Topical Encyclopedia
The term "sensual" in the Bible often carries a negative connotation, referring to behavior driven by the desires of the flesh rather than the Spirit. It is associated with a focus on physical pleasures and worldly desires, which can lead individuals away from a life that honors God.
In the New Testament, the Greek word often translated as "sensual" is "psychikos," which pertains to the natural or earthly life, as opposed to the spiritual life. This term is used to describe those who are governed by their natural instincts and desires rather than by the Holy Spirit.
James 3:15 provides a clear depiction of the nature of sensual wisdom: "Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic." Here, James contrasts godly wisdom, which is pure and peace-loving, with earthly wisdom that is characterized by envy and selfish ambition. Sensual wisdom is thus depicted as being rooted in earthly desires and is ultimately destructive.
Jude 1:19 also addresses the concept of sensuality: "These are the ones who cause divisions, who are worldly and devoid of the Spirit." In this context, sensual individuals are those who create discord within the community of believers, driven by their worldly desires and lacking the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The Apostle Paul, in his letters, frequently warns against living according to the flesh, which includes sensual desires. In
Galatians 5:19-21, he lists the "acts of the flesh," which include sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery, among others. Paul contrasts these with the "fruit of the Spirit" in
Galatians 5:22-23, urging believers to live by the Spirit and not gratify the desires of the flesh.
In the Old Testament, sensuality is often linked with idolatry and unfaithfulness to God. The prophets frequently rebuke Israel for pursuing sensual pleasures and turning away from God's commandments. For example, in
Hosea 4:10-12, the prophet condemns Israel for their unfaithfulness, stating, "They will eat but not be satisfied; they will engage in prostitution but not increase, because they have deserted the LORD to give themselves to prostitution, old wine, and new wine, which take away understanding."
The Bible consistently calls believers to live a life that is set apart from the sensual desires of the world. In
Romans 12:1-2, Paul urges Christians to offer their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, and to be transformed by the renewing of their minds. This transformation involves rejecting the patterns of this world, including its sensual temptations, and embracing a life led by the Spirit.
In summary, the biblical perspective on sensuality is one of caution and warning. Sensual desires are seen as contrary to the life God calls His people to live. Believers are encouraged to seek the things of the Spirit, which lead to life and peace, rather than the fleeting pleasures of the flesh.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Devoted to the pleasures of sense and appetite; luxurious; voluptuous; lewd; libidinous.
2. (a.) Pertaining to, consisting in, or affecting, the sense, or bodily organs of perception; relating to, or concerning, the body, in distinction from the spirit.
3. (a.) Hence, not spiritual or intellectual; carnal; fleshly; pertaining to, or consisting in, the gratification of the senses, or the indulgence of appetites; worldly.
4. (a.) Pertaining or peculiar to the philosophical doctrine of sensualism.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
SENSUALsen'-shoo-al (psuchikos, "animal," "natural"): Biblical psychology has no English equivalent for this Greek original. Man subject to the lower appetites is sarkikos, "fleshly"; in the communion of his spirit with God he is pneumatikos, "spiritual." Between the two is the psuche, "soul," the center of his personal being. This ego or "I"in each man is bound to the spirit, the higher nature; and to the body or lower nature.
The soul (psuche) as the seat of the senses, desires, affections, appetites, passions, i.e. the lower animal nature common to man with the beasts, was distinguished in the Pythagorean and Platonic philosophy from the higher rational nature (nous, pneuma).
The subjection of the soul to the animal nature is man's debasement, to the spirit indwelt of God is his exaltation. The English equivalent for psuchikos, "psychic" does not express this debasement. In the New Testament "sensual" indicates man's subjection to self and self-interest, whether animal or intellectual-the selfish man in whom the spirit is degraded into subordination to the debased psuche, "soul." This debasement may be
(1) intellectual, "not wisdom.... from above, but.... earthly, sensual" (James 3:15);
(2) carnal (and of course moral), "sensual, having not the Spirit" (Jude 1:19).
It ranges all the way from sensuous self-indulgence to gross immorality. In the utter subjection of the spirit to sense it is the utter exclusion of God from the life. Hence, "the natural (psuchikos) man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:14). The term is equivalent to "the mind of the flesh" (Romans 8:7) which "is not subject to the law of God."
SeePSYCHOLOGY.
Dwight M. Pratt
Greek
5591. psuchikos -- natural, of the soul or mind... Word Origin from psuche Definition natural, of the soul or mind NASB Word
Usage natural (5), worldly-minded (1). natural,
sensual.
...2691. katastreniao -- to become wanton against
... Word Origin from kata and streniao Definition to become wanton against NASB Word
Usage feelsensual desires (1), feelsensual desires in disregard of (1)....
2237. hedone -- pleasure
... lust, pleasure. From handano (to please);sensual delight; by implication, desire --
lust, pleasure. (edonais) -- 2 Occurrences. (edonen) -- 1 Occurrence....
