Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Ephesians 5:3

"But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints;" — Ephesians 5:3 (ASV)

The apostle begins by speaking about the effect of light in a life of purity. He resumes the prohibitive character of 4:26–31, taking it further by declaring that such aberrations should not only be avoided but not so much as mentioned (v.12), since they are altogether unsuitable for those who belong to the consecrated community of God.

“Sexual immorality” (GK 4518) was tolerated in the permissive pagan society of Paul’s day (Romans 1:24–32). “Impurity” (GK 174) has already been mentioned in 4:19 as a characteristic of secularized existence, along with “greed” (GK 4432). In Col 3:5 this word is conceived of as idolatry (cf. v.5), because it makes a god of what it seeks to possess.