Ephesians 5:3-5 Sin and Repentance in the Kingdom

Ephesians 5:3-5: Sin and Repentance in the Kingdom

Ephesians 5:3-5 reads: "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." Paul's language here is absolute and uncompromising, marking a sharp boundary between the conduct expected of believers and the practices of the surrounding culture.

Literary Context and Argument

This passage falls within the ethical section of Ephesians (chapters 4-6), where Paul transitions from doctrinal exposition to practical application. The immediately preceding verse (4:32) speaks of God's forgiveness in Christ ^[10], establishing the theological ground for the moral imperatives that follow. Paul structures his argument as an imitation ethic: believers are to be "imitators of God, as beloved children" ^[10], walking in love as Christ loved them. The vices catalogued in 5:3-5 represent the antithesis of this Christ-shaped life.

The passage connects directly to Paul's earlier description of Gentile conduct in 4:19, where he describes those "past feeling" who have "given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." The repetition of "uncleanness" in both contexts underscores continuity: what characterized the old life must have no place in the new ^[11].

The Catalogue of Vices

Paul's list moves from sexual sin ("fornication," "uncleanness") to economic sin ("covetousness") to sins of speech ("filthiness," "foolish talking," "jesting"). The phrase "let it not be once named among you" carries rhetorical force—these behaviors should be so foreign to Christian community that they are not even topics of conversation. The standard is "as becometh saints," literally "as is fitting for holy ones" ^[11]. God's people must maintain a holy lifestyle distinct from the immorality common among unbelievers ^[11].

Covetousness receives particular emphasis, identified explicitly as idolatry. This equation appears elsewhere in Paul's letters (Colossians 3:5) ^[4], reflecting the biblical tradition that greed represents a rival allegiance, a worship of created things rather than the Creator. The cross-references to this passage span the biblical canon, from the Tenth Commandment's prohibition of coveting (Exodus 20:17) to Jesus's warnings about greed (Luke 12:15) to the prophetic denunciations of avarice (Jeremiah 6:13, 8:10) ^[3].

The Kingdom Exclusion Warning

Verse 5 escalates from prohibition to exclusion: "no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man...hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." This warning echoes Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and Galatians 5:19-21, where similar vice lists conclude with the declaration that "they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" ^{[2, 4]}. The parallel passages in Revelation 21:8 and 22:15 place such persons outside the New Jerusalem ^{[2, 4]}.

The interpretive challenge centers on how to reconcile this exclusion language with Paul's doctrine of justification by grace through faith. Does persistent sin forfeit salvation? Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, commenting on 1 John 3:8, distinguishes between the regenerate person who struggles against remaining sin and the person who habitually practices sin as a way of life: "He that committeth sin is of the devil," meaning one who characteristically and unrepentantly continues in sin ^[7]. Augustine, quoted in the same commentary, clarifies that "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" ^[7].

Sin's Nature and Forgiveness

The broader biblical framework distinguishes between the universal fact of human sinfulness and the question of inheritance in God's kingdom. All are born sinners (Psalm 51:5, 58:3), yet "whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it" ^[6]. Even after regeneration, believers commit actual sins ^[9], but confession accompanied by forsaking sin leads to pardon ^[1]. Forgiveness of sin, as Easton's Bible Dictionary notes, is "one of the constituent parts of justification," whereby God "removes the guilt of sin, or the sinner's actual liability to eternal wrath" ^[5]. This forgiveness is offered freely to all in the gospel ^[5].

The passage thus functions not as a denial of grace but as a warning against presumption. Deliberate, arrogant sin—what Psalm 19:13 calls "the great sin" of rebellion ^[8]—contradicts the very nature of life in Christ. Paul's concern is pastoral: those who claim Christ yet persist unrepentantly in these vices deceive themselves about their spiritual state. The kingdom inheritance belongs to those whose lives, however imperfectly, reflect the transforming work of the Spirit.

