The Christian Hedonism fallacy

Christian Hedonism is a phrase coined about 1986 by John Piper and appeared in his book Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist .
His summary of the concept is that "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.". John Piper is currently Chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

A leading figure in Christian Hedonism today is American evangelical and Christian pastor Matt Chandler and his church based in Flower Mound, Texas.

[PIT fallacy]

PIT (Point In Time) fallacy: Any theological idea, theory, etc., that comes into being at a certain point in time and, by implication, leaves everyone who existed prior to that point in time "out of luck" is not to be believed without careful analysis and thought.
Does believing something make it true?

John 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. [kjv]

Discuss: When Jesus makes this statement to Pilate, is it restricted to a PIT?

More: John: The reason for the season

Here are some examples.

Suppose that a particular Bible translation is advocated by a group as the one and only inspired word of God. Does that mean that everyone in prior times was "out of luck"?
Suppose a particular viewpoint is adopted for part of the Bible. Does that mean that everyone in prior times was "out of luck"?

Aristotle, Eratosthenes, etc., talk about the earth being round, providing various levels of evidence and/or proofs. If one decides, for example, that the Bible says that the earth is flat, does everyone before who did not believe this "out of luck"?

More: Gnosticism and the point in time fallacy

Here is one summary of Christian Hedonism (underlining added)

Joy is not optional. It’s essential: Christian Hedonism is the conviction that God’s ultimate goal in the world (his glory) and our deepest desire (to be happy) are one and the same, because God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. Not only is God the supreme source of satisfaction for the human soul, but God himself is glorified by our being satisfied in him. Therefore, our pursuit of joy in him is essential. https://www.desiringgod.org/topics/christian-hedonism (as of 2024-02-24)

Many ideas use the English meaning of words rather than the original Greek meaning.

English	Greek
joy	favor
glory	opinion

Is "God's opinion" (glory) the same as "our happiness"?

What is "our pursuit" of God's "favor" (joy)?

Here is an example of a word slide where ideas change from the original Greek to Latin to Middle English to modern English and then some.

The Greek word for (internal or intrinsic) "opinion" becomes the Latin word for (external or extrinsic) "glory" which takes on more meaning in English.
The Greek word for "favor" becomes the Latin word for "grace" becomes the English word for "joy" which is similar to the English word "hedonism".

Soon, in a twisted way, the "favor of God's opinion" morphs into "God is glorified by our joy in Him" and called "Christian Hedonism".

A preliminary analysis of Piper's book (the first few chapters) indicates the following.

Many of his ideas are based on the English meanings of the words in the Bible. Those English meanings tend to come through the Latin which often do not match the Greek meanings.
He tends to pick verses out of context to support his purposes. A careful analysis of those verses in context tends not to support the ideas presented. Sometimes, deep theological points are made from just some Psalms of David.
He tends to give a lot of weight to the opinion of theologians and writers of the past.
He tends to make many of the same logical fallacies pointed out and explained in detail by Aristotle. For example, picking a verse out of context, setting up a straw man argument, and then knocking it down, may not show the claim intended.

Details are left as a future topic.

The following is a traditional approach of frequentist statistical .

Create a hypothesis called the null hypothesis.
Gather arguments for or against the hypothesis. This often involves "cherry picking" of evidence.
Order the arguments based on how convincing they are. Hide arguments not favorable.
Use any deception techniques on the assumption that the "end justifies the means".

It has been shown (e.g.,, Judea Pearl, 1970's) that the frequentist statistical can show almost anything true and anything false as desired.

The Bayesian statistical approach, and the causation models developed by Pearl, fit more like a constraint-based logic system in a probabilistic fault-tolerant search for truth within constraints.

Details are left as a future topic.

Here are the five main points (just the claimed false points) of Rick Warden's outlining of Five Heresies of Christian Hedonism from his blog of January 25, 2017. Each idea is from Piper's writings.

