“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:”
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry — 'Put to death' (nekroo, mortify) demands active killing of vices. The list progresses: sexual sin (porneia, immorality), impurity (akatharsia, uncleanness), passion (pathos, uncontrolled desire), evil desire (epithymia, lust), covetousness (pleonexia, greed). The final equation—'covetousness is idolatry'—redefines sin: greed replaces God as ultimate loyalty. Vices are not mere ethics but theology.
Church Fathers on Colossians 3:5
I know that many are offended by the foregoing discourse, but what can I do? You heard what the Master enjoined. Am I to blame? What shall I do? Have you not seen the creditors, when debtors are obstinate, how they wear collars? Did you hear what Paul proclaimed today? “Mortify,” he says, “your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” What is worse than such a covetousness? This is worse than any…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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