Soberness, as a biblical concept, refers to a state of mental clarity, self-control, and temperance. It is a quality that is highly esteemed in Scripture, often associated with wisdom, righteousness, and spiritual vigilance. The Bible encourages believers to cultivate soberness as part of their Christian walk, emphasizing its importance in maintaining a life that is pleasing to God.

Old Testament Context

While the specific term "soberness" is not frequently used in the Old Testament, the concept is present in the call to live a life of wisdom and self-control. Proverbs, a book dedicated to imparting wisdom, often contrasts the life of the wise with that of the foolish, implicitly advocating for a sober-minded approach to life. Proverbs 20:1 warns, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise." This verse highlights the dangers of losing soberness through intoxication, urging believers to exercise restraint.

New Testament Context

The New Testament explicitly addresses the concept of soberness, particularly in the context of Christian living and leadership. The Apostle Paul frequently exhorts believers to be sober-minded. In 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 , Paul writes, "So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night; and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation." Here, soberness is linked with spiritual alertness and readiness for the return of Christ.

Paul also emphasizes soberness in the qualifications for church leaders. In 1 Timothy 3:2 , he states, "An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach." The term "temperate" is often understood as being sober-minded, indicating that leaders in the church must exhibit this quality as part of their character.

Soberness and Spiritual Warfare

Soberness is also crucial in the context of spiritual warfare. The Apostle Peter warns believers in 1 Peter 5:8 , "Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." This passage underscores the necessity of maintaining a sober mind to resist the devil's schemes and stand firm in faith.

Practical Application

In practical terms, soberness involves a disciplined lifestyle that avoids excess and maintains focus on spiritual priorities. It requires believers to be vigilant, discerning, and self-controlled in their thoughts, actions, and interactions with the world. Soberness is not merely the absence of intoxication but encompasses a broader sense of living with purpose and clarity, guided by the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion

The biblical call to soberness is a call to live a life marked by self-control, spiritual vigilance, and readiness for the return of Christ. It is a quality that enables believers to navigate the challenges of life with wisdom and grace, standing firm against the temptations and distractions of the world.(n.) The quality or state of being sober.SOBER; SOBRIETY; SOBERNESS

In a few passages, the Greek verb nepho and its derivative adjective nephalios are used in the same sense. The word originally had a physical meaning, as opposed to drunkenness, and is thus used in 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 8, as the foundation of the deeper meaning. Used metaphorically also in the Pastoral Epistles and 1 Peter, as sometimes in the classics, for "cool," "unimpassioned." Ellicott, on 1 Timothy 3:2, 11, distinguishes between the two words by regarding sophron "as pointing to the outward exhibition of the inward virtue" implied in nephalios.

H. E. Jacobs

366. ananepho -- to return to soberness, ie regain one's senses
... to return to soberness, ie regain one's senses. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
ananepho Phonetic Spelling: (an-an-ay'-fo) Short Definition: I become ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/366.htm - 6k

1594. eknepho -- to become sober (after drunkenness)
... become sober (after drunkenness). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: eknepho
Phonetic Spelling: (ek-nay'-fo) Short Definition: I return to soberness of mind ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1594.htm - 7k

4997. sophrosune -- soundness of mind, self-control
... soberness, sobriety. From sophron; soundness of mind, ie (literally) sanity or
(figuratively) self-control -- soberness, sobriety. see GREEK sophron. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4997.htm - 7k

The Almost Christian
... apostle (like a true follower of the holy Jesus) meekly replies, I am not mad, most
noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness." But in all ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the almost christian.htm

Honour the Bishop.
... Moreover, [1032] it is in accordance with reason that we should return to soberness
[of conduct], and, while yet we have opportunity, exercise repentance ...
/.../the epistle of ignatius to the smyrnaeans/chapter ix honour the bishop.htm