1. "...we should pursue happiness, and pursue it with all our might."
2. "The desire to be happy is a proper motive for every good deed."
3. "You cannot please God if you do not come to him as rewarder."
4. "The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying him forever."
5. "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him."

http://templestream.blogspot.com/2017/01/christian-hedonisms-false-dichotomy.html (as of 2024-02-24)

Note that while Warden calls these false points, a better way to phrase it would be that the Bible does not appear to support the ideas claimed by Piper. It is up to each person to decide, based on the evidence, whether the claims in the book are valid. There may be undesirable consequences for certain answers.

The late 1960's into the 1970's were a time of turmoil. There was a sense by many that being happy was an important goal in itself. Born in 1946, John Piper appears to have been impacted by these ideas.

What the world needs now is love. Released April 15, 1965 by Jackie DeShannon.
Beatles: All you need is Love.
Beatles: With a little help from my friends. May 26, 1967.
John Lennon: Give peace a chance. July 1969.
Three Dog Night: Joy to the World (Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog). February 1971.

Others:

Don't worry, be happy. 1988 by Bobby McFerrin.

A leading figure in Christian Hedonism today is American evangelical and Christian pastor Matt Chandler. Here is a description of his study of the Beatitudes.

What does it mean to be blessed? And, more importantly, how do we become someone who is blessed? The kind of life God is calling us to may not look the way we imagined, but it will be better than we could have hoped. In this eight-session series, pastor Matt Chandler takes us through the Beatitudes and shows us what it means to live in the kingdom of God. Through Jesus’s teaching, learn what a blessed life really looks like.

Do you see any hints of Christian Hedonism in the description? Note the following of the Greek words in the Beatitudes.

The Greek word "blessed" in the Beatitudes means "happy".
The "Kingdom of God" is not in the Beatitudes. The "Kingdom of heaven" is a code phrase for a different idea.
The description says "may not look the way we imagined". How might it be different?

Matthew 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. [kjv]

ο δε εις τας ακανθας σπαρεις ουτος εστιν ο τον λογον ακουων και η μεριμνα του αιωνος και η απατη του πλουτου συμπνιγει τον λογον και ακαρπος γινεται [gnt]

Matthew appears to have recorded what Jesus said. What people remembered and told Luke some twenty years later adds "pleasures". This is the only place this word appears in the Gospels. Luke takes the general idea (logic) of being "unfruitful" and is more concrete (restrictive) about what that means.

Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. [kjv]

το δε εις τας ακανθας πεσον ουτοι εισιν οι ακουσαντες και υπο μεριμνων και πλουτου και ηδονων του βιου πορευομενοι συμπνιγονται και ου τελεσφορουσιν [gnt]

Matthew 13:22

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KJV: He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Greek: ο δε εις τας ακανθας σπαρεις ουτος εστιν ο τον λογον ακουων και η μεριμνα του αιωνος τουτου και η απατη του πλουτου συμπνιγει τον λογον και ακαρπος γινεται

Luke 8:14

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KJV: And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

Greek: το δε εις τας ακανθας πεσον ουτοι εισιν οι ακουσαντες και υπο μεριμνων και πλουτου και ηδονων του βιου πορευομενοι συμπνιγονται και ου τελεσφορουσιν

Titus 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. [kjv]

ημεν γαρ ποτε και ημεις ανοητοι απειθεις πλανωμενοι δουλευοντες επιθυμιαις και ηδοναις ποικιλαις εν κακια και φθονω διαγοντες στυγητοι μισουντες αλληλους [gnt]

The Greek does not appear to match the KJV (King James Version) translation.

KJV: ... serving various desires and pleasures.
Greek: ... serving desires and various pleasures

That is, the "divers" or "varied" appears to go with "pleasures" and not "lusts" or "desires". Another way to parse the sentence fragment is (by distribution) as follows.

Parse: ... serving various desires and various pleasures.

Good food and drink. What is wrong with the drink?
Good food and good drink.

