Ephesians 5:3

Ephesians 5:3

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named amongst you, as becometh saints;

a. NLT: Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.

b. NIV: But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.

c. YLT: And whoredom, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints;

d. Amplified Bible Classic: But immorality (sexual vice) and all impurity [of lustful, rich, wasteful living] or greediness must not even be named among you, as is fitting and proper among saints (God’s consecrated people).

e. Worrell Translation: But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints;

f. Wuest Translation: But fornication and uncleanness, every kind of it, or covetousness, let it not be even named among you, just as it is befitting to saints.

1. “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness…”

a. But [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. fornication [Stromg 4202 porneia por-ni'-ah from 4203; harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively, idolatry:--fornication.] [Vine: of illicit sexual intercourse, it stands for, or includes, adultery; metaphorically, of "the association of pagan idolatry with doctrines of, and professed adherence to, the Christian faith] [Thayer: of illicit sexual intercourse in general] [BLB: adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals.]

c. and [Strong: de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

d. all [Strong: 3956 pas pas including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.]

e. uncleanness [Strong: 167 akatharsia ak-ath-ar-see'-ah from 169; impurity (the quality), physically or morally:--uncleanness.] [Thayer: uncleanness,  physical, in a moral sense: the impurity of lustful, luxurious, profligate living of impure motives.]

1). Uncleanness is accomplished through acting out the lusts of our flesh.

a). Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own heart, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves.

f. or [Strong: 2228 e ay a primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than:--and, but (either), (n-)either, except it be, (n-)or (else), rather, save, than, that, what, yea. Often used in connection with other particles.]

g. covetousness [Strong: 4124 pleonexia pleh-on-ex-ee'-ah from 4123; avarice, i.e. (by implication) fraudulency, extortion:--covetous(-ness) practices, greediness.] [Thayer: greedy desire to have more, covetousness, avarice]

2. “…let it not be once named amongst you, as becometh saints.”

a. let it…named [Strong: 3687 onomazo on-om-ad'-zo from 3686; to name, i.e. assign an appellation; by extension, to utter, mention, profess:--call, name.]

b. not be once [Strong: 3366 mede may-deh' from 3361 and 1161; but not, not even; in a continued negation, nor:--neither, nor (yet), (no) not (once, so much as).]

c. among [Strong: 1722 en en a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

d. you [Strong: 5213 humin hoo-min' irregular dative case of 5210; to (with or by) you:--ye, you, your(-selves).]

e. as [Strong: 2531 kathos kath-oce' from 2596 and 5613; just (or inasmuch) as, that:--according to, (according, even) as, how, when.]

f. becometh [Strong: 4241 prepo prep'-o apparently a primary verb; to tower up (be conspicuous), i.e. (by implication) to be suitable or proper (third person singular present indicative, often used impersonally, it is fit or right):--become, comely.]

g. saints [Strong: 40 hagios hag'-ee-os from hagos (an awful thing) (compare 53, 2282); sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated):--(most) holy (one, thing), saint.] [Vine: fundamentally signifies "separated" (among the Greeks, dedicated to the gods), and hence, in Scripture in its moral and spiritual significance, separated from sin and therefore consecrated to God, sacred.]

1). It is the will of God that we possess or control our bodies to avoid fornication in any form.

a). 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 4 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification:

4:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.

2). As believers we need to draw on the grace of God and bring our physical bodies in line with the word of God, we bring our bodies into subjection.

a). 1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to other, I myself should be a castaway.

3). It is telling that covetousness is listed with all forms of immorality. The Tenth Commandment covers all forms of covetousness.

a). Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s.

4). Once a person becomes born again they become a saint, they are set apart by God for him.