John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness , &c.] The apostle proceeds to dehort from several vices, which are unbecoming the dear children and followers of God; and which the love of Christ should constrain them to avoid: the first of these, which is simple fornication, is the sin which is committed between single or unmarried persons; and is contrary to the law of God, is a work of the flesh, and is against a man's own body; it renders persons unfit for church communion, brings many temporal calamities upon them, and exposes them to divine wrath, and excludes from the kingdom of heaven, without repentance; and the reason why it is so often taken notice of is, because it was very frequent among the Gentiles, and not thought criminal: all uncleanness takes in adultery, incest, sodomy, and every unnatural lust; and covetousness seems not so much to design that sin which is commonly so called, namely, an immoderate desire after worldly things, as a greedy and insatiable appetite after the above lusts: let it not be once named among you , as becometh saints; that is, neither one or other of them; the sense is, that they should not be committed; so that there might be no occasion to speak of them, even though with abhorrence, as if there were no such vices in being; and much less should they be named with pleasure, and pleaded for: for thus it becomes such who are set apart by God the Father, whose sins are expiated by the blood of Christ, and whose hearts are sanctified by the Spirit of God; who profess the Gospel of Christ, and have a place and a name in God's house, better than that of sons and daughters.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 3-14 - Filthy lusts must be rooted out. These sins must be dreaded an detested. Here are not only cautions against gross acts of sin, but against what some may make light of. But these things are so far from being profitable. that they pollute and poison the hearers. Ou cheerfulness should show itself as becomes Christians, in what may ten to God's glory. A covetous man makes a god of his money; places tha hope, confidence, and delight, in worldly good, which should be in God only. Those who allow themselves, either in the lusts of the flesh or the love of the world, belong not to the kingdom of grace, nor shal they come to the kingdom of glory. When the vilest transgressors repen and believe the gospel, they become children of obedience, from who God's wrath is turned away. Dare we make light of that which bring down the wrath of God? Sinners, like men in the dark, are going the know not whither, and doing they know not what. But the grace of God wrought a mighty change in the souls of many. Walk as children of light, as having knowledge and holiness. These works of darkness ar unfruitful, whatever profit they may boast; for they end in the destruction of the impenitent sinner. There are many ways of abetting or taking part in the sins of others; by commendation, counsel consent, or concealment. And if we share with others in their sins, we must expect to share in their plagues. If we do not reprove the sins of others, we have fellowship with them. A good man will be ashamed to speak of what many wicked men are not ashamed to do. We must have no only a sight and a knowledge that sin is sin, and in some measur shameful, but see it as a breach of God's holy law. After the exampl of prophets and apostles, we should call on those asleep and dead i sin, to awake and arise, that Christ may give them light.
Greek Textus Receptus
πορνεια 4202 N-NSF δε 1161 CONJ και 2532 CONJ πασα 3956 A-NSF ακαθαρσια 167 N-NSF η 2228 PRT πλεονεξια 4124 N-NSF μηδε 3366 CONJ ονομαζεσθω 3687 5744 V-PPM-3S εν 1722 PREP υμιν 5213 P-2DP καθως 2531 ADV πρεπει 4241 5904 V-PQI-3S αγιοις 40 A-DPM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
3. Or covetousness. Or sets this sin emphatically by itself.Let it. It refers to each of the sins.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
5:3 {Or covetousness} (e pleonexia). In bad company surely. Debasing like sensuality. {As becometh saints} (kaqws prepei hagiois). It is "unbecoming" for a saint to be sensual or covetous.
