Bible Dictionary
CONTINENCY
Continency is self-control, especially the ability to restrain sexual desire. Paul advises marriage for those who cannot exercise this control and commends disciplined restraint in Christian living.
Definition
Continency is self-control, especially the ability to restrain sexual desire. It also denotes disciplined abstinence from indulgence more generally.
Biblical Usage
Paul advises marriage for those unable to control sexual passion, while commending restraint. The same principle appears in the disciplined training of an athlete who abstains from indulgence.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>kon'-ti-nen-si (egkrateuomai "to have self-control" or "continency" the Revised Version (British and American), "to contain" the King James Version): Paul, although he would that all men were like himself unmarried, yet advises that they should marry if they cannot control their sexual passions, and hold them in complete subjection to Christian motives (1Co 7:9). The same Greek verb is used in 1Co 9:25, and translated "is temperate" (the King James Version and the English Revised Version) of the athlete who during the period of training abstains from all indulgence in food, 'drink, and sexual passion. For the general principle as expressed in substantive egkrateia (Ac 24:25; Ga 5:23; 2Pe 1:6) and adjective egkrates (Tit 1:8) see TEMPERANCE, TEMPERATE.</p><p>T. Rees</p>