以弗所书 5:3

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints; nor filthiness, nor foolish talking or jesting, which are not befitting; but rather giving of thanks.

This is another of Paul's catalogues of vice, none of them, not even all of them together being any complete list of sins, but merely typical. Other lists are in Romans 1:29ff, 1 Corinthians 5:11ff, 6:9ff, Galatians 5:19ff and Colossians 3:5ff. Fornication is prominently mentioned in practically all of these, due to its prominence in the pagan culture from which Gentile converts to Christianity had been recruited. As Bruce said:

We may think it strange to see covetousness so closely associated with these vices, but Paul is simply moving from outward manifestations of sin to their inner springs in the cravings of the heart.[4]

It will be recalled that Christ also did this, tracing murder to the angry thought behind it, and adultery to the lustful heart (Matthew 5:21-27ff).

Not even named among you ... This indicates that such vices as are enumerated here are forbidden to Christians and that it is not fitting that their minds should dwell upon such things or that their tongues should talk about them.

Filthiness ... foolish talking ... jesting ... Filthiness of moral character leads inevitably to filthiness of conversation; and Paul also condemned that. The smutty story, the foolish jesting, the empty nonsense that passes in some quarters for conversation - all of these are proscribed and forbidden. Dummelow interpreted the reference to jesting, etc., as jesting about such sins as were just mentioned. "Do not get near these topics for the sake of being amusing."[5] MacKnight rendered jesting as "double meanings," citing that as the meaning of "artfully turned discourse" (Greek), specifically identifying these as "chaste expressions which convey lewd meanings."[6]

Whereas the Puritans went too far in their over-strict interpretation of Paul's words here, it may not be denied that our own generation has erred in the other direction. This passage condemns much of the conversation of many Christians, which at best, in many cases, is "borderline." Bruce believed that, "Above all, all light and irreverent talk about sacred things is to be utterly reprobated."[7]

[4] F. F. Bruce, The Epistle to the Ephesians (Old Tappan, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1961), p. 102.

[5] J. R. Dummelow, Commentary on the Holy Bible (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1937), p. 964.

[6] James MacKnight, Apostolical Epistles with Commentary and Notes (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1969), p. 333.

[7] F. F. Bruce, op. cit., p. 103.