4 Maccabees 2:3

3 For when he was young and in his prime for intercourse, by his reason he nullified the frenzy of the passions.

4 Maccabees 2:3 In-Context

1 And why is it amazing that the desires of the mind for the enjoyment of beauty are rendered powerless?

2 It is for this reason, certainly, that the temperate Joseph is praised, because by mental effort he overcame sexual desire.

3 For when he was young and in his prime for intercourse, by his reason he nullified the frenzy of the passions.

4 Not only is reason proved to rule over the frenzied urge of sexual desire, but also over every desire.

5 Thus the law says, "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife or anything that is your neighbor's."

Footnotes

• [a] Or [gadfly]