Ephesians 5:5 kjv
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.
Ephesians 5:5 nkjv
For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Ephesians 5:5 niv
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person?such a person is an idolater?has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Ephesians 5:5 esv
For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Ephesians 5:5 nlt
You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
Ephesians 5 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ephesians 5:5 | "For you may be sure of this: no immorality or impurity or greed, which amounts to idolatry, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God." | (Direct Statement) |
| Galatians 5:19-21 | "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." | (Lists exclusionary sins) |
| 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 | "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." | (Similar prohibition) |
| Revelation 21:8 | "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." | (Destiny of these sins) |
| 1 Corinthians 5:11 | "But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone called a brother who is sexually immoral or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner. With such a one do not even eat." | (Association with sinners) |
| Matthew 6:24 | "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." | (Greed as service) |
| Colossians 3:5 | "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." | (Greed as idolatry) |
| Romans 1:28-29 | "And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what is not fitting, they being filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips," | (Consequences of sin) |
| Proverbs 11:28 | "Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf." | (Riches/Greed) |
| Hebrews 12:14 | "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." | (Need for holiness) |
| John 14:6 | "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" | (Exclusivity of Christ) |
| Philippians 3:18-19 | "For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with weeping, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, to whom their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame, with minds set on earthly things." | (Worldly desires) |
| 1 Peter 4:3 | "For the time that is behind us is sufficient for you to have done the will of the Gentiles—when you walked in sexual immorality, illicit desires, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry." | (Past Gentile conduct) |
| 1 Timothy 6:10 | "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs." | (Love of money/greed) |
| Ephesians 4:19 | "They became callous and gave themselves over to sensuality, practicing every kind of impurity with greed." | (Depravity from impurity) |
| Ephesians 5:3 | "But sexual immorality and all impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints." | (Avoidance of sin) |
| Ephesians 4:24 | "and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." | (Contrast with new self) |
| John 10:28 | "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand." | (Promise to believers) |
| 1 Corinthians 10:31 | "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." | (Glory of God) |
| James 1:15 | "Then the desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and the sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." | (Sin's progression) |
| 2 Corinthians 7:1 | "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God." | (Cleanliness and holiness) |
Ephesians 5 verses
Ephesians 5 5 Meaning
This verse unequivocally states that no sexually immoral person, nor impure person, nor anyone greedy (who is an idolater), has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. It defines specific behaviors and attitudes that exclude one from God's eternal kingdom. It emphasizes the seriousness of sin and the purity required to be a part of God's realm.
Ephesians 5 5 Context
Ephesians 5:5 is part of a broader exhortation within Ephesians chapter 5. Paul is encouraging believers in Ephesus to live holy lives that reflect their new identity in Christ. He contrasts the previous walk of the Gentile world with the conduct expected of God's people. Immediately preceding this verse, Paul warns against sexual immorality, impurity, and greed, calling them unfitting for saints. Following this verse, Paul urges believers to "walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8), contrasting their new conduct with the unfruitful works of darkness. The chapter emphasizes walking in love, imitation of Christ, and the unity of the church, all built upon the foundation of God's redemptive work. The cultural context involved widespread pagan practices that included various forms of sexual immorality and veneration of gods through material wealth, which Paul directly opposes.
Ephesians 5 5 Word Analysis
- For: (Gk: gar) - A conjunction introducing a reason or explanation. It indicates that what follows is the justification for the previous admonition.
- you may be sure: (Gk: oida-) - A verb indicating certainty, knowledge, or assurance. Paul asserts this is not an opinion but a divine truth.
- of this: (Gk: tauta) - Refers back to the admonitions in the preceding verses, particularly the avoidance of immorality, impurity, and greed.
- that (Gk: hoti) - A conjunction introducing a subordinate clause, stating the content of the knowledge.
- no (Gk: oudeis) - A strong negation, meaning "not even one."
