Excesses
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Definition and Context:
Excesses refer to behaviors or actions that go beyond what is considered reasonable, moderate, or appropriate. In a biblical context, excesses often relate to indulgence in sinful activities, lack of self-control, and the pursuit of worldly pleasures that lead one away from a righteous path. The Bible frequently warns against excesses, emphasizing the importance of moderation, self-discipline, and spiritual focus.

Biblical References:

1. Drunkenness and Gluttony:
The Bible explicitly warns against the excesses of drunkenness and gluttony. Proverbs 23:20-21 states, "Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags." This passage highlights the destructive consequences of overindulgence in food and drink, leading to both physical and spiritual poverty.

2. Worldly Pleasures:
The pursuit of worldly pleasures is often associated with excesses. In 1 Peter 4:3 , it is written, "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." This verse admonishes believers to turn away from their former lives of excess and to live in accordance with God's will.

3. Lack of Self-Control:
A lack of self-control is a key factor in leading to excesses. Galatians 5:22-23 lists self-control as a fruit of the Spirit: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law." The presence of self-control in a believer's life is a sign of spiritual maturity and helps prevent the excesses that can lead to sin.

4. Warnings Against Excessive Wealth:
The Bible also warns against the excesses associated with the pursuit of wealth. In 1 Timothy 6:9-10 , Paul writes, "Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." This passage cautions against the excessive desire for wealth, which can lead to spiritual downfall.

5. Moderation and Contentment:
The Bible encourages moderation and contentment as antidotes to excess. Philippians 4:11-12 states, "I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need." Paul’s words emphasize the importance of contentment and moderation in all aspects of life.

Theological Implications:
Excesses are often symptomatic of deeper spiritual issues, such as idolatry, pride, and a lack of trust in God. The Bible calls believers to live lives marked by moderation, self-control, and a focus on eternal values rather than temporary pleasures. By avoiding excesses, Christians are better able to reflect the character of Christ and live in a manner that honors God.
Greek
401. anachusis -- a pouring out, overflow
... pouring out. Word Origin from anacheo (to pour out) Definition a pouring
out, overflow NASB Word Usage excesses (1). excess. From ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/401.htm - 6k
Library

Sunday after Ascension Day
... 6. Right here a special admonitory sermon might well be preached to us dissolute
Germans, in warning for our excesses and drunkenness. ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/sunday after ascension day.htm

And we Affirm Indeed the Existence of Certain Spiritual Essences.. ...
... accordingly, upon our bodies diseases and other grievous calamities, while by violent
assaults they hurry the soul into sudden and extraordinary excesses. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/apology/chapter xxii and we affirm.htm

Letter cvi. To Anatolius, Bishop of Constantinople, in Rebuke of ...
... abstain from things forbidden nor to enjoy things permitted, so long as transgressions
go unpunished and run into undisciplined and wicked excesses, and wrong ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/letter cvi to anatolius bishop.htm

Of the Outflowing (Escoulement) or Liquefaction of the Soul in God ...
... [299] Cleopatra, that infamous Queen of Egypt, striving to outvie Mark Antony in
all the excesses and dissolutions of his banquets, at the end of a feast which ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xii of the outflowing.htm

Letter xxix. (AD 395. )
... though men of the New Testament dispensation, were desiring in their celebration
of saints' days to repeat often the public perpetration of excesses of which ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter xxix a d 395.htm

Sin's Brood.
... It is considered proper to avoid speaking of certain excesses, or, if speech must
be used, modestly to say "unnamable." And it is a distinct gain for morality ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks about jesus/sins brood.htm

Epistle Lvi. To John, Bishop.
... And know, beloved, that thou wilt have no excuse at the future judgment, if thou
dost not correct the excesses of thy clergy with the utmost severity of ...
/.../gregory/the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle lvi to john bishop.htm

The Beatific vision. (Continued. )
... We seek ourselves inordinately"follow our own capricious will, which leads
us into excesses, at which we blush, in our sober moments. ...
/.../boudreaux/the happiness of heaven/chapter iv the beatific vision.htm

Increasing Progression of Enthusiasm and of Exaltation.
... exaggeration, the great systems of which we have just spoken have only laid hold
of the world by being profoundly modified, and by abandoning their excesses. ...
/.../renan/the life of jesus/chapter xix increasing progression of.htm

The Moravians.
... nor were they recognized as Lutherans, but were violently assailed by them for their
alleged doctrinal latitudinarianism and various excesses during their ...
/.../creeds of christendom with a history and critical notes/ 108 the moravians.htm

Thesaurus
Excesses (3 Occurrences)
...Excesses (3 Occurrences). 1 Timothy 3:3 not given to excesses from wine, not a striker,
but mild, not addicted to contention, not fond of money, (DBY). ...
/e/excesses.htm - 7k

Excessive (12 Occurrences)

/e/excessive.htm - 10k

Excess (20 Occurrences)

