Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Context: The term "revel" refers to engaging in lively and noisy festivities, often involving drinking and dancing. In a biblical context, reveling is typically associated with indulgence in sinful behavior and is often condemned as contrary to the life of holiness expected of believers.
Biblical References: The concept of reveling is addressed in several passages throughout the Bible, where it is often listed among behaviors that are inconsistent with a life led by the Spirit. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul frequently warns against such conduct.
1.
Galatians 5:19-21: "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, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Here, reveling is implied in the mention of "orgies" and "drunkenness," which are acts of excess and lack of self-control.
2.
1 Peter 4:3: "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." The Apostle Peter admonishes believers to abandon their former ways, which included reveling, as part of their new life in Christ.
3.
Romans 13:13: "Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy." Paul encourages Christians to live honorably, contrasting the behavior of reveling with the righteous conduct expected of them.
Theological Implications: Reveling is often associated with a lack of self-control and a surrender to the desires of the flesh. It is seen as a manifestation of living according to worldly passions rather than the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Bible calls believers to a life of sobriety, self-discipline, and holiness, which stands in stark contrast to the excesses of revelry.
Moral and Ethical Considerations: From a moral standpoint, reveling is viewed as a behavior that leads individuals away from God and into a lifestyle that is destructive both spiritually and physically. It is often linked with other sinful behaviors, such as drunkenness and sexual immorality, which further alienate individuals from a righteous path.
Practical Application: Christians are encouraged to avoid situations that may lead to reveling and to seek fellowship and activities that promote spiritual growth and edification. The call to live a life that reflects the character of Christ includes exercising self-control and making choices that honor God.
Historical and Cultural Context: In the Greco-Roman world, reveling was a common part of pagan festivals and celebrations, often involving excessive drinking and immoral behavior. The early Christian community, living amidst such cultural practices, was called to stand apart and demonstrate a different way of life, one that was marked by temperance and godliness.
Conclusion: The biblical admonition against reveling serves as a reminder of the call to holiness and the transformative power of the Gospel, which enables believers to live in a manner that is pleasing to God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) See Reveal.
2. (n.) A feast with loose and noisy jollity; riotous festivity or merrymaking; a carousal.
3. (v. i.) To feast in a riotous manner; to carouse; to act the bacchanalian; to make merry.
4. (v. i.) To move playfully; to indulge without restraint.
5. (v. t.) To draw back; to retract.
Greek
1792. entruphao -- torevel in... to
revel in. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: entruphao Phonetic Spelling:
(en-troo-fah'-o) Short Definition: I
revel in, live luxuriously Definition: I
...2970. komos -- a village festival,revel
... a village festival,revel. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: komos
Phonetic Spelling: (ko'-mos) Short Definition: a feasting, reveling Definition...
2165. euphraino -- to cheer, make merry
... Definition: I cheer, make glad; generally mid. or pass: I am glad, make
merry,revel, feast. 2165 -- (from 2095 , "good" and 5424...
4910. suneuocheomai -- to entertain together, pass. feast together
... good condition, ie (by implication) to fare well, or feast); to entertain sumptuously
in company with, ie (middle voice or passive) torevel together -- feast...
4763. streniao -- to run riot
... of Speech: Verb Transliteration: streniao Phonetic Spelling: (stray-nee-ah'-o) Short
Definition: I live luxuriously Definition: I live luxuriously,revel, riot...
5171. truphao -- to live luxuriously
... library.]. Word Origin from truphe Definition to live luxuriously NASB Word
Usage lived luxuriously (1).revel, live in pleasure. From...
5172. truphe -- softness, daintiness, luxuriousness
... Word Origin from thrupto (to break) Definition softness, daintiness, luxuriousness
NASB Word Usage luxury (1),revel (1). delicately, riot....
Strong's Hebrew
4797. mirzach -- banquet... Word Origin the same as marzeach, qv. banquet From an unused root meaning to scream;
a cry, ie (of job), a
revel -- banquet. 4796, 4797. mirzach. 4798 .
...Library
Revel. 3. 19. Be Zealous.
...Revel. 3. 19. Be zealous. [Sidenote: Mat.24.12.] [Sidenote: 1 Kin.1.1.].
This watch-word of Christ, if it be not now a word in season...
The Love of Rameses
... depart. To-night he received noble Memphis for a finalrevel.... completeness. The
tables were removed and the stage of therevel was far advanced....
The Third Part.
... [Sidenote: 3. Effects of zeale.Revel.12.]. [Sidenote: Opus operatum.].... Paul, A chosen
vessell, &c. [Sidenote:Revel.12.]. [Sidenote:Revel.7.3. Ezek.9. Exod.12....
That Evening Vergilius Went to Feast with the Young Herodian...
... Soon the banquet had become arevel of song and laughter.... Good women were better
forgotten at a midnightrevel.". A moment of silence followed....
The Calvary Road
... Title Page. The Calvary Road by. Roy andRevel Hession. Christian
Literature Crusade Fort Washington, Pennsylvania....
Ignorance of Evil.
... the occasion. They canrevel with those thatrevel, and they can speak
serious things when their society is serious. They travel...
The Son of the Murket
... and well beloved by youthful Memphis, so on the night of the fifth day, the house
of Senci was aglow and in her banquet-room there was much youngrevel in his...
The Coming of the Pharaoh
... a crowd. But these incidents drew the attention of the populace only
momentarily from therevel of the nobility on the Nile. For...
Moody's Stories
... Title Page. Moody's Stories INCIDENTS and ILLUSTRATIONS [Illustration]. Copyrighted,
1884, by FHRevel. Printed in United States of America. Moody's Stories....
A Coale from the Altar.
... A Coale from the Altar.Revel.3.19. [Greek: Zeloson]: Be Zealous. Zeale
hath been little practized, lesse studied: this heavenly...
Thesaurus
Revel (6 Occurrences)...Revel (6 Occurrences). 1 Timothy 5:11 and younger widows be refusing, for when
they may
revel against the Christ, they wish to marry, (YLT).
...Riot (14 Occurrences)
... 4. (vi) To engage in riot; to act in an unrestrained or wanton manner; to indulge
in excess of luxury, feasting, or the like; torevel; to run riot; to go to...
Reveling (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) ofRevel. Multi-Version Concordance
Reveling (3 Occurrences). Romans 13:13 Let us walk...
Reveals (14 Occurrences)
Unrighteousness (57 Occurrences)
... 2 Peter 2:13 receiving the wages of unrighteousness; people who count it pleasure
torevel in the daytime, spots and blemishes, reveling in their deceit while...
Wake (34 Occurrences)
... army. 2. (vi) To be or to continue awake; to watch; not to sleep. 3. (vi)
To sit up late festive purposes; to hold a nightrevel. 4...
Wanton (20 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) A lewd person; a lascivious man or woman. 8. (vi) To rove and ramble without
restraint, rule, or limit; torevel; to play loosely; to frolic....
Revelry (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The act of engaging in arevel; noisy festivity;
reveling. Multi-Version Concordance Revelry (8 Occurrences)....
Revellings (2 Occurrences)
... In Romans 13:13 the Revised Version has "revelling" instead of the King James Version
"rioting," and in 2 Peter 2:13, "revel" replaces "riot." Similarly in...
Refusing (21 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 1 Timothy 5:11 and younger widows be refusing, for when they mayrevel
against the Christ, they wish to marry, (YLT). Hebrews...
Resources
What are revellings in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Christian mysticism? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is a pagan? What is paganism? | GotQuestions.orgRevel: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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