Tag: pleasure

2 Peter 2:13 – Life of the Party

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Suffering wrong as the payback for their unrighteousness. They consider it pleasure to carouse in the daytime; they are stains and blemishes, self-indulgent in their delusions while they indulge in luxury with you.

Truth to Learn

When harsh criticism is given of others, we need to ensure that we are not guilty of the same misdeeds.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “pleasure” is hēdonē, from which we get our English word hedonism. This Greek word refers to “physical pleasure, gratification, or enjoyment.”

“Carouse” is from the Greek word truphē, meaning “to be made weak by luxury which destroys the integrity of body and mind.”

“Self-indulgent” is from entruphaō (having the same root as truphē), which means “to indulge or revel in luxuries.”

The word “deceits” is from the Greek word apatē, actually meaning “delusion or deception.”

 

Meaning Explained

Peter continues his condemning description of the actions of these false teachers. This is a tricky verse to translate, so let’s look at it carefully. We also have to tie it to the previous verse to get the full meaning. My translation of the end of the previous verse and this one is:

… In their own corruption they shall utterly perish, suffering wrong as the payback for their unrighteousness. They consider it pleasure to carouse in the daytime; they are stains and blemishes, self-indulgent in their delusions while they indulge in luxury with you.

“Suffering wrong as the payback of unrighteousness” This is a reference to what will happen when they perish and are judged by God. It should be encouraging to us as we see the ungodly seemingly getting away with, even being rewarded for, their evil deeds. Peter says that these false teachers will get what they deserve when all is said and done.

“They consider it pleasure to carouse in the daytime.” These people believe in indulging themselves in pleasurable things all day long. And lest we get too self-righteous, consider that this is precisely what advertising is telling us everywhere we look: “live for pleasure, and live for today, not worrying about what it will cost tomorrow.”

“They are stains and blemishes indulging in their delusions while they indulge in luxury with you” Peter is saying that these people indulge themselves in activities that they consider appropriate but that are morally wrong. And, these false teachers do such things with the pretense of fellowshipping and celebrating with you in church. But all the while they are deceiving you so as to keep you around, not for what they can give you spiritually, but for what you can give them materially.

 

Application

In light of Peter’s harsh condemnation of the false teachers of his day, let’s examine ourselves, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:28-30.

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and let him drink of the cup; for the one eating and drinking unworthily eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord. For this reason many among you are weak and feeble, and many sleep.

Let’s determine what our own motives really are. Are they selfish and self-seeking? Or, are they submissive and God-serving? Before we cast the speck out of our brother’s eye, let us deal with the beam in our own eye!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved

2 Thessalonians 2:12 – Truth Rejected

Posted on by Will

that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Truth to Learn

Judgment is coming! We need to spread the good news now.

Behind the Words

The words “they … may be condemned” are translated from the Greek verb krinō, which means “to separate,” “to decide between good and evil,” or “to judge.” It is expressed here in the subjunctive mood indicating possibility or probability.

“Did not believe” is from the verb pisteuō, meaning “to believe” or “to have faith.” It is expressed here as an aorist participle, so it could be translated as “having not believed.”

Alētheia is the word translated “truth.” It is composed of the privative a, meaning “not” and a form of lanthanō, meaning “to be hidden.” Thus, alētheia refers to that which is not hidden, that which is obviously apparent, or that which is true.

“Had pleasure” is from the verb eudokeō, which is made up of eu, meaning “good” or “well” and dokeō, meaning “to think.” Hence, eudokeō means “to think well of” or “to be pleased with.” It is expressed here as an aorist participle, so it could be translated as “having had pleasure.”

The word “unrighteousness” is from adikia, which is made up of a, meaning “not” or “without” and a form of dikē, meaning “that which is right or just.” Thus, adikia refers to “that which is not right” or “that which is not just.”

Meaning Explained

The Apostle Paul has been talking about the events that will precede the coming of the Day of the Lord, when God will pour out His wrath on the inhabitants of the earth. The two specific events mentioned are the apostasia and the revealing of the “lawless one,” the person we commonly refer to as the antichrist. His appearance on the scene will be accompanied by miraculous signs and wonders that will convince the “earth dwellers” that he is a god.

In the previous verse, Paul told us that the unbelievers on the earth at that time will be fooled into believing in the deity of the antichrist because God will send a powerful deception. In other words, God will allow the antichrist and his false prophet to perform these signs and miracles, and He will cause the “earth dwellers” to believe in these miraculous events and to accept the antichrist as a god.

Now Paul tells us a little more about those who will be deceived by the antichrist. First of all, they are unbelievers. That is, they will not believe in the truth of God as written in the Bible. Even today, many people believe that the Bible is just a collection of fables and restrictive rules. The other thing we are told about these unbelievers is that they will think that unrighteousness is good. They will have completely thrown off the mantle of God’s influence in their lives.

As a result, these earth dwellers will be judged by God. This judgment will come in two forms. The first is all the terrible judgments that God will execute on the earth in the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments described in the book of Revelation. But, worse than that, they will be cast into the lake of fire for all eternity at the end of their earthly lives.