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Confession of Sin — God requires -- Le 5:5; Ho 5:15. God regards -- Job 33:27,28; Da 9:20-23. Exhortation to -- Jos 7:19; Jer 3:13; Jas 5:16. Promises to -- Le 26:40-42; Pr 28:13. Should be accompanied with Submission to punishment. -- Le 26:41; Ne 9:33; Ezr 9:13. Prayer for forgiveness. -- 2Sa 24:10; Ps 25:11; 51:1; Jer 14:7-9,20. Self-abasement. -- Isa 64:5,6; Jer 3:25. Godly sorrow. -- Ps 38:18; La 1:20. Forsaking sin. -- Pr 28:13. Restitution. -- Nu 5:6,7. Should be full and unreserved -- Ps 32:5; 51:3; 106:6. Followed by pardon -- Ps 32:5; 1Jo 1:9. Illustrated -”
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ephesians 5:5 cross-references: 1 Corinthians 6:9, Galatians 5:19, Galatians 5:21, Ephesians 5:3, Colossians 3:5, 1 Timothy 6:10, 1 Timothy 6:17, Hebrews 13:4, Revelation 21:8, Revelation 22:15”
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ephesians 5:3 cross-references: Exodus 18:21, Exodus 20:17, Exodus 23:13, Leviticus 15:18, Numbers 25:1, Deuteronomy 23:17, Joshua 7:21, 1 Samuel 8:3, Psalms 10:3, Psalms 119:36, Proverbs 28:16, Jeremiah 6:13, Jeremiah 8:10, Jeremiah 22:17, Ezekiel 33:31, Micah 2:2, Matthew 15:19, Mark 7:21, Luke 12:15, Luke 16:14, Acts 15:20, Acts 20:33, Romans 1:29, Romans 6:13, Romans 16:2, 1 Corinthians 5:1, 1 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Corinthians 6:13, 1 Corinthians 6:18, 1 Corinthians 10:8, 2 Corinthians 12:21, Galatians 5:19, Ephesians 4:19, Ephesians 5:5, Ephesians 5:12, Philippians 1:27, ”
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Colossians 3:5 cross-references: Exodus 37:22, Matthew 15:19, Mark 7:21, Romans 1:26, Romans 1:29, Romans 6:6, Romans 6:13, Romans 7:5, Romans 7:7, Romans 7:23, Romans 8:13, 1 Corinthians 5:1, 1 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Corinthians 6:13, 1 Corinthians 6:18, 1 Corinthians 10:6, 2 Corinthians 12:21, Galatians 5:19, Galatians 5:24, Ephesians 4:19, Ephesians 5:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:5, Hebrews 12:16, Hebrews 13:4, James 4:1, 1 Peter 2:11, Revelation 21:8, Revelation 22:15”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Forgiveness of sin — One of the constituent parts of justification. In pardoning sin, God absolves the sinner from the condemnation of the law, and that on account of the work of Christ, i.e., he removes the guilt of sin, or the sinner's actual liability to eternal wrath on account of it. All sins are forgiven freely (Acts 5:31; 13:38; 1 John 1:6-9). The sinner is by this act of grace for ever freed from the guilt and penalty of his sins. This is the peculiar prerogative of God (Ps. 130:4; Mark 2:5). It is offered to all in the gospel. (See [219]JUSTIFICATION.)”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:10: Parallel to Jo1 1:8. we have not sinned--referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in Jo1 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have . . . sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the present time, not merely sins committed before, but since, conversion. we make him a liar--a gradation; Jo1 1:6, "we lie"; Jo1 1:8, "we deceive ourselves"; worst of al”
Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 5 (introduction): EXHORTATIONS TO LOVE: AND AGAINST CARNAL LUSTS AND COMMUNICATIONS. CIRCUMSPECTION IN WALK: REDEEMING THE TIME: BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT: SINGING TO THE LORD WITH THANKFULNESS: THE WIFE'S DUTY TO THE HUSBAND RESTS ON THAT OF THE CHURCH TO CHRIST. (Eph. 5:1-33) therefore--seeing that "God in Christ forgave you" (Eph 4:32). followers--Greek, "imitators" of God, in respect to "love" (Eph 5:2): God's essential character (Jo1 4:16). as dear children--Greek, "as children beloved"; to which Eph 5:2 refers, "As Christ also loved us" (Jo1”
Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 5:3: 5:3-5 God’s people (literally holy ones) must have a holy lifestyle, avoiding the immorality common among unbelievers (cp. 4:19; Col 3:5).”

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