1) FOUR DIVISIONS ARE NOTED - WORDS MARKED WITH AN (*) ARE FROM EARLY MANUSCRIPTS
A. SINS OF SENSUALITY - ADULTERY*, FORNICATION, UNCLEANNESS, LASCIVIOUSNESS (IMMORALITY, IMPURITY, SENSUALITY, NASB)
B. SINS OF RELIGION - IDOLATRY, WITCHCRAFT (IDOLATRY,SORCERY, NASB)
C. VIOLATIONS OF BROTHERLY LOVE - HATRED, VARIANCE, EMULATIONS, WRATH, STRIFE, SEDITIONS, HERESIES, ENVYINGS (ENMITIES, STRIFE, JEALOUSY, OUTBURSTS OF ANGER, DISPUTES, DISSENSIONS, FACTIONS, ENVYINGS,NASB)
D. SINS OF INTEMPERENCE- MURDERS*, DRUNKENESS, REVELLINGS (DRUNKENESS, CAROUSING, NASB
2) SINS OF SENSUALITY
-
A. ADULTERY (MOICHEIA) "ILLICIT INTERCOURSE" WITH SOMEONE OTHER THAN ONE'S SPOUSE
1. ROM 7: 1-3 - DEMONSTRATES THAT ONE CAN COMMIT ADULTERY WITH A LEGALLY MARRIED MATE, IF THE COUPLE DOES NOT HAVE A SCRIPTURAL RIGHT TO BE MARRIED. SEE ALSO MATT 19:9.
2. WE ALSO KNOW WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT THE PLANNING OF THE ACT IN MATT 5:27-30
B. FORNICATION - (PORNEIA) DERIVED FROM THE WORD PORNE WHICH HAS A BASE MEANING OF "A WHORE, A HARLOT FOR HIRE". THE WORD USED HERE MEANS "PROSTITUTION, UNCHASTITIY, FORNICATION, OF EVERY KIND OF UNLAWFUL INTERCOURSE." PORNEIA IS USED IN A BROAD SENSE TO INCLUDE MOICHEIA. IN A GENERAL SENSE, AS IN THIS VERSE, IT INCLUDES ALL PROHIBITED SEXUAL RELATIONS. THIS LIST WOULD INCLUDE FORNICATION, ADULTERY, SODOMY, LESBIANISM, INCEST,BESTIALITY, ETC.
1. IN THE FIRST CENTURY, IN THE GENTILE SOCIETY, FORNICATION WAS A HUGE PROBLEM. IN THE TEMPLE OF APHRODITE SEXUAL ACTS WERE A PART OF THE WORSHIP SERVICE. THESE EARLY CHRISTIANS DID NOT, OF COURSE, PARTICIPATE IN THIS AND 1 PET 4:4 SHOWS HOW THOSE IN SOCIETY VIEWED THESE SERVANTS OF THE LORD.
2. SEE 1 COR 7: 1-2 - PRE-MARITAL SEX
3. THERE ARE SEVEN LISTS OF EVIL IN THE WRITINGS OF PAUL. FORNICATION IS LISTED IN FIVE OF THEM AND IS FIRST IN EACH.
C. UNCLEANNESS - (AKATHARSIA) IMPURE. AS YOU CAN SEE IT REFERS TO SOMETHING UNCLEAN OR FILTHY. IT HAD EARLY REFERENCE TO WHATEVER WAS NOT CLEAN IN A CEREMONIAL SENSE. MT 23:27. SEE ALSO LEV 22: 3-9. IT LATER TOOK ON THE SENSE OF MORAL UNCLEANESS. FORNICATION FALLS INTO THIS CATEGORY (ROM 1:24, EPH 5:3, COL3:5)
1. NOT AN EASY WORD TO DEFINE. IF PROPER SEXUAL CONDUCT IS CLEAN, THEN IMPROPER IS UNCLEAN.
2. IT ALSO WOULD MEAN ANYTHING ELSE THAT IS NOT CLEAN LIKE UNCLEAN STORIES, ETC. MANY WOULD NOT BE INVOLVED IN AN ACTUAL PHYSICAL UNCLEAN RELATIONSHIP, BUT WOULD TELL DIRTY JOKES, ETC. SO MUCH NOW, OF THAT SORT, IS SEEN ON THE INTERNET, TV, ETC.
3. AN IMPURITY WHERE THERE IS A REPULSIVE QUALITY THAT AWAKENS DISGUST IN DECENT PERSONS.
4. HAVE WE BECOME DE-SENSITIZED?
5. MT 5:8 AND REV 3:4 DO WE WANT TO BE CLEAN AND SEE GOD?
D. LASCIVIOUSNESS / LEWDNESS - (ASELGEIA) THAYER DEFINES THIS AS "LICENTIOUSNESS, DEBAUCHERY, SENSUALITY". ALSO "UNBRIDLED LUST, EXCESS, WANTONESS, OUTRAGEOUSNESS, SHAMELESSNESS, INSOLENCE, ..WANTON ACTS (MANNERS), INDECENT BODY MOVEMENTS, UNCHASTE HANDLING OF MALE OR FEMALES." THINGS THAT FALL UNDER THIS CATEGORY ARE OBVIOUS. PORNOGRAPHY, FILTHY JOKES, DANCING, ETC.
1. BARCLAY HAS AN INTERESTING INSIGHT OF THIS WORD. HE DIVIDES INTO THREE CATEGORIES
A. WANTON AND UNDISCIPLINED ACTION
B. NO RESPECT FOR THE PERSON OR RIGHTS OF ANYONE ELSE
C. COMPLETELY INDIFFERENT TO PUBLIC OPINION OR PUBLIC DECENCY.
2. THE CONTEXT IN WHICH THIS WORD IS USED HELPS US TO BETTER UNDERSTAND IT. ROM 13: 11-14
EPH 4: 17-19; 1 PET 4: 1-4
THE RESULT OF THESE SINS OF THE FLESH? 1 PET 2:11