Application

Some of us may find it difficult to witness the gospel message to those around us, but we need to redouble our efforts. A day is coming soon when this truth will be completely rejected.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

2 Peter 2:13 – Life of the Party

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2 Peter 2:13

They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.

Truth to Learn

When harsh criticism is given of others, we need to ensure that we are not guilty of the same misdeeds.

Behind the Words

The first occurrence of the word “pleasure” is hēdonē, from which we get our English word hedonism. This Greek word refers to “physical pleasure, gratification, or enjoyment.”

“Carouse” is from the Greek word truphē, meaning “to be made weak by luxury which destroys the integrity of body and mind.”

“Reveling” is from entruphaō (having the same root as truphē), which means “to indulge or revel in luxuries.”

The word “pleasures” toward the end of this verse is from the Greek word apatē, actually meaning “delusion or deception.”

Meaning Explained

Peter continues his condemning description of the actions of these false teachers. This is a tricky verse to translate, so let’s look at it carefully. We also have to tie it to the previous verse to get the full meaning. My translation of the end of the previous verse and this one is:

And like beasts they too will perish, suffering wrong as the reward of unrighteousness. Considering the self- indulgence of the daytime to be pleasure, they are stains and blemishes indulging in their delusions while feasting with you.

“Suffering wrong as the reward of unrighteousness” This is a reference to what will happen when they perish and are judged by God. It should be encouraging to us as we see the ungodly seemingly getting away with, even being rewarded for, their evil deeds. Peter says that these false teachers will get what they deserve when all is said and done.

“Considering the self indulgence of the daytime to be pleasure.” These people believe in indulging themselves in pleasurable things all day long. And lest we get too self-righteous, consider that this is precisely what advertising is telling us everywhere we look: “live for pleasure, and live for today, not worrying about what it will cost tomorrow.”

“They are stains and blemishes indulging in their delusions while feasting with you” Peter is saying that these people indulge themselves in activities that they consider appropriate but that are morally wrong. And, these false teachers do such things with the pretense of fellowshipping and celebrating with you in church. But all the while they are deceiving you so as to keep you around, not for what they can give you spiritually, but for what you can give them materially.

Application

In light of Peter’s harsh condemnation of the false teachers of his day, let’s examine ourselves, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11. Let’s determine what our own motives really are. Are they selfish and self-seeking? Or, are they submissive and God-serving? Before we cast the speck out of our brother’s eye, let us deal with the beam in our own eye!

In God’s service, for His glory,

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Copyright © 2009 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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1 Peter 4:3 – Wasted Pleasure

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1 Peter 4:3

For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.

Truth to Learn

We’ve wasted enough time; now let’s focus on serving God.

Behind the Words

“Lewdness” is translated from the Greek word aselgeia, which literally means “not having control.” It is used primarily with regard to sexual appetite and is sometimes translated as “wantonness.”

We saw the word “lusts” in the previous verse. It is the Greek word epithumia, meaning “excessive or uncontrolled desires.”

“Drunkenness” comes from the Greek word oinophlugia, which literally means “overflowing wine,” but by application it means “excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages.”

“Revelries” is translated from the Greek word kōmos, which means “carousing” or “reveling,” implying a “letting loose of control.”

The word translated “drinking parties” is from the Greek word potos, which means a getting together for the purpose of getting drunk.

And finally, “abominable idolatries” comes from the Greek, athemitois eidōlolatreiais, which literally means “illegal image worship.” It refers to “the worship of anything other than God.”

Meaning Explained

Peter has just told us that we should no longer live for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. He now tells us that it’s time for change. We’ve spent enough time living like the ungodly to know that’s not the will of God. We did these things in the past enough to know that they don’t give us true happiness and certainly don’t give us peace. All they really do is produce amnesia, headache, and heartache.

We could probably sum up Peter’s description of these activities as illicit sexual activity, drunkenness, partying, and the worship of things instead of God. That’s how many of us lived before we were saved. Peter is saying that our past indulgences are to be put behind us so we can live unto God. None of these things is what God wants of us.

However, it’s easy for many of us to say, “I never committed any illicit sexual activity. I never got drunk, and I never went to wild parties, so this doesn’t apply to me.” What we often fail to see in this verse is that Peter groups “the worship of things other than God” in the same category as those other things.

Have you ever possessed anything that was so important to you that you would do anything to hang on to it, or that you spent so much time on that it made you forget about your commitments to God? These are all idols. I once had a car that was like that to me, and God had to tarnish my idol for me.

Application

As a Christian your life should not be characterized by the “party scene.” But remember, anything that distracts us from our focus on God is an idol, and our Heavenly Father considers that just as horrific as wild, sexual, drunken partying. Ouch!

In God’s service, for His glory,

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Copyright © 2009 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, you can call the church phone (618) 614-3070 and leave a message telling us your name and e-mail address or you can send an e-mail to:e-mail address