/e/excess.htm - 12k

Unlawful (9 Occurrences)
... Peter 4:3 for sufficient to us 'is' the past time of life the will of the nations
to have wrought, having walked in lasciviousnesses, desires, excesses of wines ...
/u/unlawful.htm - 9k

Lawless (16 Occurrences)
... Peter 4:3 for sufficient to us 'is' the past time of life the will of the nations
to have wrought, having walked in lasciviousnesses, desires, excesses of wines ...
/l/lawless.htm - 12k

Lasciviousnesses (3 Occurrences)
... Peter 4:3 for sufficient to us 'is' the past time of life the will of the nations
to have wrought, having walked in lasciviousnesses, desires, excesses of wines ...
/l/lasciviousnesses.htm - 7k

Wines (3 Occurrences)
... Peter 4:3 for sufficient to us 'is' the past time of life the will of the nations
to have wrought, having walked in lasciviousnesses, desires, excesses of wines ...
/w/wines.htm - 7k

Fond (6 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). 1 Timothy 3:3 not given to excesses from wine, not a striker, but
mild, not addicted to contention, not fond of money, (DBY). ...
/f/fond.htm - 8k

Drinking-bouts (1 Occurrence)
... Peter 4:3 for sufficient to us 'is' the past time of life the will of the nations
to have wrought, having walked in lasciviousnesses, desires, excesses of wines ...
/d/drinking-bouts.htm - 6k

Mild (2 Occurrences)
... Mild (2 Occurrences). 1 Timothy 3:3 not given to excesses from wine, not a striker,
but mild, not addicted to contention, not fond of money, (DBY). ...
/m/mild.htm - 7k

Resources
What is mammon? | GotQuestions.org

What are the five solas? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Lutheran Church, and what do Lutherans believe? | GotQuestions.org

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Excesses (3 Occurrences)

1 Timothy 3:3
not given to excesses from wine, not a striker, but mild, not addicted to contention, not fond of money,
(DBY)

1 Peter 4:3
for sufficient to us 'is' the past time of life the will of the nations to have wrought, having walked in lasciviousnesses, desires, excesses of wines, revelings, drinking-bouts, and unlawful idolatries,
(YLT)

1 Peter 4:4
in which they think it strange -- your not running with them to the same excess of dissoluteness, speaking evil,
(See NAS)

Subtopics

Excesses

Related Terms

Overcharge (1 Occurrence)

Intemperance (1 Occurrence)

Superstition (1 Occurrence)

Drunkenness (10 Occurrences)

Over (11971 Occurrences)

Outrage (3 Occurrences)

Inordinate (2 Occurrences)

Ecstasy (3 Occurrences)

Debauchery (9 Occurrences)

Madness (13 Occurrences)

Strained (2 Occurrences)

Surfeit (1 Occurrence)

Mad (22 Occurrences)

Burial (25 Occurrences)

Taxing (3 Occurrences)

Tax (43 Occurrences)

Vainglory (2 Occurrences)

Vanity (100 Occurrences)

Usury (17 Occurrences)

Undue (1 Occurrence)

Overweight (1 Occurrence)

Overly (1 Occurrence)

Oppress (57 Occurrences)

Objects (30 Occurrences)

Jesting (2 Occurrences)

Luxuries (2 Occurrences)

Lavish (2 Occurrences)

Licentious (1 Occurrence)

Luxuriant (7 Occurrences)

Gathers (27 Occurrences)

Worldly (25 Occurrences)

Increases (24 Occurrences)

Idolatrous (4 Occurrences)

Irritation (2 Occurrences)

Intense (13 Occurrences)

Illness (15 Occurrences)

Inflame (3 Occurrences)

Imposition (3 Occurrences)

Idolatry (14 Occurrences)

Immortal (3 Occurrences)

Fever (13 Occurrences)

Force (250 Occurrences)

Fire (602 Occurrences)

Flooding (4 Occurrences)

Fervor (2 Occurrences)

Flux (26 Occurrences)

Flattery (11 Occurrences)

Terrible (90 Occurrences)

Temperate (6 Occurrences)

Tall (41 Occurrences)

Try (84 Occurrences)

Task (37 Occurrences)

Reasonable (6 Occurrences)

Rage (43 Occurrences)

Rave (1 Occurrence)

Revellings (2 Occurrences)

Riot (14 Occurrences)

Exuberance (1 Occurrence)

Extreme (11 Occurrences)

Excess (20 Occurrences)

Excessively (6 Occurrences)

Encourage (34 Occurrences)

Endless (10 Occurrences)

Ephron (13 Occurrences)

Excesses (3 Occurrences)

Exorbitant (1 Occurrence)

Desire (565 Occurrences)

Devilish (1 Occurrence)

Measure (269 Occurrences)

Monster (10 Occurrences)

Message (222 Occurrences)

Modest (2 Occurrences)

Poverty (25 Occurrences)

Painfulness (1 Occurrence)

Peck (3 Occurrences)

Pursuit (35 Occurrences)

Profuse (1 Occurrence)

Purging (3 Occurrences)

Possessed (100 Occurrences)

Excess
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