What Does the Bible Say About Self- Control?

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

James 5:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Hebrews 13:4 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

Matthew 5:28 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Titus 3:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

Galatians 5:23 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

Proverbs 14:29 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

1 John 2:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

1 Peter 3:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

James 1:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

James 1:19-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

James 1:13-14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

Hebrews 6:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

Hebrews 4:15-16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Titus 3:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

Ephesians 6:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 5:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Ephesians 5:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

Ephesians 4:31 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Ephesians 4:26 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

Galatians 5:19-26 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ...

Galatians 5:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Galatians 5:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 2:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.

Romans 14:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.

Romans 13:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Romans 6:11-14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Acts 9:1-9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. ...

Acts 2:38 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

John 8:34 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

John 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Luke 18:9-14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ...

Luke 15:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Mark 16:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Matthew 16:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Matthew 15:1-39 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” ...

Matthew 7:13-14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Matthew 5:30 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

Matthew 5:21-24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 5:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Isaiah 55:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Proverbs 29:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes

A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.

Proverbs 29:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

Proverbs 25:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

Proverbs 16:32 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 14:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.

Psalm 37:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

Job 31:1-3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin? What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high? Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity?

Numbers 12:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.

Leviticus 19:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Leviticus 19:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.

62 Bible Verses about Self- Control

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 5:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 13:4 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:28 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Titus 3:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 5:23 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 5:22 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 14:29 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 2:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 3:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 2:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:19-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:13-14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 6:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 4:15-16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 4:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Titus 3:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 6:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:31 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:26 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 5:19-26 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 5:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 5:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 2:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 14:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 13:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 6:11-14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 9:1-9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 2:38 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 8:34 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 18:9-14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 16:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 16:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 15:1-39 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 7:13-14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:30 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:21-24 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 55:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 29:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 29:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 25:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 16:32 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 14:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 37:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Job 31:1-3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Numbers 12:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Leviticus 19:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Leviticus 19:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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