Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the concept of a "party" can be understood in various ways, ranging from social gatherings and celebrations to more solemn feasts and religious observances. The Bible provides numerous examples of parties, both in the Old and New Testaments, highlighting their significance in cultural, religious, and social contexts.
Old Testament CelebrationsThe Old Testament frequently mentions feasts and celebrations, often commanded by God as part of the religious life of Israel. These gatherings were not merely social events but were deeply rooted in spiritual significance. For instance, the Feast of Passover was a time of remembrance and celebration of God's deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt (
Exodus 12:14-17). Similarly, the Feast of Tabernacles was a time of rejoicing and thanksgiving for the harvest (
Leviticus 23:33-43).
In addition to these religious feasts, there are instances of more secular celebrations. For example, in the book of Esther, the Jews established the Feast of Purim to commemorate their deliverance from Haman's plot (
Esther 9:20-22). This celebration involved feasting, gladness, and the giving of gifts.
New Testament GatheringsIn the New Testament, Jesus Himself participated in social gatherings and feasts. One notable example is the wedding at Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle by turning water into wine (
John 2:1-11). This event underscores the importance of joy and celebration in the life of believers.
Jesus also used the setting of a party to teach important spiritual truths. In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the father throws a lavish party to celebrate the return of his lost son, symbolizing God's joy over the repentance of sinners (
Luke 15:22-24). This parable highlights the themes of forgiveness, restoration, and divine grace.
Warnings and CautionsWhile the Bible acknowledges the place of celebration, it also warns against excess and indulgence.
Proverbs 23:20-21 cautions, "Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags." The New Testament echoes this sentiment, urging believers to live soberly and avoid debauchery (
Ephesians 5:18).
The Apostle Paul addresses the issue of inappropriate behavior at gatherings in
1 Corinthians 11:20-22, where he criticizes the Corinthians for their conduct during the Lord's Supper. He emphasizes the need for reverence and self-control, reminding believers that their gatherings should honor God.
Spiritual SignificanceParties and celebrations in the Bible often carry a deeper spiritual significance. They serve as reminders of God's faithfulness, provision, and the joy found in His presence. The ultimate celebration for believers is the anticipated "wedding supper of the Lamb," described in
Revelation 19:9, where the redeemed will rejoice eternally with Christ.
In summary, while the Bible acknowledges the role of parties and celebrations in human life, it consistently points to the importance of moderation, reverence, and the pursuit of spiritual joy over mere worldly pleasure.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A part or portion.
2. (n.) A number of persons united in opinion or action, as distinguished from, or opposed to, the rest of a community or association; esp., one of the parts into which a people is divided on questions of public policy.
3. (n.) A part of a larger body of company; a detachment; especially (Mil.), a small body of troops dispatched on special service.
4. (n.) A number of persons invited to a social entertainment; a select company; as, a dinner party; also, the entertainment itself; as, to give a party.
5. (n.) One concerned or interested in an affair; one who takes part with others; a participator; as, he was a party to the plot; a party to the contract.
6. (n.) The plaintiff or the defendant in a lawsuit, whether an individual, a firm, or corporation; a litigant.
7. (v.) Hence, any certain person who is regarded as being opposed or antagonistic to another.
8. (v.) Cause; side; interest.
9. (n.) A person; as, he is a queer party.
10. (v.) Parted or divided, as in the direction or form of one of the ordinaries; as, an escutcheon party per pale.
11. (v.) Partial; favoring one party.
12. (adv.) Partly.
Greek
4849. sumposion -- a drinkingparty, company (guests at aparty)... a drinking
party, company (guests at a
party). Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: sumposion Phonetic Spelling: (soom-pos'-ee-on) Short Definition:
...2208. Zelotes -- the Zealot, a member of a Jewish politicalparty
... Zelotes. 2209 . the Zealot, a member of a Jewish politicalparty. Transliteration:
Zelotes Phonetic Spelling: (dzay-lo-tace') Short Definition: Zealot....
2828. klisia -- a place for reclining
... company,party at a meal. From a derivative of klino; properly, reclination, ie
(concretely and specially), aparty at a meal -- company. see GREEK klino....
2970. komos -- a village festival, revel
... 2970 (originally, village-merrymaking that took place at the gathering of the grapes,
Souter) -- a riotousparty (drunken feast) which hosted unbridled sexual...
4523. Saddoukaios -- a Sadducee, a member of a Jewish religious...
... Saddoukaios Phonetic Spelling: (sad-doo-kah'-yos) Short Definition: a Sadducee
Definition: a Sadducee, a member of the aristocraticparty among the Jews, from...
139. hairesis -- choice, opinion
... heresy, sect. From haireomai; properly, a choice, ie (specially) aparty or (abstractly)
disunion -- heresy (which is the Greek word itself), sect....
3346. metatithemi -- to transfer, change
... Phonetic Spelling: (met-at-ith'-ay-mee) Short Definition: I transfer, desert, change
Definition: (a) I transfer, mid: I go over to anotherparty, desert, (b) I...
4272. prodidomi -- to give before, give first
... first give. From pro and didomi; to give before the otherparty has given -- first
give. see GREEK pro. see GREEK didomi. (proedoken) -- 1 Occurrence....