Titus 3:3

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KJV: For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

Greek: ημεν γαρ ποτε και ημεις ανοητοι απειθεις πλανωμενοι δουλευοντες επιθυμιαις και ηδοναις ποικιλαις εν κακια και φθονω διαγοντες στυγητοι μισουντες αλληλους

James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? [kjv]

ποθεν πολεμοι και ποθεν μαχαι εν υμιν ουκ εντευθεν εκ των ηδονων υμων των στρατευομενων εν τοις μελεσιν υμων [gnt]

4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. [kjv]

επιθυμειτε και ουκ εχετε φονευετε και ζηλουτε και ου δυνασθε επιτυχειν μαχεσθε και πολεμειτε ουκ εχετε δια το μη αιτεισθαι υμας [gnt]

The ancient Greek word "ἡδονή" ≈ "delight, pleasure, taste"and is the source of the English word "hedonism".

For "what" are they not asking?

James 4:1

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KJV: From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

Greek: ποθεν πολεμοι και ποθεν μαχαι εν υμιν ουκ εντευθεν εκ των ηδονων υμων των στρατευομενων εν τοις μελεσιν υμων

James 4:2

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KJV: Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

Greek: επιθυμειτε και ουκ εχετε φονευετε και ζηλουτε και ου δυνασθε επιτυχειν μαχεσθε και πολεμειτε ουκ εχετε δε δια το μη αιτεισθαι υμας

James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. [kjv]

αιτειτε και ου λαμβανετε διοτι κακως αιτεισθε ινα εν ταις ηδοναις υμων δαπανησητε [gnt]

In the previous verse, they were not "asking". In this verse, they are "asking" badly. Is James saying that if we "ask" in the right way, we will get what we "ask" for? What's the "ask"?

The KJV translates as "amiss" a Greek word that means "bad".

"κακῶς" ≈ "badly, miserably, maliciously" (as used here)
"κακός" ≈ "bad, ugly, wretched, mean" (related word)

These words are used by Jesus to refer to those who have fallen and need the Good News.

The ancient Greek word "ἡδονή" ≈ "delight, pleasure, taste"and is the source of the English word "hedonism".

James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. [kjv]

αιτειτε και ου λαμβανετε διοτι κακως αιτεισθε ινα εν ταις ηδοναις υμων δαπανησητε [gnt]

Luke attempted to fill in implementation details to what Jesus stated as a general principle.

James is attempting to fill in details as to how God works - according to James. Eve got into trouble by filling in details provided by the serpent.

Jesus says the following in Matthew.

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: [kjv]

αιτειτε και δοθησεται υμιν ζητειτε και ευρησετε κρουετε και ανοιγησεται υμιν [gnt]

Matthew 7:7

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KJV: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Greek: αιτειτε και δοθησεται υμιν ζητειτε και ευρησετε κρουετε και ανοιγησεται υμιν

*G2237 *5 ἡδονή (hay-don-ay') : from handano (to please); sensual delight; by implication, desire:--lust, pleasure.

Usage

All

ηδονων *2

Luke 8:14 ... and riches and pleasures of this life, and ...
James 4:1 ... hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

ηδοναις *2

Titus 3:3 ... divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice ...
James 4:3 ... ye may consume it upon your lusts.

ηδονην

2 Peter 2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. ...

*G2237 *5 ἡδονή (hay-don-ay') : from handano (to please); sensual delight; by implication, desire:--lust, pleasure.

Words: ηδοναις=2 ηδονην ηδονων=2

The ancient Greek word "ἡδονή" ≈ "delight, pleasure, taste"and is the source of the English word "hedonism".

James 4:3

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KJV: Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Greek: αιτειτε και ου λαμβανετε διοτι κακως αιτεισθε ινα εν ταις ηδοναις υμων δαπανησητε

Latin: petitis et non accipitis eo quod male petatis ut in concupiscentiis vestris insumatis

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. [kjv]

μοιχαλιδες ουκ οιδατε οτι η φιλια του κοσμου εχθρα του θεου εστιν ος εαν ουν βουληθη φιλος ειναι του κοσμου εχθρος του θεου καθισταται [gnt]

Does "God" consider the "world" an enemy?
Does the "world" consider "God" an enemy?

This appears to be a (not uncommon) converse logical error by James.

The world considers God an enemy does not mean that God considers the world an enemy.

