Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Meaning:The term "temperate" refers to moderation and self-control, particularly in one's behavior and habits. In a biblical context, it often relates to the virtues of self-discipline and restraint, especially concerning desires and passions. The concept of temperance is closely associated with the fruit of the Spirit and is considered a hallmark of Christian maturity and character.
Biblical References:The Bible frequently addresses the importance of temperance as a virtue. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul emphasizes the significance of self-control as a component of the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 states, "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."
In
1 Corinthians 9:25 , Paul uses the metaphor of an athlete to illustrate the necessity of temperance: "Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable." Here, the discipline and self-restraint required of athletes are likened to the spiritual discipline expected of believers.
Temperance in Leadership:Temperance is particularly emphasized as a qualification for church leaders. In
1 Timothy 3:2-3 , Paul outlines the qualities required of an overseer, stating, "An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money." Similarly, in
Titus 1:7-8 , Paul instructs that an overseer must be "hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined."
Temperance and Sobriety:The Bible also links temperance with sobriety, particularly in the context of avoiding excess in alcohol consumption.
Ephesians 5:18 advises, "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." This verse underscores the importance of maintaining self-control and avoiding behaviors that lead to moral and spiritual compromise.
Temperance as a Personal Discipline:Temperance is not only a public virtue but also a personal discipline that believers are encouraged to cultivate. In
2 Peter 1:5-6 , Peter exhorts Christians to "make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness." This passage highlights the progressive nature of spiritual growth, with temperance being a crucial step in the development of a godly character.
Historical and Theological Context:Historically, temperance has been a significant theme in Christian ethics and moral teaching. The early church fathers and later theologians have consistently upheld temperance as essential to living a life that honors God. The virtue of temperance is seen as a reflection of the divine nature, as believers are called to emulate the self-control and moderation exemplified by Christ.
Practical Application:In practical terms, temperance involves exercising control over one's thoughts, emotions, and actions. It requires a conscious effort to resist temptations and to live in a manner that is pleasing to God. Christians are encouraged to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance and strength in cultivating this virtue, recognizing that true temperance is a result of divine grace working in the believer's life.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) Moderate; not excessive; as, temperate heat; a temperate climate.
2. (v. t.) Not marked with passion; not violent; cool; calm; as, temperate language.
3. (v. t.) Moderate in the indulgence of the natural appetites or passions; as, temperate in eating and drinking.
4. (v. t.) Proceeding from temperance.
5. (v. t.) To render temperate; to moderate; to soften; to temper.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
TEMPERANCE; TEMPERATEtem'-per-ans; tem'-per-at (egkrateia), (egkrates, nephalios, sophron): the American Standard Revised Version departs from the King James Version and the English Revised Version by translating egkrateia "self-control" (Acts 24:25Galatians 5:232 Peter 1:61 Corinthians 9:25), following the English Revised Version margin in several of these passages. 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. Septuagint applies it to the possession "of strongholds" (2 Maccabees 8:30; 10:15), "of a position" (2 Maccabees 10:17), "of the city" (2 Maccabees 13:13), "of wisdom" (Sirach 6:27). The reflexive meaning of "self-mastery," "self-restraint," is equally well established in the classics and Septuagint. Thus, in the verbal form, it is found inGenesis 43:31, for the self-restraint exercised by Joseph in the presence of his brethren, when they appeared before him as suppliants, and in1 Samuel 13:12, where Saul professes that he "forced" himself to do what was contrary to his desire. For patristic use of the term, see illustrations in Suicer's Thesaurus Ecclesiasticus, I, 1000;. Clement of Alexandria: "Not abstaining from all things, but using continently such things as one has judged should be used"; "such things as do not seem beyond right reason." Basil: "To avoid excess on both sides, so as neither by luxury to be confused, nor, by becoming sickly, to be disabled from doing what has been commanded." Chrysostom (on1 Timothy 1:8) applies it to "one mastering passion of tongue, hand and unbridled eyes." Ellicott and Eadie (onGalatians 5:23) quote Diogenes Laertius to the effect that the word refers to "control over the stronger passions." In1 Corinthians 9:25, Paul illustrates it by the training of an athlete, whose regimen is not only described in the Ars Poetica of Horace (412;), and in Epictetus (quoted in Alford on this passage), but can be learned of the many devotees and admirers of similar pursuits today.
The principle involved is that of the concentration of all man's powers and capabilities upon the one end of doing God's will, in and through whatever calling God appoints, and the renunciation of everything either wholly or to whatever degree necessary, however innocent or useful it may be in its proper place, that interferes with one's highest efficiency in this calling (1 Corinthians 10:31). Not limited to abstinence, it is rather the power and decision to abstain with reference to some fixed end, and the use of the impulses of physical, as servants for the moral, life. It does not refer to any one class of objects that meets us, but to all; to what concerns speech and judgment, as well as to what appeals to sense. It is properly an inner spiritual virtue, working into the outward life, incapable of being counterfeited or replaced by any abstinence limited to that which is external (Augsburg Confession, Articles XXVI, XXVII). When its absence, however, is referred to as sin, the negative is generally more prominent than the positive side of temperance. The reference inActs 24:25 is to chastity, and in1 Corinthians 7:9, as the context shows, to the inner side of chastity. In1 Timothy 3:2, 11Titus 2:2, the word nephalios has its original meaning as the opposite to "drunken" (see SOBRIETY; DRINK, STRONG). See also the treatises on ethics by Luthardt (both the Compendium and the History), Martensen, Koestlin and Haring on temperance, asceticism, continence.
