery, domineering. Transliteration:
shallit Phonetic Spelling: (shal-leet') Short Definition: ruler....
7983. shilton --mastery
... 7982, 7983. shilton. 7984 .mastery. Transliteration: shilton Phonetic
Spelling: (shil-tone') Short Definition: authoritative. Word...
7980. shalat -- to domineer, be master of
... root Definition to domineer, be master of NASB Word Usage control over (1), domineered
(1), empowered (2), exercised authority (1), gain themastery over (1...
1369. geburah -- strength, might
... strength (13), strong (1), triumph (1). force,mastery, might, mighty act,
power, power, strength. Feminine passive participle from the...
7981. shelet -- to have power, rule
... have themastery, have power, bear rule, be make ruler. (Aramaic) corresponding
to shalat -- have themastery, have power, bear rule, be (make) ruler....
Library
The Image of God.
... The man was made in the image of God, for self-mastery, and through self-mastery
for dominion over all of God's creation. That was the plan for the man....
Twentieth Day. Holiness and Liberty.
... Sin is slavery; the bondage to a foreign power that has obtained themastery
over us, and compels often a most reluctant service....
The University of Arabia.
... Man was made withmastery of himself, kingship over nature and all its forces,
and utter dependence, even for his very breath, upon God....
Strange Dark Shadowings.
... Jesus is to be God's new Man leading man back on the road into the divine image
again, with fullmastery of his masterly powers, and throughmastery into full...
God's Meaning of "Human. "
... His powers, briefly, were,mastery of his body, of his mental faculties, and powers
in the spirit realm so lost to us now that we cannot even say definitely...
Our Spirit-Touch.
... The stronger and keener and purer I may become, the more I know of the self-mastery
which comes through Jesus-mastery, the greater force can I exert as a...
Prodigies of the Astrologers; System of the Astronomers; Chaldean...
... For he affirms that themastery was communicated to the orbital motion of the same
(circle), not only since it embraces the motion of the other, that, is, the...
This Liberty vindicated in Respect of Its Original Creation...
... Therefore it was proper that (he who is) the image and likeness of God should be
formed with a free will and amastery of himself; [2776] so that this very...
The Personality of Power.
... All truth goes in pairs. The partnership word with surrender ismastery.
Surrender on my part is followed bymastery on His part....
2 Cor. vi. 1, 2
... For he that striveth for themastery [704] at such a time, when so great a gift
hath been shed forth, when so great grace, will early obtain the prizes....
Thesaurus
Mastery (5 Occurrences)... 5. (n.) Specifically, the philosopher's stone. 6. (n.) The act process of mastering;
the state of having mastered. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
MASTERY.
...Temperate (6 Occurrences)
... This meaning is in accordance with classical usage, Plato applying it to "mastery"
not only of self, but of any object denoted by a genitive following....
Temperance (3 Occurrences)
... This meaning is in accordance with classical usage, Plato applying it to "mastery"
not only of self, but of any object denoted by a genitive following....
Mastic
Tibni (2 Occurrences)
... For the period of four years he contended for the throne with Omri (1 Kings 16:21,
22), who at length gained themastery, and became sole monarch of Israel....
Expert (59 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A specialist in a particular profession or department of science requiring
for itsmastery peculiar culture and erudition. 4. (n.) A sworn appraiser....
Magic (12 Occurrences)
... name for all of the pretended arts which claim to produce effects by the assistance
of supernatural beings, or departed spirits, or by amastery of secret...
Mistress (20 Occurrences)
... a family, a school, etc. 2. (n.) A woman well skilled in anything, or
having themastery over it. 3. (n.) A woman regarded with...
Prevail (50 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To overcome; to gain the victory or superiority; to gain the advantage;
to have the upper hand, or themastery; to succeed; -- sometimes with over or...
Conflict (18 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A strife for themastery; hostile contest; battle; struggle; fighting. 3.
(vi) To strike or dash together; to meet in violent collision; to collide....
Resources
What does it mean that God gave humanity dominion over the animals? | GotQuestions.orgHow can an unmarried person relieve sexual tension in a non-sinful way? | GotQuestions.orgHow can I overcome a habitual sin? | GotQuestions.orgMastery: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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