The Greek phrase «του θεου» appears in 496 verses in the GNT (Greek New Testament). In 494 verses this is translated as "of God" or "of ... God" (with an adjective, etc.). There are only 2 places where this is translated "with god". These are translated as "with God" for reasons that are not clear.

More: Converse fallacy: If A then B does not mean If B then A

Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. [kjv]

οτι ουκ αδυνατησει παρα του θεου παν ρημα [gnt]

… inpossibile … omne verbum [v]

… aelch word … [wes]

… euery word … [wy]

… ainhun waurde. [got]

… всяк глаголгол. [ocs]

… никакое слово. [rus]

Paraphrase: That (it is) not impossible (potentially possible) beyond every spoken word of God. (potentially possible means that it has not happened yet)

About the 16th c., the "every (spoken) word of God" disappeared. The "of God" was changed to "with God".

Before this, the following were used.

4th century Latin Vulgate as "omne verbum" ≈ "every word".
5th century Wulfila Gothic as "ainhun waurde" ≈ "each word".
8th century Old Church Slavonic as "всяк глаголгол" ≈ "each word".
10th century Wessex Gospels Old English as "aelch word" ≈ "each word".

More: Whisper game

More: Something to say about words

More: Matthew 18:15-17 Conflicting and faulty resolutions

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. [kjv]

James 4:4
Strong	Used	Unique	Word	Part of speech
G3428	7	1	μοιχαλιδες	noun vocative plural feminine
G3756	1604	823	ουκ	participle negative
G1492	316	63	οιδατε	verb perfect active indicative 2st person plural
G3754	1282	1282	οτι	conjunction
G3588	19706	981	η	article nominative singular feminine
G5373	1	1	φιλια	noun nominative singular feminine
G3588	19706	2480	του	article genitive singular masculine
G2889	181	69	κοσμου	noun genitive singular masculine
G2189	6	3	εχθρα	noun nominative singular feminine
G1510	2435	888	εστιν	verb present active indicative 3rd person singular
G3588	19706	1236	τω	article dative singular masculine
G2316	1305	159	θεω	noun dative singular masculine
G3739	1398	217	ος	relative pronoun nominative singular masculine
G1437	328	326	εαν	conditional
G3767	482	482	ουν	conjunction
G1014	36	1	βουληθη	verb aorist passive deponent subjunctive 3rd person singular
G5384	29	8	φιλος	adjective nominative singular masculine
G1510	2435	123	ειναι	verb present active infinitive
G3588	19706	2480	του	article genitive singular masculine
G2889	181	69	κοσμου	noun genitive singular masculine
G2190	32	7	εχθρος	adjective nominative singular masculine
G3588	19706	2480	του	article genitive singular masculine
G2316	1305	683	θεου	noun genitive singular masculine
G2525	21	4	καθισταται	verb present passive indicative 3rd person singular

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. [kjv]

James 4:4
Strong	Used	Unique	Word	Part of speech
G3428	7	1	μοιχαλιδες	noun vocative plural feminine
G3756	1604	823	ουκ	participle negative
G1492	316	63	οιδατε	verb perfect active indicative 2st person plural
G3754	1282	1282	οτι	conjunction
G3588	19706	981	η	article nominative singular feminine
G5373	1	1	φιλια	noun nominative singular feminine
G3588	19706	2480	του	article genitive singular masculine
G2889	181	69	κοσμου	noun genitive singular masculine
G2189	6	3	εχθρα	noun nominative singular feminine
G1510	2435	888	εστιν	verb present active indicative 3rd person singular
G3588	19706	1236	τω	article dative singular masculine
G2316	1305	159	θεω	noun dative singular masculine
G3739	1398	217	ος	relative pronoun nominative singular masculine
G1437	328	326	εαν	conditional
G3767	482	482	ουν	conjunction
G1014	36	1	βουληθη	verb aorist passive deponent subjunctive 3rd person singular
G5384	29	8	φιλος	adjective nominative singular masculine
G1510	2435	123	ειναι	verb present active infinitive
G3588	19706	2480	του	article genitive singular masculine
G2889	181	69	κοσμου	noun genitive singular masculine
G2190	32	7	εχθρος	adjective nominative singular masculine
G3588	19706	2480	του	article genitive singular masculine
G2316	1305	683	θεου	noun genitive singular masculine
G2525	21	4	καθισταται	verb present passive indicative 3rd person singular

James uses the specific noun for male in four places. Here, James appears to address just the feminine adulteress. Some Greek manuscripts add the male counterpart.