H. E. Jacobs
Greek
4993. sophroneo -- to be of sound mind, ie to betemperate... to be of sound mind, ie to be
temperate. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
sophroneo Phonetic Spelling: (so-fron-eh'-o) Short Definition: I am sober-minded
...4998. sophron -- of sound mind, self-controlled
... self-controlled. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: sophron Phonetic Spelling:
(so'-frone) Short Definition: self-controlled,temperate Definition: of...
3524. nephalios -- sober
... sober. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: nephalios Phonetic Spelling:
(nay-fal'-eh-os) Short Definition: sober,temperate Definition: sober, not...
1467. egkrateuomai -- to exercise self-control
... contain, betemperate. Middle voice from egkrates; to exercise self-restraint (in
diet and chastity) -- can(-not) contain, betemperate. see GREEK egkrates....
1468. egkrates -- strong, master of, self-controlled
...temperate. From en and kratos; strong in a thing (masterful), ie (figuratively and
reflexively) self-controlled (in appetite, etc.) --temperate. see GREEK en....
Library
An Example of theTemperate Style is the Celebrated Encomium on...
... Book 4 Chapter 47. An example of thetemperate style is the celebrated
encomium on virginity from Cyprian? 47. An example of the...
Sirach's Prayer for a Happy andTemperate Life.
... Prayer and the Christian Life. SIRACH'S PRAYER FOR A HAPPY ANDTEMPERATE
LIFE. Creator, Father, Prince of might! Who life to me...
Ambrose Also Uses theTemperate and Ornamented Style when He is...
... Book 4 Chapter 48. Ambrose also uses thetemperate and ornamented style
when he is holding up before? 48. Ambrose also uses the...
Eloquence of theTemperate Style, Also, Must, in the Case of the...
... Book 4 Chapter 57. Eloquence of thetemperate style, also, must, in the case
of the Christian orator? 57. Eloquence of thetemperate...
How theTemperate Style is to be Used.
... Book IV. Chapter 25."How theTemperate Style is to Be Used. 55. From
all this we may conclude, that the end arrived at by the...
In the Following Words of the Apostle we have theTemperate Style....
... Book 4 Chapter 40. In the following words of the apostle we have the
temperate style? 40. In the following words of the apostle...
The Majestic Style of Speech Differs from theTemperate Style Just...
... Book 4 Chapter 42. The majestic style of speech differs from thetemperate
style just spoken of? 42. The majestic style of speech...
Whether the Rule of Temperance Depends on the Need of the Present...
... 21): "In both Testaments thetemperate man finds confirmation of the rule forbidding
him to love the things of this life, or to deem any of them desirable for...
Several Other Things Turned against the Same Mathematicians.
... If thetemperate are better than the incontinent, and incontinence is abominable
to them, and God rejoices in temperance, being free from the knowledge of...
How the Various Styles Should be Mingled.
... used. In the majestic style, for instance, it is always, or almost always,
desirable that the introduction should betemperate....
Thesaurus
Temperate (6 Occurrences)... 1. (vt) Moderate; not excessive; as,
temperate heat; a
temperate climate. 2. (vt)
Not marked with passion; not violent; cool; calm; as,
temperate language.
...Sober-minded (9 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 3:2 A minister then must be a man of irreproachable character, true to
his one wife,temperate, sober-minded, well-behaved, hospitable to strangers...
Dignified (4 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 3:2 The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one
wife,temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching; (See RSV)....
Sober (18 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (superl.)Temperate in the use of spirituous
liquors; habituallytemperate; as, a sober man. 2. (superl...
Temperance (3 Occurrences)
... sedateness. 3. (vt) State with regard to heat or cold; temperature. Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia. TEMPERANCE;TEMPERATE. tem'-per...
Continency (1 Occurrence)
... in complete subjection to Christian motives (1 Corinthians 7:9). The same Greek
verb is used in 1 Corinthians 9:25, and translated "istemperate" (the King...
Sensible (15 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 3:2 The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one
wife,temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching; (WEB RSV)....
Minded (36 Occurrences)
... Titus 2:2 that older men should betemperate, sensible, sober minded, sound
in faith, in love, and in patience: (WEB WEY ASV). Titus...
Tempered (7 Occurrences)
Worthy (92 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 3:11 Deaconesses, in the same way, must be sober-minded women, not slanderers,
but in every waytemperate and trustworthy. (Root in WEY NIV)....
Resources
What are the qualifications of elders and deacons? | GotQuestions.orgShould a Christian consider having weight loss / gastric bypass surgery? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the five heavenly crowns that believers can receive in Heaven? | GotQuestions.orgTemperate: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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