Post published by Chris_Cactusblossom

I think the NIV gets it right on this one: "Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city." The idea being expressed is about self-control, which is a gift of the Spirit. We attain it by trading in our tired, broken lives for Life in Christ, which is an ongoing, daily process.

Yes, but the point is to distinguish between spirit, mind, and self. Those terms are used interchangeable a lot of the time, but 'spirit' implies something close to God, to my mind, whereas it's the lower self that's being dominated - the seat of the animal passions. I suppose 'self-control's not bad as a phrase, but I've only got the KJV to work with.

Why the limitation to just the KJV? Access to many translations is available online.

He who is slow to anger is better and more honorable than the mighty soldier, and he who rules and controls his own spirit, than he who captures a city. This is the amplified it then has in the foot notes as follows.

Better and more honorable than the mighty. Even though one of the most favored persons in the middle east was the military hero, this proverb suggests that one who is "slow to anger" or "who rules and controls his own spirit"is a greater hero than a returning warrior.

So if we can conquer and quiet our troubled noisy souls we will be blessed indeed. Psalm 131 is a good one to meditate on and it's only 3 verses to remember. "But I have calmed and quietened my soul like a weaned child with its mother"

I appreciate your point Chris about dealing with the 'animal'! It certainly feels like that often! I'm trying to think about keeping this body a temple of God, and sacrificing the desires of that animal as an act of worship to God.