{"id":43921,"date":"2023-05-18T21:16:30","date_gmt":"2023-05-18T18:16:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=43921"},"modified":"2025-05-02T12:10:29","modified_gmt":"2025-05-02T09:10:29","slug":"what-does-colossians-35-mean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2023\/05\/18\/what-does-colossians-35-mean\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does Colossians 3:5 Mean?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Question: <\/strong>What Does Colossians 3:5 Mean, and What\u2019s the Difference Between Evil Desire and Covetousness?<\/p>\n

Answer:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Colossians 3:5 (NIV) says:<\/p>\n

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“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This verse is part of Paul\u2019s exhortation to the believers in Colossae, urging them to live out the new life they\u2019ve received in Christ. Having been raised with Christ (Colossians 3:1), believers are called to set their minds on things above, not on earthly things. This requires actively\u00a0putting to death<\/em>\u00a0the sinful behaviors associated with the old self.<\/p>\n

Paul identifies five sinful expressions of the earthly nature:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Sexual Immorality<\/strong>\u00a0(Greek: porneia<\/em>)<\/h3>\n

This term refers to any form of sexual behavior outside the covenant of marriage \u2014 including fornication, adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. Scripture repeatedly warns against sexual sin (1 Corinthians 6:18\u201320) because it defiles both body and soul, which are temples of the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0Impurity<\/strong>\u00a0(Greek: akatharsia<\/em>)<\/h3>\n

Impurity goes beyond physical acts and includes thoughts, intentions, and habits that corrupt the heart and mind. Jesus said,\u00a0\u201cBlessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God\u201d<\/em> (Matthew 5:8). Impurity dulls our spiritual sensitivity and keeps us from intimacy with God.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Lust \/ Evil Desires<\/strong>\u00a0(Greek: pathos \/ epithymia kak\u0113<\/em>)<\/h3>\n

Lust refers to uncontrolled, passionate craving \u2014 especially sexual in nature. Evil desires include all strong impulses that seek satisfaction outside God\u2019s will.<\/p>\n

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James 1:14\u201315,\u201ceach person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

These desires are not neutral \u2014 they are morally corrupt and must be crucified (Galatians 5:24).<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0Greed \/ Covetousness<\/strong>\u00a0(Greek: pleonexia<\/em>) \u2014\u00a0\u201cwhich is idolatry\u201d<\/em><\/h3>\n

Covetousness is an insatiable desire for more \u2014 whether money, possessions, status, or even relationships. It’s not merely wanting something; it’s craving it so deeply that it displaces God in the heart.<\/p>\n

Jesus warned,<\/p>\n

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\u201cWatch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0(Luke 12:15).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Paul calls this idolatry because greed makes material things our functional \u201cgods\u201d \u2014 we serve them, love them, and trust them more than God.<\/p>\n

The Difference:\u00a0Evil Desire vs. Covetousness<\/strong><\/h3>\n

While both are inward heart issues, they differ in focus:<\/p>\n