- immorality: (Gk: pornos) - Pertains to sexual sin in general, especially promiscuity or sexual sin outside of marriage. It's a broad term for sexual uncleanness.
- or: (Gk: ē) - A conjunction presenting an alternative or further exclusion.
- impurity: (Gk: akatharsia) - Broadly means uncleanness, contamination, or defilement. In the NT, it often refers to moral uncleanness, particularly sexual sins, but can extend to any sin that defiles.
- or: (Gk: ē) - Another conjunction for exclusion.
- greed: (Gk: pleonexia) - Insatiable desire, covetousness, lust for more than one's share. It signifies an excessive desire for wealth or possessions.
- which (Gk: houtis) - A relative pronoun connecting "greed" to the subsequent description.
- amounts to idolatry: (Gk: estin eidōlolatres) - Literally "is an idolater." This identifies greed as a form of worship or allegiance to something other than God. It means making wealth or possessions the object of one's ultimate desire and devotion.
- has (Gk: echei) - A verb indicating possession or entitlement.
- any (Gk: klēronomein) - To receive an inheritance. It implies gaining possession of something promised, specifically in the context of the spiritual inheritance of God's kingdom.
- inheritance: (Gk: klēros) - Lot, share, inheritance. Refers to what is divinely allocated and possessed.
- in: (Gk: en) - Preposition indicating sphere or location.
- the kingdom (Gk: basileia) - Rule, sovereignty, reign. Here, it refers to the kingdom of God or Christ, both present and future.
- of Christ (Gk: Christou) - Possessive case, indicating the kingdom belongs to or is administered by Christ.
- and (Gk: kai) - Conjunction linking "Christ" and "God."
- God. (Gk: Theou) - Possessive case, indicating the kingdom also belongs to God, showing the divine unity.
Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis
- "immorality or impurity": These terms highlight different facets of sexual sin and general uncleanness, both seen as utterly contrary to God's character and kingdom. They are often used together to encompass a broad spectrum of morally corrupt sexual conduct.
- "greed, which amounts to idolatry": This grouping is critical. Greed is not merely a vice but a form of idolatry because it places ultimate trust and desire in earthly possessions or acquisition, displacing God from the position of ultimate object of worship and satisfaction.
- "has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God": This phrase clarifies the consequence. Such attitudes and actions disqualify individuals from inheriting God's eternal reign and promises, which are mediated through Christ and originate from God.
Ephesians 5 5 Bonus Section
The placement of "greed, which amounts to idolatry" is significant. Idolatry was a major issue in the Greco-Roman world, involving the worship of various gods, often associated with fertility or prosperity. Paul directly condemns a covetous desire for wealth or possessions as a contemporary manifestation of this ancient sin, elevating created things to the place that belongs only to the Creator. This connection between greed and idolatry is found in other Pauline epistles as well (Colossians 3:5; 1 Timothy 6:10), emphasizing that the ultimate devotion of the heart determines one's destiny. The dual reference to the "kingdom of Christ and God" underscores the divinity of Christ and His inseparable relationship with God the Father in the work of salvation and the establishment of His reign.
Ephesians 5 5 Commentary
Paul forcefully declares that those who persistently engage in sexual immorality, impurity, or greed disqualify themselves from inheriting the Kingdom of God. Greed is explicitly identified as idolatry, meaning it represents a devotion to material things over God. This serves as a stark warning about the holiness required for believers. It is not about losing salvation, but about the clear nature of sins that characterize a life estranged from God and his reign. Such actions reveal a heart not surrendered to Christ and thus estranged from his promised kingdom. True inheritance is conditional upon faith demonstrated through a life increasingly conformed to Christ, not on persistent engagement in such damning sins.
- Practical application: Regularly examine your desires, particularly towards possessions and sensual gratifications. Do these desires rule you, or does Christ? Are you striving for purity, or are you complacent with uncleanness? Your ultimate treasure reveals your true allegiance.