Beyond being one of the fruits of the Spirit, the Greek work egkrates (self-control) shows up in another important passage.
Take a look at the divine math in 2 Peter 1:5b-9 –
5b Make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
Here is the equation:
Faith
+ Virtue
+ Knowledge
+ SELF-CONTROL
+ Perseverance
+ Godliness
+ Brotherly Kindness
+ Love
= Effective and Productive in Christ
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