192. akrasia
Lexical Summary
akrasia: Lack of self-control, incontinence

Original Word: ἀκρασία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: akrasia
Pronunciation: ah-krah-SEE-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (ak-ras-ee'-a)
KJV: excess, incontinency
NASB: lack of self-control, self-indulgence
Word Origin: [from G193 (ἀκράτης - without self-control)]

1. want of self-restraint

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
to lack of self-control, self-indulgence

From akrates; want of self-restraint -- excess, incontinency.

see GREEK akrates

HELPS Word-studies

192 akrasía (from 1 /A "not" and 2904 /krátos, "prevail") – properly, without prevailing (taking dominion), i.e. the inability to maintain control; (figuratively) without self-control and hence mastered by personal appetites (urges).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from akratés
Definition
want of power
NASB Translation
lack of self-control (1), self-indulgence (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 192: ἀκρασία

ἀκρασία, (ας, (ἀκρατής), want of self-control, incontinence, intemperance: Matthew 23:25 (Griesbach ἀδικία); 1 Corinthians 7:5. Cf. Lob. ad Phryn., p. 524f. ((Aristotle on.))

Topical Lexicon
Concept

Strong’s Greek 192 speaks of the failure to restrain one’s appetites in thought, word, or deed. It stands opposite to the Spirit-given virtue of self-control and therefore exposes a heart vulnerable to temptation and hypocrisy.

Occurrences in Scripture

Matthew 23:25 unveils religious leaders whose polished exterior masks “greed and self-indulgence”. Jesus condemns the internal disorder that overflows in outward piety yet inward excess.

1 Corinthians 7:5 addresses married believers. A couple may agree to a brief season of abstention for prayer, “so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control”. Here the term pinpoints physical desire untethered by spiritual vigilance, underscoring marital unity as God’s safeguard.

Theological Significance

1. Human inability apart from grace. The term assumes that fallen humanity, left to itself, cannot consistently master bodily and mental impulses (Romans 7:18-19).
2. The necessity of inner transformation. Jesus’ rebuke in Matthew 23 illumines the priority of inward cleansing over external conformity (Matthew 23:26).
3. Spiritual warfare. Paul connects the susceptibility produced by this deficiency to Satanic opportunity (1 Corinthians 7:5; compare Ephesians 6:11-12).
4. Corporate holiness. Unchecked excess within leaders (Matthew 23) or households (1 Corinthians 7) threatens the integrity of the whole community (Hebrews 12:15-16).

Relation to the Broader Biblical Call to Self-Control

Galatians 5:23 lists self-control among the fruit of the Spirit, signaling divine provision for what the flesh lacks.
• Paul disciplines his body “lest after I have preached to others I myself should be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27), contrasting Spirit-enabled mastery with ἀκρασία.
• Peter urges believers to add self-control to knowledge (2 Peter 1:6) and to remain sober-minded for prayer (1 Peter 4:7).

Greco-Roman Background and Biblical Contrast

Classical writers praised measured living, yet often defined moderation relative to civic order or personal reputation. Scripture roots self-control in covenantal love of God and neighbor, identifies its absence as spiritual bondage, and answers it not with human resolve alone but with new birth and the indwelling Spirit.

Pastoral and Ministry Applications

1. Marital counseling: 1 Corinthians 7:5 encourages mutual consideration of both physical and spiritual needs, warning that prolonged deprivation may invite temptation.
2. Leadership evaluation: Matthew 23:25 cautions churches to weigh character above appearance when selecting servants of the gospel (1 Timothy 3:2-3).
3. Discipleship: Regular practices—fasting, prayer, accountability—train believers to “make no provision for the flesh” (Romans 13:14).
4. Recovery ministries: The term validates the struggle of those battling addictive behaviors while directing them to Christ’s liberating grace (Titus 2:11-12).

Historical Interpretations

• Early fathers such as Chrysostom viewed Matthew 23:25 as a warning against ostentatious almsgiving that concealed covetous motives.
• Reformers highlighted 1 Corinthians 7:5 to affirm marital intimacy as God-ordained, neither to be despised nor neglected.
• Puritan writings frequently linked the absence of self-control with spiritual lukewarmness, urging constant watchfulness (Matthew 26:41).

See Also

Self-Control (Galatians 5:23); Temperance (1 Corinthians 9:25); Sobriety (1 Thessalonians 5:6); Hypocrisy (Matthew 23:28); Spiritual Warfare (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Forms and Transliterations
ακρασιαν ακρασίαν ἀκρασίαν ακρασιας ακρασίας ἀκρασίας akrasian akrasían akrasias akrasías
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 23:25 N-GFS
GRK: ἁρπαγῆς καὶ ἀκρασίας
NAS: of robbery and self-indulgence.
KJV: extortion and excess.
INT: robbery and self-indulgence

1 Corinthians 7:5 N-AFS
GRK: διὰ τὴν ἀκρασίαν ὑμῶν
NAS: you because of your lack of self-control.
KJV: for your incontinency.
INT: because of the lack of self-control of you

Strong's Greek 192
2 Occurrences


ἀκρασίαν — 1 Occ.
ἀκρασίας — 1 Occ.

191
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