3313. meros -- a part, share, portion
... case (2), country (1), detail (1), district (3), districts (2), group (1), individually
(1), part (11), partial (2), partially (1), parts (3),party (1), piece...
592. apodiorizo -- to mark off
... to cause divisions. From apo and a compound of Alexandros and horizo; to disjoin
(by a boundary, figuratively, aparty) -- separate. see GREEK apo....
Strong's Hebrew
2434. chayits -- aparty wall... 2433, 2434. chayits. 2435 . a
party wall. Transliteration: chayits Phonetic
Spelling: (khah'-yits) Short Definition: wall. Word
...679. atstsil -- a joining, joint
... joint of the hand. From 'atsal (in its primary sense of uniting); a joint of the
hand (ie Knuckle); also (according to some) aparty-wall (Ezek....
340. ayab -- to be hostile to
... be an enemy. A primitive root; to hate (as one of an opposite tribe orparty); hence
to be hostile -- be an enemy. 339, 340. ayab. 341 . Strong's Numbers.
4931. mishmereth -- a guard, watch, charge, function
... Observance, ie (abstr.) Duty or (obj.) A usage orparty -- charge, keep, or to be
kept, office, ordinace, safeguard, ward, watch. see HEBREW mishmar....
Library
The SurpriseParty.
... THE VALUE OF A PRAYING MOTHER CHAPTER XIV. THE SURPRISEPARTY.... "Oh, Mama, the motions
they made at theparty last night were anything but graceful....
That There is a MalignantParty Still in the Kingdom.
... Section I. That There Is A MalignantParty Still In The Kingdom. That There
Is A MalignantParty Still In The Kingdom. In the entry...
The Bishops of theParty of Julius and Hosius Held Another Session...
... Chapter XII."The Bishops of theParty of Julius and Hosius held another Session
and deposed the Eastern High Priests, and also made a Formulary of Faith....
None of YourParty, O Manes, Will You Make a Galatian...
... 36 None of yourparty, O Manes, will you make a Galatian? None of your
party, [1819] O Manes, will you make a Galatian; neither...
When Sylla and hisParty were Informed what Happened to Me...
... Section 73. When Sylla and hisparty were informed what happened to me?
73. When Sylla and hisparty were informed what happened...
Whether oneParty after the Marriage Has Been Consummated Can...
... OF THE IMPEDIMENT TO MARRIAGE, ARISING FROM A SOLEMN VOW (THREE ARTICLES) Whether
oneparty after the marriage has been consummated can enter religion without...
That the Present Public Resolutions, Expressed in the Commission's...
... That The Present Public Resolutions, Expressed In The Commission's Answer To The
Parliament's Query, And The Act Of The Levy, Do Not Exclude ThatParty....
That it is not Lawful for the Well Affected Subjects to Concur in...
... Section IV. That It Is Not Lawful For The Well Affected Subjects To Concur In Such
An Engagement In War, And Associate With The MalignantParty....
In the Meantime, the Emperor Compels those Deputies of OurParty...
... Book II. Chapter XLIII. In the meantime, the emperor compels those deputies
of ourparty who had been sent? In the meantime, the...
1869-1870. Emigration of Families --A visitor's Impressions --The...
... Emigration of families"A visitor's impressions"The great life-work "Emigration
of the young, begun 1870"Firstparty of boys to Canada with Miss...
Thesaurus
Party (47 Occurrences)... 4. (n.) A number of persons invited to a social entertainment; a select company;
as, a dinner
party; also, the entertainment itself; as, to give a
party.
...Side (4225 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) The position of a person orparty regarded as opposed to another person
orparty, whether as a rival or a foe; a body of advocates or partisans; aparty...
Bolt (5 Occurrences)
... 11. (vt) To refuse to support, as a nomination made by aparty to which one
has belonged or by a caucus in which one has taken part. 12....
Adverse (6 Occurrences)
... Matthew 5:25 Make friends with thine adverseparty quickly, whilst thou art in the
way with him; lest some time the adverseparty deliver thee to the judge...
Sect (10 Occurrences)
... Acts 24:14; 1 Chronicles 11:19; Galatians 5:20, etc.), meaning properly "a choice,"
then "a chosen manner of life," and then "a religiousparty," as the "sect...
Herodians (3 Occurrences)
... A Jewish politicalparty who sympathized with (Mark 3:6; 12:13; Matt, 22:16; Luke
20:20) the Herodian rulers in their general policy of government, and in the...
Partisan (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) An adherent to aparty or faction; one who
is strongly and passionately devoted to aparty or an interest....
Split (36 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To divide or break up into parts or divisions, as by discord; to separate
into parts or parties, as a politicalparty; to disunite....
Shebna (9 Occurrences)
... 22:15-25). He appears to have been the leader of theparty who favoured
an alliance with Egypt against Assyria. It is conjectured...
Sadducees (14 Occurrences)
... toward Hellenism as Causing Rise of Chacidhim 3. Favored by Alexander Janneus: Put
in the Background by Alexandra Salome 4. From a PoliticalParty, but also...
Resources
Should a Christian have a bachelor/bachelorette party? | GotQuestions.orgShould Christians go to parties? What does the Bible say about partying? | GotQuestions.orgIs the KKK a Christian organization? | GotQuestions.orgParty: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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