Topical Encyclopedia
Carousing, often associated with excessive drinking and revelry, is addressed in the Bible as a behavior contrary to the life of righteousness and self-control that believers are called to pursue. The term is frequently linked with other forms of debauchery and is seen as a manifestation of the sinful nature that Christians are urged to abandon.
Biblical References:1.
Galatians 5:19-21 · In his letter to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul lists carousing among the "acts of the flesh." He warns, "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" . Here, carousing is depicted as a barrier to inheriting the kingdom of God, emphasizing its seriousness.
2.
1 Peter 4:3 · The Apostle Peter also addresses the issue, reminding believers of their past lives before coming to Christ: "For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry" . Peter encourages Christians to leave behind such behaviors, highlighting the transformation expected in the life of a believer.
3.
Romans 13:13 · Paul exhorts the Roman Christians to live honorably, contrasting the life of a believer with that of one who engages in carousing: "Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy" . This passage underscores the call to live a life that reflects the light of Christ, avoiding behaviors associated with darkness.
Theological Implications:Carousing is often seen as a symptom of a deeper spiritual issue—an indulgence in the desires of the flesh rather than a life led by the Spirit. The New Testament consistently calls believers to a life of sobriety, self-control, and holiness, contrasting the fleeting pleasures of carousing with the eternal joy found in a relationship with God.
Moral and Ethical Considerations:From a moral standpoint, carousing is viewed as a destructive behavior that not only harms the individual but also disrupts community and fellowship. It is often associated with a lack of self-control and can lead to further sinful actions. The Bible encourages believers to exercise discipline and to be filled with the Spirit, which produces fruit such as love, joy, peace, and self-control (
Galatians 5:22-23).
Practical Application:Christians are encouraged to avoid environments and situations that may lead to carousing. Instead, they are called to seek fellowship with other believers, engage in activities that build up the body of Christ, and pursue a lifestyle that honors God. This involves making conscious choices to abstain from excessive drinking and revelry, and instead, to focus on living a life that reflects the character of Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Carouse.
2. (a.) That carouses; relating to a carouse.
Greek
4224. potos -- a drinking bout... a drinking bout. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: potos Phonetic
Spelling: (pot'-os) Short Definition: a drinking,
carousing Definition: a
...2970. komos -- a village festival, revel
... Wuest,, 112).]. Word Origin from kome Definition a village festival, revel
NASB Word Usagecarousing (3). reveling, rioting. From...
Library
Sunday after Ascension Day
... His meaning is: It is not for Christians to lead lives heathenish, profligate and
riotous; to indulge in gormandizing, guzzling,carousing and demoralizing of...
DL Moody
... already here; observing, "I do not think the day is far distant when our Lord will
return." And again, "just as judgment overtook Belshazzarcarousing at his...
Fourth Commandment
... Or do you neglect the house of God on the sabbath day, and spend your time drinking
andcarousing in places of vice and crime, showing contempt for God and His...
State of Affairs in 311
... Diocletian's characterization of him was, according to Lactantius (c.18), as ejaculated
to Galerius, "That dancing,carousing drunkard who turns night into day...
The Epistle of Judas
... 12 These people are stains on your love-feasts; they have no qualms aboutcarousing
in your midst, they look after none but themselves"rainless clouds...
The True Manner of Keeping Holy the Lord's Day.
... weigh and consider whether dancing, stage-playing, masking, carding, dicing, tabling,
chess-playing, bowling, shooting, bear-baiting,carousing, tippling, and...
The Lord's Prayer: the Preface in Matthew
... There are always many who are rather pleasure-loving than God-loving in their seeming
prayer who debauch prayer amid banqueting andcarousing, standing in...
Mene, Tekel, Peres
... Further, Belshazzar wascarousing while the Medes and Persians were ringing Babylon
round, and his hand should have been grasping a sword, not a wine-cup....
The Martyrdom of John
... Conscience may be bound and thrust down into a dungeon, like John, and lust and
pride may becarousing overhead, but their mirth is hollow, and every now and...
There is a Blessedness in Reversion
... of the wrath of the Lord' (Ezekiel 7:19). King Belshazzar wascarousing
and ranting it. He drank wine in the golden vessels of the...
Thesaurus
Carousing (4 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Carouse. 2. (a.) That carouses;
relating to a carouse. Multi-Version Concordance
Carousing (4 Occurrences).
...Unexpectedly (5 Occurrences)
... Luke 21:34 "So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down withcarousing,
drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly....
Loaded (21 Occurrences)
... Luke 21:34 "So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down withcarousing,
drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly....
Worries (6 Occurrences)
... Luke 21:34 "So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down withcarousing,
drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly....
Dissipation (4 Occurrences)
... Luke 21:34 "So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down withcarousing,
drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly....
Carouse (3 Occurrences)
Cares (28 Occurrences)
... Luke 21:34 "So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down withcarousing,
drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly....
Carousings (1 Occurrence)
Suddenly (87 Occurrences)
... Luke 21:34 "So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down withcarousing,
drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly....
Benhadad (24 Occurrences)
... Encouraged by the elders of the people, and acting on the counsel of a prophet,
Ahab made a sortie and falling upon thecarousing Syrians put them so...
Resources
What are revellings in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgIs Christian country music appropriate? | GotQuestions.orgIs Christmas related to Saturnalia? | GotQuestions.orgCarousing: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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