James mentions the "church" one time, in the next chapter. The word for "adulteresses" is feminine and plural. The word for "church" would be feminine and singular.

More: James: Use of male-specific words

2 Peter 2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; [kjv]

αδικουμενοι μισθον αδικιας ηδονην ηγουμενοι την εν ημερα τρυφην σπιλοι και μωμοι εντρυφωντες εν ταις απαταις αυτων συνευωχουμενοι υμιν [gnt]

The Greek for "count" is related to the word for "hegemony". The word for "pleasure" is the source of the English word "hedonism".

Discuss: Do "sinners" or "false teachers" want to come into your church and "feast" with you so that you become part of their conspiracy? Are we really "better together"?

What do you think of when you hear someone having pleasure to "riot" in the day time, publicly showing their disdain for God and wanting everyone else to approve? The ancient Greek word "τρυφαώ" ≈ "coddled, pampered, indulged".

More: 2 Peter 2:1-22 Déjà vu all over again

Matthew 11:8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. [kjv]

αλλα τι εξηλθατε ιδειν ανθρωπον εν μαλακοις ημφιεσμενον ιδου οι τα μαλακα φορουντες εν τοις οικοις των βασιλεων [gnt]

Luke 7:25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts. [kjv]

αλλα τι εξηλθατε ιδειν ανθρωπον εν μαλακοις ιματιοις ημφιεσμενον ιδου οι εν ιματισμω ενδοξω και τρυφη υπαρχοντες εν τοις βασιλειοις εισιν [gnt]

The ancient Greek word "τρυφαώ" ≈ "coddled, pampered, indulged". Luke records the "delicately" or "pampered". This detail is not in Matthew.

More: A hard look at soft ideas

More: Matthew 11: Exploring the Kingdom of Heaven

More: 2 Peter 2:1-22 Déjà vu all over again

Proverbs 17:1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. [kjv]

κρεισσων ψωμος μεθ ηδονης εν ειρηνη η οικος πληρης πολλων αγαθων και αδικων θυματων μετα μαχης [lxx]

Better is a morsel with pleasure in peace, than a house full of many good things and unjust sacrifices, with strife. [bs3]

The LXX (Septuagint) adds, or the HOT (Hebrew Old Testament) subtracts, the "many good things". The LXX has "unjust sacrifices". The HOT does not have "unjust".

Can a sacrifice be "unjust"? Jesus says he wants "mercy" of the "strong" and not "sacrifice" of the "harmed".

Proverbs 17:1

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KJV: Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

Hebrew: טוב פת חרבה ושלוה בה מבית מלא זבחי ריב׃

Greek: κρεισσων ψωμος μεθ ηδονης εν ειρηνη η οικος πληρης πολλων αγαθων και αδικων θυματων μετα μαχης

Brenton: Better is a morsel with pleasure in peace, than a house full of many good things and unjust sacrifices, with strife.

Acts 17:18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. [kjv]

τινες δε και των επικουρειων και στωικων φιλοσοφων συνεβαλλον αυτω και τινες ελεγον τι αν θελοι ο σπερμολογος ουτος λεγειν οι δε ξενων δαιμονιων δοκει καταγγελευς ειναι οτι τον ιησουν και την αναστασιν ευηγγελιζετο [gnt]

Greek philosophy, as found in the Epicureans and Stoics, permeated Greek society at the time of Paul. Those secular ideas are still in many churches today.
Some remarks by Paul in his letters contain references their ideas that anyone familiar with Greek philosophy would understand.

