What are revellings in the Bible? from Compelling Truth
The word “revellings,” meaning “letting loose” or “going wild” in the original Greek (komos), is translated different ways in various versions of the Bible.
The King James Version translates komos as “revellings.” The NKJV has “revelries;” the NIV and ESV use “orgies;” the ISV has “wild celebrations” or “wild partying;” and the NASB has “carousing.”
Peter uses the word to delineate a person’s former way of life before they became a Christian. He writes that revellings and other sins belong to people who are not Christians. He writes that some people may be surprised when their old friends, who used to party with them but now follow Jesus, are no longer partying (see 1 Peter 4:3–4).
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Paul takes a more direct approach in Galatians 5. There, he instructs the people of the church to avoid a list of sins, including sexual sin, hateful attitudes toward others, drunkenness, and revellings. Paul compares this list of sins with the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Paul writes that Christians have forgiveness in Christ and now live by the Holy Spirit. Those who don’t know Christ are ruled by the flesh; and their behavior, including drunken revellings, follows.
Though “revellings” describes wild partying that should be avoided by Christians, it doesn’t mean that Christians can’t attend parties. The Bible is warning against gatherings that feature gluttony, drunkenness, lewdness, and a sort of out-of-control behavior. When the Holy Spirit dwells inside a Christian, such partying opposes the Spirit and His fruit.
