Definition of Wantonness in Christian Ethics Context
The Greek term ἀσέλγεια (aselgeia), translated as "wantonness" or "licentiousness," appears in several New Testament passages, including Romans 13:13 and Ephesians 4:19 [1, 5]. This term is associated with a lack of restraint and excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.
In Christian ethics, wantonness is considered a vice that involves indulging in immoral or sinful behavior, often in a reckless or shameless manner. According to Calvin, wantonness against Christ occurs when individuals, particularly those who have dedicated themselves to a life of devotion, indulge in unbecoming behavior, forgetting their calling and the modesty expected of them [2]. This understanding is echoed in the writings of various Christian traditions, including Reformed and Puritan commentators.
Wantonness is often linked to other vices such as fornication, uncleanness, and covetousness. In Ephesians 5:3, the apostle Paul exhorts believers to avoid these behaviors, emphasizing the importance of holiness and moral purity [4, 6]. The term "uncleanness" (ακαθαρσία, akatharsia) refers to unclean or immoral acts, while "covetousness" (πλεονεξία, pleonexia) denotes an excessive desire for wealth or material gain [7, 8].
The consequences of wantonness are severe, leading to a hardening of the heart and a loss of moral sensitivity. According to Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, those who indulge in wantonness become "past feeling," losing all sense of shame and moral responsibility [5]. This is in line with the biblical warning that those who give themselves over to sinful behavior will be given over to their desires, with God withdrawing His preventing grace [5].
In the context of Christian ethics, wantonness is seen as a threat to the moral fabric of the community. Pastors and church leaders are exhorted to teach and exhort believers to avoid such behavior, promoting instead a life of holiness and devotion to God [3, 9]. By doing so, they aim to create a community that is characterized by moral purity, love, and a deep commitment to following Christ.
The biblical understanding of wantonness is rooted in the Old Testament concept of holiness, which emphasizes the importance of separating oneself from sinful behavior and dedicating oneself to God's will. In the New Testament, this concept is developed further, with the emphasis on the believer's union with Christ and the importance of living a life that is pleasing to Him [3].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Chambering — (Rom. 13:13), wantonness, impurity.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, section 21.4: girls, and who would have been fitter for the married state. For when they have begun to be wanton against Christ He says that they are “wanton against Christ,” who, forgetting the condition to which they were called, indulge in unbecoming mirth; for they ought to have kept themselves under the yoke of modesty, as becomes grave and respectable females. Accordingly, a more luxurious and abandoned course of life is a sort of wantonness against Christ, to whom they had pledged their fidelity. As Paul had seen many instances of this”
- 1 Thessalonians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Thessalonians 4:3: 4:3 God’s will is for you to be holy: The foundation of Christian ethics is not philosophical speculation about virtue but doing God’s will (Rom 12:1-2; Eph 6:6; Heb 10:36; 13:20-21). Holiness (1 Thes 4:4, 7) embraces all of a person’s life (5:23); here it involves staying away from sexual sin (Greek porneia, any sexual union outside marriage).”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 5:3: But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness,.... 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 ex”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 4:19: past feeling--senseless, shameless, hopeless; the ultimate result of a long process of "hardening," or habit of sin (Eph 4:18). "Being past hope," or despairing, is the reading of the Vulgate; though not so well supported as English Version reading, "past feeling," which includes the absence of hope (Jer 2:25; Jer 18:12). given themselves over--In Rom 1:24 it is, "God gave them up to uncleanness." Their giving themselves to it was punished in kind, God giving them up to it by withdrawing His preventing grace; their sin thus was made their punishme”
- Ephesians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ephesians 5:3: These verses contain a caution against all manner of uncleanness, with proper remedies and arguments proposed: some further cautions are added, and other duties recommended. Filthy lusts must be suppressed, in order to the supporting of holy love. Walk in love, and shun fornication and all uncleanness. Fornication is folly committed between unmarried persons. All uncleanness includes all other sorts of filthy lusts, which were too common among the Gentiles. Or covetousness, which being thus connected, and mentioned as a thing which should not be once named, some”
- Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 1:29: Being filled with all unrighteousness - αδικια, every vice contrary to justice and righteousness. Fornication - Πορνειᾳ, all commerce between the sexes out of the bounds of lawful marriage. Some of the best MSS. omit this reading; and others have ακαθαρσιᾳ, uncleanness. Wickedness - Πονηριᾳ, malignity, that which is oppressive to its possessor and to its object; from πονος, labor, toil, etc. Covetousness - Πλεονεξιᾳ, from πλειον, more, and ἑξω, I will have; the intense love or lust of gain; the determination to be rich; the principle of a dissatisfied and disco”
- Ephesians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ephesians 5:3: But fornication - It is probable that the three terms used here by the apostle refer to different species of the same thing. The word fornication, πορνεια, may imply not only fornication but adultery also, as it frequently does; uncleanness, ακαθαρσια may refer to all abominable and unnatural lusts - sodomy, bestiality, etc., and covetousness, πλεονεξια, to excessive indulgence in that which, moderately used, is lawful. As the covetous man never has enough of wealth, so the pleasure-taker and the libertine never have enough of the gratifications of sense, the appe”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 59.2: that are behind , we always aim at farther progress, ( Philippians 3:13 ) and pastors ought also to make this their endeavor. Now, as to his beseeching , when he might rightfully enjoin — it is a token of humanity and modesty which pastors ought to imitate, that they may, if possible, allure people to kindness, rather than violently compel them. 566 566 “ Que de les contraindre rudement et d’vne façon violente ;” — “Rather than constrain them rudely and in a violent manner.” 3 For this is the will of God . This is ”