766. aselgeia -- licentiousness, wantonness
... Word Origin of uncertain origin Definition licentiousness, wantonness NASB
Word Usage licentiousness (1),sensual (1), sensuality (8)....
4763. streniao -- to run riot
... revel, riot. Cognate: 4763 -- living insensual, lustful behavior, ie in
self-indulgence (wanton luxury). See 4764 (). Word Origin...
453. anoetos -- not understanding
... foolish, unwise. From a (as a negative particle) and a derivative of noieo;
unintelligent; by implication,sensual -- fool(-ish), unwise. see GREEK a....
4684. spatalao -- to live riotously
... 4684 -- properly, to indulge in luxury (unneeded surplus). The , "The modern term ','
in which the notion of than that ofsensual indulgence, ."....
Strong's Hebrew
5719. adin -- voluptuous... Word Origin from the same as eden Definition voluptuous NASB Word Usage
sensual one (1). given to pleasures. From adan; voluptuous -- given to pleasures.
...5690. agab -- (sensuous) love
... desires. Word Origin from agab Definition (sensuous) love NASB Word Usage
lustful desires (1),sensual (1). much love, very lovely....
Library
Sensual and Spiritual Excitement.
... SERMONS. IX.SENSUAL AND SPIRITUAL EXCITEMENT. Preached August 4,
1850.SENSUAL AND SPIRITUAL EXCITEMENT. "Wherefore be...
Of the Mortification ofSensual Love to Meats, &C. ...
... CHAPTER VI. Of the mortification ofsensual love to meats, &c.? Sec. 1. Of the
mortification ofsensual love to meats, &c., by temperance in refection....
Low Beetling Brows, -- aSensual, Cruel Mouth with a Loosely...
... IX. Low beetling brows, " asensual, cruel mouth with a loosely projecting
under-lip? Low beetling brows,"asensual, cruel...
Whether There could beSensual Appetite in Paradise Before the...
... A Treatise against two letters of the pelagians, Chapter 34 [XVII.]"Whether
There Could BeSensual Appetite in Paradise Before the Fall....
How the Will Governs theSensual Appetite.
... THE LOVE OF GOD. BOOK I. CONTAINING A PREPARATION FOR THE WHOLE TREATISE.
CHAPTER III. HOW THE WILL GOVERNS THESENSUAL APPETITE....
Of the Affections of the Will.
... There are no fewer movements in the intellectual or reasonable appetite which is
called the will, than there are in the sensitive orsensual, but the first are...
Whether Sensuality is Only Appetitive?
... xii, 12) that "thesensual movement of the soul which is directed to the bodily
senses is common to us and beasts." But the bodily senses belong to the...
How Divine Love Makes Use of all the Passions and Affections of...
... to its empire all the other loves of the will, and consequently all its affections,
because they naturally follow love; this done, it tamessensual love, and...
Whether the Beatitudes are Suitably Enumerated?
... To make this evident it must be observed that beatitude has been held to consist
in one of three things: for some have ascribed it to asensual life, some, to...
"In Christ Our Two Natures are United"
... by virtue] of the great riches and of the high noble virtues by measure come to
our soul what time it is knit to our body: in which knitting we are madeSensual...
Thesaurus
Sensual (8 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
SENSUAL.
... earthly,
sensual" (James 3:15); (2) carnal
(and of course moral), "
sensual, having not the Spirit" (Jude 1:19).
...Sensuality (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The quality or state of beingsensual; devotedness
to the gratification of the bodily appetites; free indulgence in carnal or...
Voluptuous (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Full of delight or pleasure; exciting
sensual desires; luxurious;sensual; as, voluptuous beauty....
Lust (42 Occurrences)
... in Exodus 15:9 and Psalm 78:18 translated "desire"; "My desire shall be satisfied";
"by asking food according to their desire." A strong but notsensual sense....
Carnal (11 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (a.)Sensual; pertaining to the body or its appetites;
fleshly;sensual; human or worldly as opposed to spiritual....
Unholy (23 Occurrences)
... Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your earthward inclinations--fornication,
impurity,sensual passion, unholy desire, and all greed, for that is a form of...
Jezebel (20 Occurrences)
... The idolatry, too, was of the most debased andsensual kind." Her conduct was in
many respects very disastrous to the kingdom both of Israel and Judah (21:1-29...
Greed (19 Occurrences)
... Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your earthward inclinations--fornication,
impurity,sensual passion, unholy desire, and all greed, for that is a form of...
Grove (23 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary. (1.) Hebrews `asherah, properly a wooden image, or a
pillar representing Ashtoreth, asensual Canaanitish goddess, probably usually...
Gross (12 Occurrences)
... witless. 4. (superl.) Expressing, Or originating in, animal orsensual
appetites; hence, coarse, vulgar, low, obscene, or impure. 5...
Resources
What does the Bible say about sensuality? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is a pagan? What is paganism? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is lasciviousness? | GotQuestions.orgSensual: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