The Transfiguration
... Any one who will consider the gospels, will see that there is a peculiar calm, a
soberness and modesty about them, very different from what we should have ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon iii the transfiguration.htm

The Last Two Verses of Chapterviii. ...
... Like a feather in the blast, our kingly and wise preacher (beyond whom none can
ever go) is whirled, for the time being, from his soberness, and, in sorrow ...
/.../jennings/old groans and new songs/chapter ix the last two.htm

The Nature of Enthusiasm
... possessed of a "kingdom which cannot be moved": but they have it not; consequently,
all their following behaviour is as wide of truth and soberness as that of ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 37 the nature of.htm

Rom. xii. 1
... "thyself as a sacrifice"), and become the priest of thine own body, and of the virtue
of thy soul; as, for example, when you offer soberness, when alms-giving ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xx rom xii 1.htm

Hypocrisy
... come to us as a matter of course; growing up in us naturally and honestly, without
any affectation or hypocrisy, and the purity and soberness, the reverence ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xxxvii hypocrisy.htm

Sunday after Ascension Day
... EXHORTATION TO SOBERNESS. ... Resistance is effected only through faith and prayer.
But soberness and vigilance are necessary to enable one to pray. ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/sunday after ascension day.htm

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners Or, a Brief Relation of ...
... 5. Yea, so settled and rooted was I in these things, that they became as a second
nature to me; the which, as I have also with soberness considered since, did ...
/.../bunyan/grace abounding to the chief of sinners/grace abounding to the chief.htm

Shall we Go?
... How can it be said, with any soberness of practical meaning, that He is in need,
and in desperate need? Yet, let me repeat very quietly, that it is even so. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on following the christ/shall we go.htm

Soberness (2 Occurrences)
... SOBER; SOBRIETY; SOBERNESS. In a few passages, the Greek verb nepho and its derivative
adjective nephalios are used in the same sense. ...Soberness (2 Occurrences). ...
/s/soberness.htm - 7k

Sobriety (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Habitual soberness or temperance as to the use
of spirituous liquors; as, a man of sobriety. ... SOBER; SOBRIETY; SOBERNESS. ...
/s/sobriety.htm - 8k

Sober (18 Occurrences)
... SOBER; SOBRIETY; SOBERNESS. ... Sober (18 Occurrences). Acts 26:25 But he said, I am
not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. ...
/s/sober.htm - 12k

Utter (111 Occurrences)
... me. (DBY). Acts 26:25 But Paul said, I am not mad, most excellent Festus,
but utter words of truth and soberness; (DBY NAS). Romans ...
/u/utter.htm - 35k

Insane (10 Occurrences)
... WBS NIV). Acts 26:25 But he said, I am not insane, most noble Festus; but
speak forth the words of truth and soberness. (WBS NIV). 1 ...
/i/insane.htm - 9k

Recover (37 Occurrences)
... of the New Testament; Mark 16:18 (for kalos hexousin) and 2 Timothy 2:26 (from ananepho,
the Revised Version margin "Greek: `return to soberness' "); but the ...
/r/recover.htm - 21k

Sober-mindedness (1 Occurrence)
Sober-mindedness. Sober-minded, Sober-mindedness. Soberness . Multi-Version
Concordance ... (WEY). Sober-minded, Sober-mindedness. Soberness . Reference Bible
/s/sober-mindedness.htm - 6k

Noble (61 Occurrences)
... (KJV BBE WBS YLT). Acts 26:25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but
speak forth the words of truth and soberness. (KJV WEY BBE WBS YLT). ...
/n/noble.htm - 27k

Mad (22 Occurrences)
... Acts 26:25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth
the words of truth and soberness. (KJV WEY ASV DBY YLT RSV). ...
/m/mad.htm - 19k

True (305 Occurrences)
... Acts 26:25 and he saith, 'I am not mad, most noble Festus, but of truth and
soberness the sayings I speak forth; (See BBE NIV). Romans ...
/t/true%20.htm - 33k

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