Chapter
1 2 3 4 5 6
Verse

Ephesians 5:3

ESV But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
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.
NASB But sexual immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints;
CSB But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you, as is proper for saints.
NLT Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.
KJV But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
NKJV But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;

What does Ephesians 5:3 mean?

After encouraging positive ways to imitate God (Ephesians 5:1–2), Paul transitions to condemn three areas which are sinful for believers. These are grouped together as if they are part of a common theme. If so, then Paul's emphasis in this passage is sexual immorality.

First, Paul directly mentions sexual immorality. This general term can include any sexual misconduct, including inappropriate communication and pornography. Generally, though, as used here, it means physical sexual behaviors, including premarital sex, adultery, and same-sex acts.

Second, "impurity" refers to any kind of unclean or unholy living (Ephesians 4:19). In chapter 4, Paul discussed in detail how non-believers are entangled in various sins (Ephesians 4:17–19). Christians can, and should, strive to be free from these kinds of corruptions. This extends beyond "sexual immorality" in a blatant sense, to those things which non-Christians might consider "gray" areas of sexual purity.

Third, Paul refers to "covetousness." This concept comes directly from the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:17), and means a passionate desire for something belonging to another person. In this context, it most often includes a lust for someone else's wife. There is also a connotation of "greed" involved. This continues to extend Paul's warning about sexual sin to include overt actions, subtle actions, and now even one's thoughts and attitudes.

Paul said such things should not exist among believers. As Christians, we are capable of sin and failure, but we should never be passive about it. When we're convicted of sin, as believers, we ought to confess it and seek to rid ourselves of it (1 John 1:9).

The need for believers to hold each other accountable is not about being judgmental. It's a matter of the health of the entire church. Paul calls a pure church "proper among saints." Paul sought to avoid the kinds of problems experienced in Corinth (1 Corinthians 5). There, sexual immorality was tolerated in the church and caused problems for the entire congregation. Striking a balance between fellowship and purity can be difficult, but it is necessary.
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