I have nothing against the teaching of the Four Temperaments as long as it is kept in proper perspective. Even though there may be some truth to the teachings of the four temperaments, it is Important To Remember that the four temperaments Deal With The Flesh or the Adamic Nature. They are Not Subject To The Laws of God, neither indeed can be.
Romans 8:5-7, "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."
To try to achieve Spirit Controled Temperaments is like trying to achieve a Spirit Controled Adamic Nature (the flesh). You cannot control the flesh. God never tells us to control the flesh but rather to Crucifiy It.
Galatians 5:22-25, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."
To use your Temperament As An Excuse for your actions or attitudes is similar to people from different countries using their nationality as an excuse for some of their actions or attitudes. For you to say, "Well, thats just the way I am and I can't change," or "Well, thats the way God made me," won't wash with God. God Not Only Says That We Can Change, He Commands Us To Do So.
2 Corinthians 5:15-17, "And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. ..... 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
2 Peter 1:5-8, "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
The following will give you a little History of The Four Temperaments.
The four temperaments, which had largely gone out of style since
medieval times, have become popular among evangelical Christians in the same way that
astrology has risen in popularity among non-Christians.
From ancient times through the Middle Ages, the origin of the four
temperaments lie in ancient myths and occult practices. Physicians and philosophers used
their understanding of the four humors (bodily fluids), the four temperaments, and signs
of the zodiac. The four temperaments evolved from a mythological, astrological view of man
and the universe.
The connection between personalities based upon bodily fluids and
personalities based upon the arrangements of heavenly bodies was the astrological belief
that each person is a microcosm of the universe.
In his book Psychological Types, Carl Jung says:
"From the earliest times attempts have been made to classify
individuals according to types, and so to bring order into the chaos. The oldest attempts
known to us were made by oriental astrologers who devised the so-called trigons of the
four elements --- air, water, earth, and fire. The air trigon in the horoscope consists of
the three aerial signs of the zodiac, Aquarius, Gemini, Libra; the fire trigon is made up
of Aries, Leo, Sagittarius. According to this age old view, whoever is born in these
trigons shares in their aerial or fiery nature and will have a corresponding temperament
and fate. Closely connected with this ancient cosmological scheme is the physiological
typology of antiquity, the division into four temperaments corresponding to the four
humours. What was first represented by the signs of the zodiac was later expressed in the
physiological language of Greek medicine, giving us the classification into the
phlegmatic, sanguine, choleric, and melancholic. These are simply designations for the
secretions of the body. As is well known, this typology lasted at least seventeen hundred
years. As for the astrological type theory, to the astonishment of the enlightened it
still remains intact today, and is even enjoying a new vogue."
Medieval charts, diagrams and aphoristic poems prove that astrology
was used together with the four humors and temperaments both in medicine and in daily
affairs.
The four temperaments were finally devalued and considered relics of
limited, ancient attempts to understand and deal with individual differences. Although
they remained a point of historical novelty, they are often totally ignored in current
psychology textbooks. In fact, few scholars give serious attention to the four temperament
classifications, except as historical reference.
Nevertheless, the temperaments have been enjoying a revival outside
of scientific circles --- among Evangelical Christians.
Christians Do Not Need Pagan Beliefs And Practices, Such As The
Four Temperaments, To Grow Spiritually.
Element |
Qualities |
Humomr |
Type |
Season |
Traits |
Zodiac |
Air |
Warm Moist |
Blood |
Sanguine |
Spring |
Cheerful Warm |
Gemini Libra
Aquarius |
Fire |
Warm Dry |
Yellow Bile |
Choleric |
Summer |
Quick to Anger |
Aries Leo
Sagittarius |
Earth |
Cold Dry |
Black Bile |
Melancholy |
Autumn |
Melancholy |
Taurus Virgo
Capricorn |
Water |
Cold Moist |
Phlegm |
Phlegmatic |
Winter |
Placid, Sluggish |
Cancer Scorpio
Pisces |