An Exegetical Study On The Sin Lists Of Paul's Epistles

• Surveying The List Of Vices Mentioned In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10:

          -The Apostle Paul says twice in the same passage that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God. He also specifies who these kinds of people are. Compare with 1 Corinthians 5:9-11. The repeated emphasis demands consideration on our behalf. Paul does not want readers of his epistle to misunderstand or minimize the seriousness of his message.

          -Homosexuality is mentioned in this passage as being one of many damnable sins. Paul elsewhere says that lesbianism is condemned by God. When practiced on a widespread scale, such is an indicator of divine judgment (Romans 1:26-27).
          -Paul echoes the teaching of Jesus Christ to Nicodemus about the necessity of being born again in order to see the kingdom of God (John 3:3-5). The expression "kingdom of God" refers to His reign existing in a state having been brought to full fruition. Evil has no presence there. His kingdom is designed specifically for people who are morally upright.

• Surveying The List Of Vices Mentioned In Ephesians 5:4-7:

          -Paul again expects his audience to live lives that correspond with their profession of faith. His message to those who have a newfound identity in Christ is this: "Be what you are." Morally impure behaviors are "not fitting" (Ephesians 5:4) in the Christian life. By that, it is meant they are not worthy to be practiced among those who have been set apart for a holy life.

          -This "inheritance" is spoken of as a future possession that cannot be enjoyed by those who are not in Christ. They do not know Him. They have not been forgiven by God. Compare with Ephesians 1:14 and Colossians 1:14.

          -Greed is isolated from a broader list of sins and called a form of idolatry. Compare with Colossians 3:5. Covetousness corrupts how a person conducts business.

          -The kingdom of heaven belongs to both Christ and God, since the latter has put everything under the dominion of the former (1 Corinthians 15:27; Ephesians 1:22).

• Surveying The List Of Vices Mentioned In Galatians 5:19-21:

          -The first three sins mentioned in this list are of a sexual nature. They are spoken of in all-encompassing terms. Sexual sins were common in Greco-Roman society.

          -The next two terms relate to worship. Idolatry is giving anything reverence that belongs to God alone. It is a more common problem than we realize and easier to get caught up in than we think. Asia Minor had problems with witchcraft (Acts 19:18-19).

          -The rest of the sins mentioned in this text relate to human temperament; the overall ugliness of sinful man's reactions to things and the rate at which he does so. 

          -Unbelievers are excluded from the kingdom of God because that is the state in which His will is brought to full fruition. Selfish people are not qualified to partake in the eternal blessings that God bestows on those who love Him. Their way of thinking is incompatible with His.

• Surveying The Lists Of Vices Mentioned In 1 Timothy 1:9-11:

          -Paul here discusses the proper use of law. That the Mosaic Law is in view here, is corroborated by the fact that the listed sins correspond to the Ten Commandments.

          -The words "ungodly and sinful" evoke the idea of those who stray far from righteousness, living in ways that deny or defy spiritual values. These terms emphasize a moral and ethical collapse. They showcase lives that are distant from any sense of divine law or virtue.

          -Paul's condemnation of slave traders aligns with similar teachings found in Exodus 21. He places such people alongside liars and perjurers, underscoring a broader condemnation of deception and exploitation. His focus is on patterns of behavior that violate divine principles.