Lexical Summary truphé: Luxury, indulgence, revelry Original Word: τρυφή Strong's Exhaustive Concordance delicately, riot. From thrupto (to break up or (figuratively) enfeeble, especially the mind and body by indulgence); effeminacy, i.e. Luxury or debauchery -- delicately, riot. HELPS Word-studies 5172 tryphḗ (from thryptō, "to break down due to over-indulgence, i.e. living in excessive luxury") – properly, feebleness brought on by self-indulgence (luxury); (figuratively) moral and spiritual breakdown ("enfeeblement") from over-indulging in dainty ("delicate") things, i.e. "dainty living" that deteriorates soul and body. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom thruptó (to break) Definition softness, daintiness, luxuriousness NASB Translation luxury (1), revel (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5172: τρυφήτρυφή, τρυφῆς, ἡ (from φρύπτω to break down, enervate; passive and middle to live softly and delicately), softness, effeminacy, luxurious living: Luke 7:25; 2 Peter 2:13. (Euripides, Aristophanes, Xenophon, Plato, and following; the Sept..) Topical Lexicon Usage in ScriptureLuke 7:25 and 2 Peter 2:13 supply the only two New Testament occurrences of τρυφή. In both contexts the Spirit contrasts a life devoted to luxurious ease with a life devoted to God. Jesus points to royal households to show that John the Baptist’s credibility did not rest on external comforts. Peter, writing against false teachers, exposes their sham spirituality by spotlighting their delight in daytime revelry. Historical Background of the Term In the Greco-Roman world τρυφή evoked images of banquets, costly garments, perfumed baths, and a schedule free from manual labor. Classical moralists warned that such indulgence weakened civic virtue and fostered tyranny. When the apostles employed the word, their hearers already associated it with moral decay and social injustice, making it a potent shorthand for self-absorbed living. Theological Themes 1. Worldly Luxury versus Prophetic Integrity John’s rough clothing and wilderness diet (Luke 7:25) underscore that God’s messengers rely on divine approval, not cultural privilege. 2. Pleasure as a Cloak for Deception Peter says of the false teachers, “They consider it pleasure to carouse in broad daylight… reveling in their deceptions as they feast with you” (2 Peter 2:13). Their love of τρυφή exposes an inner bankruptcy that eventually “will bring them swift destruction” (2 Peter 2:1). 3. Spiritual Deadness Resulting from Self-Indulgence The wider scriptural witness links unchecked luxury with spiritual torpor (Amos 6:1-7; Ezekiel 16:49; Revelation 3:17). Pleasure is not condemned in itself, but when it becomes the organizing center of life it usurps devotion to the Lord. Relationship to Old Testament Teaching Prophets such as Amos denounced “those who lie on beds of ivory… who drink wine by the bowlful” while ignoring national ruin (Amos 6:4-6). Isaiah warned against those who “rise early to pursue strong drink” (Isaiah 5:11). τρυφή carries this prophetic edge into the New Covenant era, reminding readers that God’s standard of justice and compassion has not changed. Connections to Other New Testament Passages • James 5:5: “You have lived on the earth in luxury and self-indulgence; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.” Although τρυφή itself appears only twice, its theme reverberates through exhortations to contentment (1 Timothy 6:6-10) and stewardship (2 Corinthians 9:6-11). Warnings to Church Leaders Peter’s polemic shows that leaders may hide sensual indulgence beneath spiritual language. Congregations therefore must evaluate teachers by their fruit, not their charisma. Elders are to be “above reproach… not lovers of money” (1 Timothy 3:2-3), guarding both doctrine and lifestyle. Practical Implications for Discipleship • Cultivate Simplicity: Voluntary moderation frees resources for kingdom purposes and cultivates dependence on God. Examples in Church History Early monastic movements, the evangelical poverty of Francis of Assisi, and the simple living advocated by many reformers each sought to counteract the spiritual hazards of τρυφή in their day. While expressions differed, the impulse remained: to witness that Christ, not comfort, is the believer’s treasure. Questions for Reflection and Application 1. Where does the pursuit of comfort subtly displace obedience in my life? By heeding Scripture’s warnings about τρυφή, believers learn to enjoy God’s gifts without becoming enslaved by them, thereby bearing credible witness to the surpassing worth of Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations τρυφαίς τρυφάς τρυφη τρυφή τρυφῇ τρυφην τρυφήν τρυφής truphe truphē truphen truphēn tryphe tryphē tryphêi tryphē̂i tryphen tryphēn tryphḗnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Luke 7:25 N-DFSGRK: ἐνδόξῳ καὶ τρυφῇ ὑπάρχοντες ἐν NAS: and live in luxury are [found] in royal palaces! KJV: and live delicately, are in INT: splendid and in luxury are living in 2 Peter 2:13 N-AFS Strong's Greek 5172 |
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