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Fruit of the Spirit: Temperance
September 9, 2017

After several weeks, we are at the end of a study of the fruit of the spirit listed by Paul in Galatians 5:22-23. Last week we looked at meekness. Today we will consider what follows meekness; temperance. Temperance, or self-control, is translated from the Greek word transliterated as enkrateia, and is given the number 1466 by Strong's Biblical Concordance.

In the early history of the church recorded in Acts, Paul reasoned with Felix about righteousness, temperance, and judgment, when Felix was most interested in a bribe.

Acts 24:24-27
And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

Peter reminded in his second epistle that temperance was part of the Christian experience.

2 Peter 1: 5–8
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Peter's epistle takes us full circle back to where we started.

Galatians 5: 22–25
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Temperance is the final fruit of the Holy Spirit listed by Paul. He reminds us to walk in the spirit as we live in the Spirit.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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