Bible Lexicons

In an Imperial Edict regarding the remission of the aurum coronarium, P Fay 20 (iv/A.D.), the Emperor Julian (see Archiv ii. p. 169) claims that, ever since he became Caesar, he had striven to restore vigour to what was in decline, 14 οὐχ ὅρων ζητήσεσιν ἀλλὰ σωφρο [σύνῃ ], μόνον οὐ πρὸς τὸ ἴδιον γινομένων ἀναλωμάτων, ";not by acquisitions of territory (?) but by economy, limiting expenditure to public purposes"; (Edd.). Later in the same document the word is used in the more general sense of ";discretion,"; .21 μετὰ τοσαύτης κοσμιότητος καὶ σωφροσύνης καὶ ἐγκρατείας τὰ τῆς βασιλείας διοικοῦντα, ";acting with so much propriety and discretion and moderation in the administration of his kingdom"; (Edd.) : cf. Acts 26:25. With this may be compared a sepulchral inscr. from Egypt published in Archiv v. p. 169, in which a certain woman Seratks records the ";good sense"; of her mother and brother—ὧν καὶ ἡ σωφροσύνη κατὰ τὸν κόσμον λελάληται. See also Syll 344/5 (= .3 757/8).6 (B.C. 49–8), an inscr. in honour of Cornelia διά τε τὴν περὶ αὐτὴν σωφροσύνην καὶ τὴν πρὸς τὸν δῆμον εὔνοιαν, and Preisigke 5037 ἐκτανύσασα σωφροσύνῃ καὶ φιλανδρίᾳ.

With the meaning ";self-control"; in 2 Timothy 2:9 may be compared the application to ";chastity"; in BGU IV. 1024viii. 15 (cited s.v. πενιχρός). Add Aristeas 237, 248, and see A. C. Pearson Verbal Scholarship, p. 21.