Bible Verses About Self-Control

Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit and a mark of maturity. These verses about self-control call us to mastery over impulse.

“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” — Proverbs 25:28 (KJV)

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down without walls. An unwalled city is not attacked so much as simply entered.

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” — 1 Corinthians 9:27 (KJV)

I keep under my body and bring it into subjection, lest I myself should be a castaway. Paul uses the training vocabulary of an athlete about himself.

“Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” — Galatians 5:23 (KJV)

Temperance closes the list of the fruit of the Spirit, and the verse adds that against such there is no law. Self-control is placed last, after love.

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” — Titus 2:11-12 (KJV)

Grace teacheth us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly. Grace is described as instructing rather than excusing.

“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;” — 2 Peter 1:5-6 (KJV)

Add to your faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience — a chain in which each supports the next. Temperance sits in the middle rather than at the start.

“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” — 1 Corinthians 6:12 (KJV)

All things are lawful unto me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Paul quotes a slogan of his readers and then adds the limit.

“When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.” — Proverbs 23:1-2 (KJV)

Put a knife to thy throat if thou be a man given to appetite — deliberately extreme advice about dining with a ruler. The exaggeration is the teaching device.

“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:6 (KJV)

Let us watch and be sober, contrasted with those who sleep in the night. Sobriety is presented as alertness rather than only abstinence.

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” — James 1:14-15 (KJV)

Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. The sequence — lust, sin, death — is traced as a process with stages.

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” — Romans 6:12 (KJV)

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Reign is a political word: the question is who governs.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” — 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV)

Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary walketh about seeking whom he may devour. Sobriety is given a reason rather than commended in the abstract.

“Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.” — Proverbs 21:23 (KJV)

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. Speech is treated as the most frequent failure of self-command.

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” — 1 Peter 1:13 (KJV)

Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end. Girding was tying a robe up to move quickly — a mental preparation image.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” — Proverbs 4:23 (KJV)

Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. The heart is described as a source that determines everything downstream.

“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” — Romans 13:14 (KJV)

Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof — the instruction is about advance planning. It targets the arrangements rather than the moment.

“But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;” — Titus 1:8 (KJV)

Sober, just, holy, temperate — listed among the qualifications for an elder. Self-command is treated as a public credential.

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Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about self-control?

The 16 passages gathered on this page are the ones readers turn to most on self-control: Proverbs 25:28, 1 Corinthians 9:27, Galatians 5:23, Titus 2:11-12, 2 Peter 1:5-6, 1 Corinthians 6:12, Proverbs 23:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 5:6, James 1:14-15, Romans 6:12, 1 Peter 5:8, Proverbs 21:23, 1…

What is a good Bible verse about self-control?

Proverbs 25:28 is the passage most often quoted on self-control, with 1 Corinthians 9:27 and Galatians 5:23 close behind. Which one helps depends on whether you need reassurance, instruction or simply company.

Where can I read these self-control verses?

You can read all of these verses about self-control — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.