How does Ephesians 5:3 define "sexual immorality" in a modern context? Text of Ephesians 5:3 “But among you, as is proper among saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed.” Canonical Harmony: Old Testament Roots 1 Corinthians 10:8 explicitly links πορνεία to Numbers 25:1-9, where Israel’s men “played the harlot” with Moabite women. Leviticus 18 defines unlawful unions (incest, homosexuality, bestiality, adultery), and Paul’s allusion in Ephesians assumes these categories remain. Jesus reinforces the same moral framework in Matthew 19:4-6, citing Genesis 1-2 as the created order. Immediate Context in Ephesians Paul contrasts the pagan backdrop of Ephesus—renowned for the temple of Artemis, whose cult included ritual prostitution—with the “saints” who are to emulate God (Ephesians 5:1). Sexual ethics are therefore missional: believers display God’s holiness to a watching world (5:8-11). Comprehensive Biblical Definition “Sexual immorality” encompasses: • Adultery (Exodus 20:14; Matthew 5:27-28) • Premarital sex/fornication (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8) • Homosexual practice (Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11) • Incest (1 Corinthians 5:1; Leviticus 18) • Prostitution—physical or digital (1 Corinthians 6:15-20) • Lustful fantasizing (Matthew 5:28) • Pornography: heart-level πορνεία via images (Job 31:1; Matthew 5:28) • Cohabitation that imitates marital privileges without covenant (Hebrews 13:4) • Sex trafficking and exploitation, condemned by the attendant term “greed” (πλεονεξία) in Ephesians 5:3. Philosophical and Theological Rationale Human sexuality images the covenantal faithfulness of Christ and His church (Ephesians 5:31-32). Any distortion of that covenantal picture misrepresents the gospel and fails life’s chief end: to glorify God (Isaiah 43:7; 1 Corinthians 10:31). Early-Church Interpretation The Didache 2.2 commands, “You shall not commit πορνεία.” Tertullian (De Pudicitia 4) cites Ephesians 5:3 to condemn adulterous bishops. The Fathers unanimously equated πορνεία with any sexual act outside monogamous marriage. Contemporary Applications 1. Dating and Engagement: sexual activity outside covenant remains πορνεία. 2. Cohabitation: shared domicile with marital privileges without vows violates Hebrews 13:4. 3. Pornography/Sexting/VR Sex: digital media that stimulates lust equals heart-adultery (Matthew 5:28). 4. Hookup Culture: casual encounters contravene 1 Corinthians 6:13-20. 5. Same-sex partnerships: regardless of civil law, Scripture labels acts πορνεία (1 Corinthians 6:9). “Not Even a Hint”: Practical Guardrails • Renew the mind daily in Scripture (Romans 12:2). • Flee tempting contexts (1 Corinthians 6:18). • Cultivate accountable community (Hebrews 3:13). • Pursue marital fidelity as the positive ideal (Proverbs 5:18-19; Ephesians 5:25). • Rely on the Spirit’s power for sanctification (Galatians 5:16-24). Outcome and Hope of the Gospel 1 Corinthians 6:11 affirms that former practitioners of πορνεία “were washed…sanctified…justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” The resurrected Christ grants both forgiveness and transformative power, enabling obedience to Ephesians 5:3 and the restoration of sexuality to its God-glorifying purpose. |
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