More: Stoics and Epicureans

Epicurus (341-270 BC) was a Greek philosopher who, rejecting Plato's ideas, founded the movement called Epicureanism. These ideas are still popular today and preached in some churches.

self-sufficient life surrounded by friends
absence of pain, control of anger
peace and freedom from fear
happiness and pleasure (hedonism)

Some pastors will preach on the great importance of having friends and make that part of their Bible teaching. It is hard to find Bible support for this idea.

Instead, one should "be a friend" as Jesus was, and not "need a friend".

More: Song: What a friend we have in Jesus

More: Philippians 4:9-11 Being content with self-sufficiency

More: Stoics and Epicureans

Acts 26:22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: [kjv]

επικουριας ουν τυχων της απο του θεου αχρι της ημερας ταυτης εστηκα μικρω τε και μεγαλω ουδεν εκτος λεγων ων τε οι προφηται ελαλησαν μελλοντων γινεσθαι και μωυσης [gnt]

The ancient Greek word "ἐπικουρία" ≈ "help, aid" and is used by Paul as a play on words of the Greek philosopher "Ἐπίκουρος " ≈ "Epicurus" (341-270 BC).

Did Paul first become a "friend" of those to whom he was "witnessing"?

Epicurus advocated having "friends" to "help" you and being "self-sufficient".
Paul advocates getting "help" from God.

More: Stoics and Epicureans

Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and sung by drummer Ringo Starr, the Beatles song "With a little help from my friends" was on the "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album released on May 26, 1967.
It is not so much our friends' help that helps us, as the confidence of their help. Epicurus.

Consider Paul. No. Not Paul McCartney, but the Apostle Paul.

friends

What does Paul think of the "Epicurean" philosophy of having friends, anger management, etc.?

More: Stoics and Epicureans

Here are some quotes from Epicurus. Some may relate to Christian Hedonism.

We must exercise ourselves in the things which bring happiness, since, if that be present, we have everything, and, if that be absent, all our actions are directed toward attaining it.

If thou wilt make a man happy, add not unto his riches but take away from his desires.

It is folly for a man to pray to the gods for that which he has the power to obtain by himself.

Here are some quotes from Epicurus. Some may relate to Christian Hedonism.

Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little.

Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist.

It is not so much our friends' help that helps us, as the confidence of their help.

Here are some quotes from Epicurus. Some may relate to Christian Hedonism.

Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.

There is no such thing as justice in the abstract; it is merely a compact between men.

2 Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [kjv]

προδοται προπετεις τετυφωμενοι φιληδονοι μαλλον η φιλοθεοι [gnt]

The Greek for "lovers of pleasures" has to do with being a "lover of hedonism" which is part of the philosophy of Epicurus.

"ἡδονή" ≈ "delight, pleasure, enjoyment" and is the source of the English word "hedonism".

More: Stoics and Epicureans

More: 2 Timothy 3:1-17 Silly women in the she shed

2 Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [kjv]

προδοται προπετεις τετυφωμενοι φιληδονοι μαλλον η φιλοθεοι [gnt]

The Greek for "more than" is that of "rather" or "instead of".

The ancient Greek word "μᾶλλον" ≈ "rather" as in "rather than". In a comparison, in context, it could be "rather more". The modern Greek word "μάλλον" (MAL-lon) ≈ "rather, more precisely".

More: 2 Timothy 3:1-17 Silly women in the she shed

2 Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [kjv]

προδοται προπετεις τετυφωμενοι φιληδονοι μαλλον η φιλοθεοι [gnt]

Paul appears to be making the following contrast.

"lovers of hedonism" as in the Epicurean philosophy

"rather than"

"lovers of God".

Might this be a reference to ideas such as Christian Hedonism?

More: 2 Timothy 3:1-17 Silly women in the she shed

2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [kjv]

Verses 2-3: 15 words describing men. Verse 4 has 5, the last 2 a comparison.

3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [kjv]

προδοται προπετεις τετυφωμενοι φιληδονοι μαλλον η φιλοθεοι [gnt]

3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. [kjv]

3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, [kjv]

3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. [kjv]

More: 2 Timothy 3:1-17 Silly women in the she shed