The term "pleasure-loving" refers to an inclination or tendency to seek and prioritize enjoyment, entertainment, and gratification of the senses. In the context of the Bible, this concept is often examined through the lens of moral and spiritual implications, particularly concerning the potential for such pursuits to lead individuals away from a life centered on God and His commandments.

Biblical References and Context

1. Ecclesiastes 2:1-11: The book of Ecclesiastes provides a profound exploration of the pursuit of pleasure. King Solomon, traditionally considered the author, reflects on his own experiences with pleasure, stating, "I said to myself, 'Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!' But it proved to be futile" (Ecclesiastes 2:1). Solomon's extensive indulgence in various pleasures ultimately led him to conclude that such pursuits are "meaningless" and a "chasing after the wind" (Ecclesiastes 2:11), emphasizing the transient and unsatisfying nature of pleasure when sought as an end in itself.

2. Proverbs 21:17: The book of Proverbs offers wisdom on the consequences of a pleasure-loving lifestyle: "He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich" (Proverbs 21:17). This verse warns of the potential material and spiritual poverty that can result from prioritizing pleasure over responsibility and godliness.

3. 2 Timothy 3:1-4: In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul warns Timothy about the characteristics of people in the last days, noting that they will be "lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" (2 Timothy 3:4). This passage highlights the danger of placing pleasure above devotion to God, suggesting that such a disposition is indicative of a broader moral decline.

4. Luke 8:14: In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus describes how the seed that falls among thorns represents those who hear the word, but "as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and their fruit does not mature" (Luke 8:14). This metaphor illustrates how the pursuit of pleasure can stifle spiritual growth and fruitfulness.

Theological Implications

From a biblical perspective, the love of pleasure is often contrasted with the love of God and the pursuit of righteousness. While the Bible does not condemn pleasure in itself—acknowledging that God has given us all things richly to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17)—it cautions against allowing pleasure to become an idol or a primary focus of life. The Scriptures encourage believers to find their ultimate joy and satisfaction in God, who provides lasting fulfillment beyond the fleeting pleasures of the world.

Moral and Spiritual Considerations

The Bible calls for a balanced approach to pleasure, where enjoyment is tempered by self-control and aligned with God's will. Believers are encouraged to engage in activities that are edifying and that honor God, rather than those that lead to moral compromise or spiritual distraction. The pursuit of pleasure should be subordinate to the pursuit of holiness, with an understanding that true and lasting joy is found in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

In summary, while pleasure itself is not inherently wrong, the Bible warns against a pleasure-loving attitude that prioritizes temporal gratification over eternal values. Believers are called to live lives that reflect the character of Christ, finding their deepest pleasure in knowing and serving God.5369. philedonos -- loving pleasure
... loving pleasure. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: philedonos Phonetic
Spelling: (fil-ay'-don-os) Short Definition: pleasure-loving Definition: pleasure ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5369.htm - 6k

The Practice of what Has Been Said in the Preceding Chapter.
... [547] Thus are we to animate all our actions with this heavenly good-pleasure, loving
the honourableness and beauty of virtue principally because they are ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xiv the practice of.htm

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 and carousing, standing in ...
/.../origen/origen on prayer/chapter xii the lords prayer .htm

Carthago Veneris
... the work of a marvellous word-smith: through their almost imperceptible shades of
meaning may be descried an entirely new soul, the pleasure-loving soul of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/i carthago veneris.htm

Ecclesiastical Writers.
... For what pleasure-loving or intemperate man, or what man that counts it good to
feast on human flesh, could welcome death that he might be deprived of his ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter viii ecclesiastical writers.htm

The Schoolboy of Madaura
... It was hardly an edifying atmosphere there for a Catholic youth who had a lively
imagination, a pleasure-loving temperament, and who liked pagan literature. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/v the schoolboy of madaura.htm

Paul's Last Letter
... self. Such are willing to listen to those doctrines only that do not rebuke
their sins or condemn their pleasure-loving course. ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 49 pauls last letter.htm

The Praying that Glorifies God
... and education; he must fervently pray in the Name of Jesus, and receive power from
Him in order to accomplish the works of God in this pleasure loving age. ...
/.../anderson/prayer availeth much/chapter 4 the praying that.htm

The Old Faiths and the New
... harbours. The population consisted of Greeks, Jews, Italians, and a mixed
multitude; it was excitable, pleasure loving, and mercurial. ...
/.../sell/bible studies in the life of paul/study viii the old faiths.htm

The Comfort of the Milk
... It was just one little child more in this sensual and pleasure-loving Africa, land
of sin and of carnal productiveness, where children are born and die like ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/iii the comfort of the.htm

The Coming Revival
... They remind us of the power of worldliness and formality, of the increase of the
money-making and pleasure-loving spirit among professing Christians, to the ...
/.../murray/the ministry of intercession/chapter xv the coming revival.htm

Pleasure-loving (1 Occurrence)
Pleasure-loving. Pleasure, Pleasure-loving. Pleasure-making .
Multi-Version Concordance Pleasure-loving (1 Occurrence). ...
/p/pleasure-loving.htm - 6k

Pleasure-making (1 Occurrence)
Pleasure-making. Pleasure-loving, Pleasure-making. Pleasures . Multi-Version
Concordance ... (BBE). Pleasure-loving, Pleasure-making. Pleasures . Reference ...
/p/pleasure-making.htm - 6k

Pilate (60 Occurrences)
... antique, simple stamp, but of the imperial period, a man not without some remains
of the ancient Roman justice in his soul, yet pleasure-loving, imperious, and ...
/p/pilate.htm - 53k

Pontius (4 Occurrences)
... antique, simple stamp, but of the imperial period, a man not without some remains
of the ancient Roman justice in his soul, yet pleasure-loving, imperious, and ...
/p/pontius.htm - 36k

Widow (71 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). 1 Timothy 5:6 but a
pleasure-loving widow is dead even while still alive. (WEY NIV). ...
/w/widow.htm - 31k

Alive (166 Occurrences)
... So we will be with the Lord forever. (WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV). 1 Timothy
5:6 but a pleasure-loving widow is dead even while still alive. (WEY). ...
/a/alive.htm - 38k

Pleasure (331 Occurrences)

/p/pleasure.htm - 40k

Dispersion (4 Occurrences)
... his capital. The worldly, pleasure-loving Poppea had, perhaps, yielded
to the mysterious charms of the religion of Moses. But it ...
/d/dispersion.htm - 44k

Is loving God an emotion, a feeling, or a decision? | GotQuestions.org

What is Stoicism? What did the Greek Stoics teach? | GotQuestions.org

What is psychoanalytic theory, and is it biblical? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus